Thread: finally, some honing success

My first real straight razor was a dovo classic special. I managed to nick it against the sink faucet and then in attempting to fix it, I wore down the spine of the razor, so that it's now uneven and I'm incapable of fixing it. My first attempt was with a spyderco sharpmaker (ceramic stones - not even the ultra fine ones ) and later with a Norton 4k/8k. My first straight razor experience was not working out as I imagined and I was quickly becoming frustrated.

I then switched back to a dovo shavette that I had been using before the straight. This lessened my frustration, as I was able to enjoy the process of shaving with a straight again, while forgetting all about the frustration of honing and stropping. I also remembered what it was like to shave with a really sharp blade.

With my confidence restored, I decided to have another go with a real straight. I got myself a Fromm Red Head from Tony Miller (who was nice enough to hone it for me as well) and I again enjoyed the pleasure of a well sharpened razor.

Then came the time when it was ready to be honed again. I took out the Norton 4k/8k and armed with the knowledge I acquired when destroying my Dovo, I attempted to hone once again. I used the pyramid pattern and when I was done I attempted the HHT and was dissapointed to find that it wouldn't cut the hair. I decided to strop it anyway and hope for the best.

Well, after giving it a bunch of passes on the strop, I attempted the HHT again, and this time it worked - it easily popped the hair up and down the length of the blade.

Wow - I successfully managed to hone and strop my razor. I later shaved with the razor and while it wasn't shavette sharp, it was much more satisfying of a shave (knowing that I was using a real straight razor that was honed and stropped by myself!)

Thanks for your attention. I just wanted to share my excitement with some others who would understsand.

Learning to hone a razor can be quite frustrating. I remember feeling like I'll never get it right. Now I can't see why I was having all the problems.

Glad to hear you stuck to it and found success. It is a great feeling to be able to hone your own razor.

I understand Ohhh!! how I understand
regards Peter

Well done. Keep refining your technique until you can pass the HHT off the hone and you will start getting the truly sublime shaves you enjoy and all under your own steam. Give yourself a gold star ... and a shave.

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