Thread: Levels of Honing Proficiency

I'm not Sham or Jimmy, but believe myself to be far more advanced from what you term an intermediate 'honist.'

This is not an exact science and while I acknowledge and respect your recent analogies, I believe there are far more steps to the ladder than yet meets your eye.

I say 'yet' meets your eye, as my belief is that the further you venture into these woods you will come to realize this yourself.

I guess I'm a honester...still learning & trying to get better.

Call me what you want ot but just don't call me late for dinner.

Originally Posted by Scipio

I'm not Sham or Jimmy, but believe myself to be far more advanced from what you term an intermediate 'honist.'

This is not an exact science and while I acknowledge and respect your recent analogies, I believe there are far more steps to the ladder than yet meets your eye.

I say 'yet' meets your eye, as my belief is that the further you venture into these woods you will come to realize this yourself.

We could add levels to each of those categories...say capping at 5?

So if you're a lot higher than a Honist....maybe a Honist 4 or Honist 5, but just under being a honemeister.

Kind of like getting those little black stripes on your karate colored belts I always see kids get. Just cuz you're a red belt with 4 black stripes doesn't mean you're the next belt up. But well on your way.

Some things are better left undefined. As I said, this is not an exact science and certainly something as detailed as honing can not be definitively labelled or categorized - very much in the same way that a 'grit' can not be definitively applied to a natural hone.

These sorts of things can only ever be based on comparables and even then it is personal.

As a broad answer, I am between a honist and a honemeister; however I would certainly not call myself either and I am by no means a mesiter of the art.

I seldom hone wedges and avoid badly damaged razors through preference, so my skills are never pushed to their limits. I am certain if they were I'd advance further....

The best title for me is genuine Rock Hound

Guys
I'm just having fun. I was also trying to think of what level of proficiency I had reached.

I was just foolin' about, so do what you wish with it.

Make sure you have fresh batteries installed in your Acme® Irony Detector

I have always considered a "honester" someone that thinks they are a "honemeister" and has no trouble taking your money and destroying your razor while learning.

Honing is taken very seriously by people. I am not sure why. Perhaps it is a man-thing...who knows?

If you can put an edge on your razor that shaves you comfortably, you have achieved your goal and should be happy with your effort.

It's when you want to start honing for others that the problems arise, because people are giving you money and expecting a service for that money. Not to mention they are trusting their face to your honing prowess.

As a rule of thumb, time is the big indicator of experience with honers. As far as I am concerned, a good honer has lots of experience with many and varied straights in many and varied conditions. And you just cannot get that kind of experience unless you've been at it for years, even if you are honing 10 razors a day.

That's not to say there are not variations from the rule - some people are, I am sure, naturals at honing. And some people may have been at it for 20 years and still cannot manage to lap their way out of a paper bag.

So I say the whole name thing is fun, but nobody should take self-proclaimed titles at face value, or even a little bit seriously. Like everything else in life, do the research. It is not hard to find out if someone is an experienced honer or otherwise by searching the forums or asking around.

James.

And in the not so serious light that Lawsonstone has meant for this thread, I propose a seven year apprenticeship from Honester/Honestrette, Rockhound/Rockbitch, Honist/ette, Honestrier/ette (Notice it takes the word 'Honest' to spell that one.), RockGuru, Stonecollecter and Journeyman Honemeister. Then when they reach their Twentieth year from Honester they can then consider themselves a full Druid Honemeister of the first degree. I reckon by then they might nearly know everything about honing, stones, steels, chemical analysis of stones and steel, circle dancing and human sacrifice...

Just my contribution.


Mick

Originally Posted by MickR

I reckon by then they might nearly know everything about honing, stones, steels, chemical analysis of stones and steel, circle dancing and human sacrifice...
Mick

Is circle dancing the opposite of line dancing ???