Thread: Some thoughts on "Learning to Hone"

it surprises me how difficult it seems some people have found learning to hone. I thought the learning curve was minimal, almost non existant. Horses for courses I guess.

Originally Posted by gregs656

Costs are relative. I dropped something like £52 on my coticule and it is the single most expensive item I have bought for shaving. It was a lot of money for me at the time as I was working part time through college. It was not a decision I made lightly and I don't think it is for many people who get involved in this hobby.

Obviously I am in quite a different position to many of the folk on here, but still, unless you're pretty sure you're going to use it often, it's a fair bit of money.

I'm a poor college student. I dropped €38 (well, €53 after shipping) on my Coti, and haven't thought twice about it. I guess I just decided to spend my money on a stone that would hone all my razors for the rest of my life instead of buying Starbucks everyday, or weed like some people do. Cheaper than having to send you razors out!

Originally Posted by gregs656

it surprises me how difficult it seems some people have found learning to hone. I thought the learning curve was minimal, almost non existant. Horses for courses I guess.

It's all relative of course. It surprises me how difficult shaving is for some people. Everyone said it would take like 3 or 4 months to learn how to shave. I had it down within a couple weeks. As for honing, you just have to get over that first hill.

I don't regret buying my first bbw/coti, not at all.

Well, Ray, it sounds more and more like honing is for everyone. Now if I could only get everyone to file a handsaw, I'd be in deep clover.

I have seen this statement in fact if you go way back in the archives you will probably see me saying the same thing....

Until I went to the first meet, and watched and participated with Lynn trying to teach people hands on, how to hone...

Please don't compare your abilities to everyone else, for some of us it is easy, just like computers are easy to some people to others you might as well be talking Klingon, they just don't have the skill set...

When some of you Computer Geeks start writing instructions on how to download applications I think to myself "Is that what my honing instructions look like to some people"???? We all have strengths and weaknesses...

Telling people honing is easy is the same as telling me "Glen don't worry just hit the Download this file button, it's easy" well guess what it ain't easy and it gets very confusing and frustrating....

Reminds me of tattooing. It is easy and anyone can do it. The hard thing is doing it well. In both tattooing and in honing I had an advantage in having hands on instruction by an expert. That and being totally obsessed with it helped too.

If it were that easy I can't understand all of these guys sending their razors to someone to hone for them and paying them to do it. I don't know anything about rocket science but AFAIC honing is an art and a craft and it takes some time and a lot of patient and persistent practice to learn to do it well.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I have seen this statement in fact if you go way back in the archives you will probably see me saying the same thing....

Until I went to the first meet, and watched and participated with Lynn trying to teach people hands on, how to hone...

Please don't compare your abilities to everyone else, for some of us it is easy, just like computers are easy to some people to others you might as well back talking Klingon, they just don't have the skill set...

When some of you Computer Geeks start writing instructions on how to download applications I think to myself "Is that what my honing instructions look like to some people"???? We all have strengths and weaknesses...

Telling people honing is easy is the same as telling me "Glen don't worry just hit the Download this file button, it's easy" well guess what it ain't easy and it gets very confusing and frustrating....

You're right, it did surprise me though.

Like I said, the most difficult part for me was starting out, I was really nervous to begin with and followed Barts 'one coticule' video almost to the letter.

I think people are overly nervous, I was, and perhaps for some people it takes a while to get over the initial worry of doing something devastatingly wrong and that hinders their progress, who knows?

I didn't intend to sound flippant, lord knows I struggle with plenty of things!

Originally Posted by avatar1999

Good info Oni, but not everyone uses a leather strop. I don't, and at home, I doubt I will ever use one. I use the palm of my hand like in the Livi video.

N.B. I didn't say "leather strop"
I also do a final strop on my hand or wrist but whatever you "strop" on should still not damage the edge or be damaged by it.
As we are talking about early stages, newbs are best advised to risk nicking a leather strop initially... less bloody

Thanks for the analogy gssixgun. That puts things in perspective.

For everyone, that first time you hone (or use a straight) is a disaster. Just imagine that first time. It's a steep learning curve that requires practice so that you can develop the muscle memory, and the feel of honing. Some people just catch on quick, and others don't. I imagine it would be much easier if someone taught you in person. Fortunately I'm one of those people that learns everything quickly.

@ChickenBurrito - For the most part I am the same way, except when it comes to women...I will NEVER figure them out...I just chalk it up to a different kinda crazy than guys