Thread: Honemeister accredidation?

There we go keep talking

Personally I love showing new guys how to hone. I've done it twice. Don't think there are many more guys here on SRP near me (within an hour maybe) who would need the help. Hell, I wouldn't care if a guy drove a couple hours here and wanted to spend the day learning stuff. Cool with me- I get a lot out of that.

As for the accreditation topic- I do understand both points of view- i.e. Bart versus Don in a couple of the above posts. Both are very valid and some kind of program could, I am sure, be started based on either point of view. If people want something where they know who can hone and who can't then I think it can be done. I remember on B&B I think there was a similar conversation that suggested different levels of honemeister and obviously came to a grinding halt after all the variables were pointed out. If it is a matter of- this guy can sharpen razors- then yes, I think it is feasible. One thing that I consider an important part of learning to be a honemeister is bevel reconstruction on wedges with absolutely no edge. Being able to do that well on a consistent basis teaches so many aspects of honing that one might not often come upon otherwise. So if guys were just asked to take this blah blah 5/8 razor with somewhat of a bevel and make it sharp, it might not have as much merit to some as take this old wedge with no edge at all and put a great edge on it. I think a standard test to put you through many possible scenarios would have to be in place, otherwise things could be too "scattered" or easily obtained.

Agreed.
I have too many razors. Some of them I have had no problem putting a good edge of them and when I am done with them I am confident that they will shave well. Others, I hone, I shave badly so I hone again, I shave, and I hone again. In other words, I can hone some razors easily and I have trouble with others. I could hone a couple of easy razors, mail them off to a few people to assess the razors, and then as long as they approve of the edges I could declare myself to be a honing expert.

That's really not the way it works. I think informal peer review remains the adequate standard.

I got really lucky that The Topher lives near me and has been kind enough to show me a lot of his techniques. Not that I am a budding honemiester, far from it but I am doing my own and that was my goal. Now I am looking to improve and the joy as they say is in the journey. I just like to hone different razors experimenting with different rocks. As Lynn often says, having fun.

To implement any accreditation scheme we would first have to come up with a definition of 'honemeister". To me, that word invokes an image of someone like Lynn. A guy with years of experience, thousands of razors of all sorts under his belt, and someone who imparts complete and utter confidence in his abilities. If a honemeister tells you the razor won't take an edge, you believe it. You don't wonder whether you should send it to someone else. Etc.

Of course, that is what the word means to me. There are varying degrees of honing ability and experience, but if it does not meet the ideal I sketched above, to me it is not "honemeister".

So really, to be frank I do not believe there would be many candidates for honemeister accreditation under my definition. And even fewer to judge it.

James.

All valid ideas.

There is a lot of work starting up websites, so it might be a good idea to run a poll and see how many would be interested in an accreditation, before going off and starting the site.

Just another 0.02 from me.

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

All valid ideas.

There is a lot of work starting up websites, so it might be a good idea to run a poll and see how many would be interested in an accreditation, before going off and starting the site.

Just another 0.02 from me.

I for one do not need another web site, everything I need is here. However, there is a lot to be said about a mentoring program, the greatest obstacle to this though will be distance. Without the apprentice being able to look over the masters shoulder and vice versa the best we can do is the tutorials, they are great but they are not one on one.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

the greatest obstacle to this though will be distance.

True depending on where people live. One idea: start a new thread where the originator collects the names and locations of anyone willing to BE a mentor. They then post it all together as a quick reference. Maybe by geographical location. Then people can examine the list and on their own, contact the mentor they wish to "study" under. I don't care if someone flies across the country to learn from me... as long as they bring me a bacon pizza .

As for an accreditation website, once again I think it's feasible. Like I stated I think some definite "tests" would need development and I think there would have to be a fee to cover shipping costs and/or the judge's time. Oh, and maybe website upkeep. Maybe a poll would be a good idea followed by a search for someone with the website skills to do it for their own satisfaction! lol

Originally Posted by Philadelph

As for an accreditation website, once again I think it's feasible. Like I stated I think some definite "tests" would need development and I think there would have to be a fee to cover shipping costs and/or the judge's time. Oh, and maybe website upkeep. Maybe a poll would be a good idea followed by a search for someone with the website skills to do it for their own satisfaction! lol

Go ahead.
Since you're the one proposing the poll, you would be a good chinese volunteer for creating it (as they say in our parts)

Originally Posted by Bruno

Go ahead.
Since you're the one proposing the poll, you would be a good chinese volunteer for creating it (as they say in our parts)

Hah! In return I propose that Chris L be the poll guy since he started this whole thread!



I also propose that everyone send their razors to one guy for safe keeping.

"Chinese volunteer" me for that!