Thread: Dubl Duck Dry Hone - Anyone have?

It's funny how everything works differently for different people. The problem is that when new people come in and try to hone up a junky ebay razor on a barber hone from scratch, they get frustrated easily. I like having about 30 barber hones to play with as well and by shear size, they require a shorter stroke. Like everything else a short stroke panacea does not exist, but is an other alternative. What makes this even more fun, is that each razor has it's own characteristics and in many cases hones up differently and may require several different techniques. For the most part, unless you are investing hundreds and hundreds of strokes, the barber hones are not for a really dull razor. They do a nice job though on touching up a razor and the instructions on many of the barber hone boxes indicate that 5-6 strokes are what should be used to touch up a razor. What a fun sport, eh? Lynn

Originally Posted by adjustme69

...the instructions on many of the barber hone boxes indicate that 5-6 strokes are what should be used to touch up a razor. What a fun sport, eh? Lynn

This makes one wonder
Was there once a time when razors did actually come ready to shave? If not then you would think the masons that produced these hones would illistrate the need for more effort in their instructions??
Just a thought and a sign of how much things really do change over time.

Originally Posted by adjustme69

It's funny how everything works differently for different people...... Like everything else a short stroke panacea does not exist, but is an other alternative. What makes this even more fun, is that each razor has it's own characteristics and in many cases hones up differently and may require several different techniques..... What a fun sport, eh? Lynn

LOL...Kind of reminds me of golf. Just when you think you found the groove, you have a bad day and start looking for something new.....Sometimes whatever is working is what you do.....Well I'm off to try that new Naniwa Superstone now...LOL

Originally Posted by adjustme69

It's funny how everything works differently for different people. The problem is that when new people come in and try to hone up a junky ebay razor on a barber hone from scratch, they get frustrated easily. I like having about 30 barber hones to play with as well and by shear size, they require a shorter stroke. Like everything else a short stroke panacea does not exist, but is an other alternative. What makes this even more fun, is that each razor has it's own characteristics and in many cases hones up differently and may require several different techniques. For the most part, unless you are investing hundreds and hundreds of strokes, the barber hones are not for a really dull razor. They do a nice job though on touching up a razor and the instructions on many of the barber hone boxes indicate that 5-6 strokes are what should be used to touch up a razor. What a fun sport, eh? Lynn

Lynn,

Nortons are no panacea either. For a beginner, ebay razors are no place to start anyways, as I'm sure you would readily agree. Furthermore, if they were to get easily frustrated by the slowness of barber hones, I see the opposite problem for new fellows who try to touch up a new razor with a Norton and instead end up overhoning their blade. This too can lead to frustration. Greg Ives, the professional barber, himself makes this point on his video.

You are right to point out the many variables involved. Different blades with different tempers with different grinds etc.. It's an art and so there are no "panaceas". There are different techniques and methods more suitable to some. I admire and recognize your masterful ability using a Norton, but your lack of appreciation of barber hones, relegating them to mere "ornaments", is quite telling. On the one hand, you recognize how different things work for different people, but you consistently slam barber hones dismissing them as obsolete because they don't suite the way you do things. Yes it is a fun art, but there's no need to make a "fun sport" of it, because there's no need to compete with anyone.

Cheers, Hal