Thread: Ebay to Comfortable Shaver - How long

I know this is a rather loaded question with a lot of subjective answers, but I'll ask anyways.

How long does it take to hone the average ebay razor to a comfortable shaving state. Lets try not to discuss a lot of technique here, there is an entire section of the forum for that. I'm just really interested to know how long it takes people to accomplish the task.

I'll start:

W&B Spike Point Wedge - Antique store find - Probably about 4 hours total. (started on a 4k then bought a 220/1k)
Boker Edelweiss - Antique store find - ~ 1 hour, maybe 90 minutes.
Boker King Cutter - Antique store find - ~ 1 hour invested so far, but it isn't comfortable yet.

For me thus far

ebay find: JR Torrey 4/8; 1/4 hollow - wouldn't cut paper when I received it - took between 2 to 3 hours (this was the first that I ever honed)

local find: HRC #1 - 5/8; full hollow - had a nick / folder over (about 1/64 to 1/32" deep) area mid way along blade - about 1 hour on 1000x to get the nick out, another hour to get to a level of shave readiness

If I had to average out all the razors I have done so far, I would say about 3 hours. That includes buffing the blade, tightening scales, de-rusting around the pivot etc.

Usually the rough metal removal/bevel set takes about 1 hour or less, and the finish honing about 1 over a few smaller sessions. That's with a DMT1200, coticule and Nakayama.

If you buy smart, and don't bid on the blurry pictures, it takes considerably less. Every so often one sneaks in and you have to deal with it though. It just takes a little brute force on the bevel setting stage.

It really depends.
I like to buy reputed brands in not so great shape off Ebay. (they come cheap)
After restoring them, I usually end up taking away a fair bit of the edge, to straighten a frown, or to get past corrosion holes that run all the way through thin part of the edge.
Starting out at the DMT 325 to recut a bevel shape.
Going to the DMT 600 rather soon that too late.
Getting a decent bevel on the DMT 1200.
Refining on the Chosera 4K or the Belgian Blue.
Doing one of many variations to get the final edge (with one, or a combination of the following hones: the Chosera 10K, a bunch of coticules, and a Nakayama).

takes me about 2 to 3 hours.
I often hone all evening, fumbling on and off with multiple breaks.

Bart.

I'd guess a couple of hours. Half that for polishing, about 45 mins to sharpen it possibly spread over a couple of sessionas as test shaves must be done. Then finally 15 mins just to admire what a good job I have done.