Thread: Some thoughts on "Learning to Hone"

I aways recommend to new guys a new entry level Dovo to learn to shave with a straight. I would recommend the classifieds but I don't know who their razor will come from and whether it will really be shave ready. I know that some of the sellers in the classifieds can hone with the best of them but the new guy doesn't know and we ain't going to recommend one over another 'cause it ain't politically correct and maybe we don't know either.

If it comes from SRD, Classic, or Vintage I know who honed it. No offense meant but that is what I think. Once the new guy isn't new anymore he can buy from the classifieds and judge for himself.

To learn to hone I recommend used full bladed Solingen full hollows with undamaged scales. I recommend some magnification to check the bevel even if it is a 30x eye loupe. The better the condition of the edge the easier it will be and ebay or antique stores and flea markets are crap shoots but you pays your money and you takes your chances.

There are degrees to 'learning to hone' too. A guy may just want to have one or two razors and maintain them. A barber hone, a Norton 4/8, and a strop and maybe a bit of chrom ox of whatever kind of paste and he is probably good for life.

If a guy wants to really learn how to hone anything that comes down the pike IMO he needs a lot of razors and minimum a small arsenal of hones. Of course he could do it with a yellow/bbw coticule or whatever series of Nortons, Shaptons, Naniwas .... it really doesn't matter which and the flattening stone, diamond plate or sandpaper.

What I am getting at is there is going to be a certain expenditure for tools. I hate to tell guys what I think the minimum setup is some times because of cost. I mean minimum ideal setup. Like anything else, having the right tool makes the job easier...... once you know how to do the job.

That is the other thing. As Kaptain Zero used to say, having a basketball won't make you play like Magic Johnson and all of the hones in the world won't make you Lynn Abrams.

I got really lucky in that a honemiester who used to be on the forum lived nearby and was gracious enough to let me come over his house a half dozen times (30 miles one way) to watch him hone. This helped me mainly in seeing bevels set and honing up through the progression.

I still couldn't have gotten half azz good at it without Lynn's help on the phone and in the forum, Randydance on the phone and in the forum ,.....posts and Wiki stuff by Glen, Bart, Utopian, ChrisL, AFDavis, mparker762 and many ohters. Videos by Lynn, Bart, and heavydutysg137...... and my own efforts. Without the desire and acting on it .... want in one hand and wish in the other and see which one fills up first.

That is assuming I am half azz good at it. I've gotten good feedback from a few guys I've honed razors for and I can get mine sharp to suit me and that is all I really need. I wouldn't say I'm a honemiester .. may be a wanna be honemiester but I'm working at it.

To me it just takes a hell of a lot of razors and time. I see some guys who must be a quick study and they seem to get it with a couple of razors in no time at all. Didn't work that way for me so God bless 'em is all I can say.