Thread: Some thoughts on "Learning to Hone"

Ok, heres my egspirt opinion, the first hone any new straight shaver should buy is a barbers hone. If you cant maintain the edge, how are you going to restore or even create one? The barbers hone will allow a novice the chance to learn to keep the blade/edge flat, and learn the proper X stroke, in a few short strokes he has maintained his razor. If not , what harm has he done to the edge? Minimal. At this point he can try again with a few more strokes and if he has learned anything he will come out fine. These hones are available at a fraction of the cost of Nortons, Cotis, Shaptons or Naniwas. If a razor was truly shave ready, a barbers hone will be the only hone you will ever need to keep the edge up to par.
I know Ron/Utopian as well as myself have harped on this numerous times, hopefully there is a member reading this thread who has taken this advice to heart, if there is I would like to hear their reply. Thanks, kelly

Edit: Besides it only makes sense that every straight shaver have one for razor maintenance.