I've been honing now for a little while and am actually sending a care package out to one of the honemeisters to see where I can improve. The package consists of a video of my hands while shaving, the return of a razor, and several razors that I honed.

I've been waiting on the return of my 8mm-to-dvd video with the razors neatly packaged up & the opportunity to purchase a Charnley Forrest stone came up and I had to pull the trigger. I had just bought a set of Shapton stones (4/8/16K) from SRD, so the funds weren't really there...but I literally rolled up my change. It's a gallon wine jug that I use for my other passion, guns.

Everything is packaged up to send to the honemeister, but I had these stones that should really put my honing over the top. I had this idea that if I were to work up my normal progression, then the 16K, followed by the CF with oil, that edge should be flawless. I took eight razors from my rotation that were really just fine, but wanted to experiment since I had no razors that needed honed at the time. I took all of them to the 4/8/16K's and then to the Charnley Forrest with oil.

My little pea-brain was dead on. I did my normal shower-n-shave routine and took the best of the razors I honed & shaved with it...that's right, no stropping at all. All I can say is holly smokes batman. That shave was as close and comfortable as the ones honed by two of the best in the business. Was it a fluke, I don't know...there are seven more razors to shave with.

Next I plan on doing the same with the same number of razors up to 16K sans the Charnley Forrest. I've heard that the CF makes the edge softer feeling, but have to "know" for myself.

Before someone jumps to conclusions...I'm not comparing myself to a honemeister, I'm just saying that I got one razor right.

Thanks for listening/reading...
Scott