Thread: How often do you touch up?

Depends on the razor, but for me, about every 5-10 shaves. I use a coticule w/ water and sometimes follow that w/ lather--for my beard it gives a slightly smoother edge that way.

Thats like saying how often do you fill your car with gas. There are so many variables. I find in general I get about 12-15 shaves before I do a touchup but I have some razors that can go far longer than that. My TI Damascus I've probably gotten 60-70 shaves from and its still going strong and has never been touched up. Its the long haul champ.

It varies for me, depending on the razor. Mostly when it's getting uncomfortable even after considerable stropping, I'll take it to a barber hone. If that doesn't solve the problem I'll drop down to a coticule. One of mine I just touched up, and it hadn't been honed since May. Others need it more often.


John P.

I love these kind of threads, you get so many great answers!

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Thats like saying how often do you fill your car with gas. There are so many variables. I find in general I get about 12-15 shaves before I do a touchup but I have some razors that can go far longer than that. My TI Damascus I've probably gotten 60-70 shaves from and its still going strong and has never been touched up. Its the long haul champ.

That's a very helpful answer even if the question is silly (and many many of these answers have been helpful). These answers have helped me triangulate what the range of general practice is,and is very different from some things I'd seen on another site. To a relative newbie with straights this is very comforting as I'm hitting 12-15 myself on one razor.

It is hard to say exactly since I do not keep records of touchups. However, I freshen up on the CrO about once per month for the razors in my regular rotation. When I take a razor out of the rotation, I generally will give it some fine tuning on a yellow coticule. Otherwise, if I keep a razor in my rotation, then I freshen it up about once every 3 months on my coticule.

Would you guys say that Lynn's video is the best place to get info on honeing? I have my first razor on the way, and I want to make sure I dont screw it up with my "guessing" how to hone when the time comes.

Also, I have noticed a few of you like to use a barbers stone also. Where would you find something like that? I have found the coticule at www.theperfectedge.com., but im sure there are other good places to look also.

Love this thread by the way.

I haven't had to touch up any razors thus far that were shave ready to begin with. I've shaved with 4 or 5 different razors off and on, so none of my razors have seen more than 20 or 30 shaves

Originally Posted by Basher052

Would you guys say that Lynn's video is the best place to get info on honeing?

I think the honing section of Lynn's DVD gives you the best concentrated info on honing and, for that matter, most things pertaining to straight usage and ownership. There is more info on the forum itself if you are able to sort through it all but I think that when you are starting out it can be helpful to have an expert opinion and a visual demonstration available for a reference. Buying the DVD is probably the best investment you will make in your straight razor education.

I have the beard from hell! It is tough, multi-directional like a lot of people, and grows at warp speed. I touch up my razors about every 6 or 7 shaves with 1.0, 0.5,0.25 pastes on a paddle strop, about 10 passes on each. I like coming off diamond paste and I like my blades sick sharp. Every 3 months I take about 10 laps on a DMT8EE and then paste it when my edge drops to quickly.


Take Care,
Richard