Thread: A Honing Lesson from my barber

Originally Posted by Croaker

Thank you very much for sharing the lessons that this generous barber gave you. I am going to try his procedure as described, although I do not have any Japanese stones. The principles sound as though they would work for any water hone that raises a slurry. Do you think it might work using a large coticule, or a long Thuringian? One thing I found unusual was the single reverse stroke with the spine leading. Is this stroke to remove a burr or wire edge? I have not encountered one (to my knowledge, anyway) while honing straight razors before. I mostly use a coticule, which might explain it. Thanks again!

I have no idea...and you never know till you try! I do know that the Shapton 12k/15K has been recommended by others, and he said that would be fine...no need for a nagura there.

As for the single back stroke to remove a burr, I imagine that is something like it. My uncle by marriage, who is also a barber/stylist (and a buddhist monk!), though not as traditional nor as old as my current barber, said not to hone the back side at all...it's a mystery!

Originally Posted by JimR

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My barber says he can tell a good edge by looking. He insists you go PAST mirrored until it looks a little dark--black?

I find this very interesting. I've observed that dark edge on some razors I have honed and didn't know what to make of it. I sort of thought I had went 'past it'. Appears I was doing alright after all. I'll have to try for that deliberately and see what it shaves like.

Thanks for the update Thanks especially for sharing the honing methods. I have never had a Japanese straight and don't foresee getting one but you never know.

Jim. I remember a previous post about your friendship with this barber. I think he has already given you one stone ? You are a lucky man and it couldn't happen to a nicer guy..

From what I read it sounds like he is offering you an apprenticeship!

While concentrating on using mine completely backwards, and re-sharpening a few times
(to see where it'd go) with a single stroke on the ura; the shave started to fall off.

Which direction was the last before flipping?

I have found finishing any razor with a few backstrokes ups the smooth factor - I hesitate to say- but; greatly. Shaving off 1k shapton is far smoother when finished with a couple back stokes on each side. Which to my mind demonstrates an amplified version of what can happen on finish stones; where it is less apparent.

So a single backstroke makes very good sense. I have a book on Japanese carpentry, its sharpening instructions say the finish stones do not produce a bur; which goes in hand with coticules, etc, not over-honing. Honing on one side the effect is there, but you'll not feel it with your fingertip. One stroke to plane that off makes sense.

What about stropping? Thanks Jim. I feel like I should give you something too

This is a very cool story very informative and an it reminds me of how much teachers desire a good student. Also I feel jealous since you will probably one day get a very very very nice stone, I wish I could find a teacher that nice.

Hi Jim,
Thanks for sharing that story. It is almost like part of me was in Japan when you told of you and your barber. True wealth is being able to experience a moment like that, generosity comes when you share it! Sounds like you are going to be a honemiester at least by your barber's standards.
MIKE

Well, I tried the system and it works! I took a Boker 20th Century whose shave quality had started to fall to the level of honing needed. I honed exactly as described, including standing up instead of sitting down. I used a heavy slurry on my 8X3 coticule. It turned gray about the 3rd stroke, so metal was being removed. I had a hard time stopping at 10 laps, but did it anyway. I did the reverse stroke once on each side, after the edge leading strokes were done. All strokes were heel leading. Then, I simply rinsed the blade and honed it 50 laps on a Llama leather strop and tested it on hair. No CroOx or anything else. Wow.....hairs literally crumbled away at a touch of the edge, anyhere. The edge did not get the darkening I was hoping for, though. Finally, I shaved, and got an excellent and very smooth BBS result with 3 passes. This is as good as this Boker has ever shaved for me, and possibly a little better. Thanks! I am left with the nagging feeling that I should have gotten the darkened edge, though, and have no clue how to get there with a coticule. Your story is VERY much appreciated and I plan to continue experimenting with other stones, using your technique. Thank your barber friend for me, if you get a chance!

Thanks for sharing this story with us. They are few and far between in today's world.

I'm not sure whether it's an issue of us of younger generations not wanting to learn, or less "masters" willing to teach.

As I suspected these razors sharpen just like the traditional Japanese kitchen knives. One thing I can't stress enough is to not grind down the "Kenji" side to hard, you want that concave to stay concave, not flatten it out.

Good point I have seen that hollow go away on knives.