Thread: Levels of Honing Proficiency

This is just foolin' about, having some fun.

I've been pondering what to call folks at various levels of honing proficiency. We all know honemeister, a master of honing, someone who can take almost any edge and make it shave-ready, whose work is a standard by which to judge other razors and honings, someone who rightly gets paid for their work, isn't flustered or thrown off his game by some oddity of the blade's shape or consistency.

What to call the newbie? What to call someone who has learned pretty well how to hone, but who wouldn't risk doing it with other people's razors for money? Who still isn't sure of himself on lots of points.

I thought of these two terms:

The newbie working seriously at learning the task of honing, but still not there yet, I will call the honester. Just a hint of the idea of an imposter, or someone sincerely acting out a role, but not there yet. The honester is the apprentice, the person who has the hones, hangs out with honemeisters, can talk a good talk about honing, but actually still isn't shaving daily and happily with razors he has honed himself. Memorizing the wiki, he's done...actually putting shaving edges on razors...that's coming.

Once someone has got the basics down and actually has a handful of razors he has honed himself, who generally knows how to solve the main problems honing presents, who can buy a generally sound eBay razor, clean it up, hone it, and add it to his rotation, and maybe even hone a razor for free for a friend...this person I christen the honist. A honist has the skills, but maybe not the consistency nor the versatility of the honemeister. Rounding off a spike point for someone and restoring the edge would be something they could try and succeed at. Honists often will be carrying on exchanges via PMs with honemeisters, and will know enough to know how to use the advice they are being given. They'll be worrying about things like "what's the best situation for taping a spine?" "How do I use a slurry well?" "What do I do when a bevel just won't get right?" "Should I just hone a couple 32nds off this edge to get a clean surface and try again?"

So...the honester, the honist, and the honemeister. There you have a comprehensible set of degrees of compentency in this delightful craft.

And...clearly...I have way too much free time on my hands!

Originally Posted by LawsonStone

The newbie working seriously at learning the task of honing, but still not there yet, I will call the honester. Just a hint of the idea of an imposter, or someone sincerely acting out a role, but not there yet.

That makes the truly newbie sound kind of devious. Should there be a seperate term for someone who realizes they are newbie, but doesn't pretend they are better than they are?

Other than that, I love the new phrases!

Maybe some distinction....but a lot of time the "posing" of the beginner is sincere enough. We learn to talk the talk because we want to get into the serious conversations where we know good learning will happen. Also, eager to learn, it's easier to learn to talk about honing that to learn actually to hone! So talk runs ahead of proficiency, which is innocent enough though you experienced guys can pretty much see right through that. There is also a kind of temperament that wants to master the concepts pretty fully before giving the real deal a try. So newbies, beginners, wanna-bes, some sincerely learning, some just talking, all of us "all hat and no cattle" for whatever reason...honesters!

I'm just having some fun on a rainy Saturday...

Originally Posted by goaT

That makes the truly newbie sound kind of devious. Should there be a seperate term for someone who realizes they are newbie, but doesn't pretend they are better than they are?

Other than that, I love the new phrases!

I'd like to see the term "honer-ette" worked in there somewhere!

James.

It's now official: I'm a honist.

Excellent. I really enjoyed that post Lawson. The names are great.

I think we need honing classes. Maybe Skype or something. I'd be into those. Then we could be taught by someone as you said, who is upholding a standard or setting that benchmark.

FYI - I just shaved with a W&B that I cleaned up from ebay and honed. Put it into my rotation, with others that I have done the same with. Sharp....very comfortable and sharp. I would like to nominate myself for the position of Honist. Is there someone that will second that nomination? (trying to pay attention to Robert's rules here....)

Thanks for the cool post.

Maxi

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.