Thread: Some thoughts on "Learning to Hone"

I've polished samurai swords for somewhere around 5 years before I started SR shaving, so I wasn't concerned with honing & polishing an edge, especially after viewing Lynn's video.

I've got an opinion for you, but please keep in mind that I am NO SR Honemeister! From my studies & application on sword polishing, you take a minimalist approach. I believe in this completely. The finer the stone, the less material removed AND for a person who is not well versed in setting a SR bevel or polishing an edge, THE LESS DAMAGE DONE. Nun2sharp's idea on the finer stone is the exact mindset of a sword polisher. I have no experience on a barbers stone, only Japanese waterstones, but I do have an idea that it's more of a polishing grade of stone. With this being said, I'd have to agree with a beginner who wishes to maintain their own SR's should start with a "polishing" grit of stone in a 8,000 or finer Japanese (key word here) grit. I know that grits are rather confusing, or at least they are to me, but as long as the research is done on the stone & technique, a "newbie" should be safe to maintain their SR. If not, at least they haven't ruined their razor for one of you honemeisters to bring it back.