Honing Epiphany

[DustinW]

So after I wrote my 1 year anniversary post this afternoon I got thinking about all the trouble I had with honing a couple of the razors. I was thinking about what I was doing and how it could be wrong. Suddenly it was like a diving light in my brain went off and I couldn't wait for the work day to end.

Much to my wife's dismay I headed straight up stairs when I got home and broke out the gear. I went slow since I was doing something different and a couple hours later I have 2 razors that were previously pains in the rear to a level of sharpness that I have never attained with these 2. All indications are that they are truely sharp and truely smooth. Unfortunately I shaved this morning so couldn't really test them on my face but the hair on my arm just flowed off.

So what was I doing wrong? In an effort to make sure I didn't screw up I was focusing too much on the spine. I was honing the spine instead of the edge. So tonight I made a conscience effort to concentrate on the edge and use the spine as a guide. So up until tonight I was pushing the edge down the stone and after tonight I am pulling the spine down the stone if that makes sense(edge still leading of course). Ever so slight of a change had a major effect on the outcome.

I am not sure I will be able to muster up enough facial hair to shave tomorrow so thursday is the day.