Thread: Journey to the center of the hone.

I've been shaving for about a year to year and half. I've been using a Lynn honed Solingen blade I purchased from Cutlery World here in Kansas City about 17-18 years ago. Tried to shave with it out of box and abandoned it. Found this group about year+ ago and have been shaving straight since. I just purchased my first hone, a Norton 4k/8k at a great price from Craftsman Studios (www.craftsmanstudio.com). Felt like a heel not getting it from Ray but I do purchase my other sundries from him.

Anyway I've reviewed the archives and the current forums on honing and will be looking over the old Yahoo SRP index for old posts. My blade currently shaves okay after a year but could do better. I'll start with the "Conservative Honing Ratio" posted for Nortons by Randy Tuttle.

Sorry to ramble but very excited about starting the journey on learning this artform.

PS Are there any other straight razor guys with a wife who just doesn't get it? "Why by a sharpening stone, just take it to MarBeck, they sharpen all our kitchen knives...if your going to spend $60 dollars on a stone, you should buy a new razor then you won't ever need to sharpen it...its just a razor how could it cost $200?

My question to her, "How do you know so much about something you think is dumb, have never seen performed, or every read anything about?" Oh yeh you're a woman, you know every...(ducking to avoid thrown shoe).

Originally Posted by tab75336

PS Are there any other straight razor guys with a wife who just doesn't get it? "Why by a sharpening stone, just take it to MarBeck, they sharpen all our kitchen knives...if your going to spend $60 dollars on a stone, you should buy a new razor then you won't ever need to sharpen it...its just a razor how could it cost $200?

My question to her, "How do you know so much about something you think is dumb, have never seen performed, or every read anything about?" Oh yeh you're a woman, you know every...(ducking to avoid thrown shoe).

I have a fiance that thinks I am nuts, wasting money, and thinks I spend more time shaving or talking about shaving on this forum than I do with her. Funny thing is a few months ago, she said I needed a hobby...never happy, go figure!

Not to interfere with any mans plan but, just to let you know, I would run the razor about 5 passes over the 8K and test shave. The conservative honing ration is great, but you don't want to botch Lynn's bevel work too quickly.

Unless ofcourse your point is to learn to hone...then knock yourself out!

Heck, most men would never understand why someone would use a straight, if you find a woman who does let me know, she's a very rare person.

You have to out fox 'em. It's hard 'cuz they're so wily and they never seem to fall for the same thing twice.
Mine often gets away on me.

X

Got the Norton 4k/8k today and have a couple quick questions:
1. My razor was Lynn honed quite awhile ago and isn't shaving like it used to. Should I just touch it up on the 8k side with about 6 round trips, or 1-4k and 6-8k(is that too aggressive)?

2. Secondly, do I need to prep the Norton in any way other than soaking 10 minutes prior to honing?