Thread: Beginner Encouraged, but Humbled

Okay I've honed a good many razors in a short period of time and feel like I'm learning my craft. I have a stack of eBay and antique store finds that I've honed and shave with, and generally am happy with.

But it had been a long time since I shaved with a "pro-honed" razor fresh from the honemeister's shop.

So I had this Solingen 7-day set, "Souvenir of [German city]," NOS, nice 6/8's that I had sent to Lynn Abrams to hone months ago. I had not shaved with them, however, thinking I might sell them freshly honed.

Yesterday and today I shaved with a couple of these razors...and now I have a new sense of how far I have to go! Still pleased with my progress, but wow...that guy gets something out of an edge that I haven't been able to find yet!

I guess honing thousands of razors really does improve one's skills!

There is no replacement for experience. That holds true in many thing in life.

I've got a half dozen or more honed by Lynn and they do indeed give me a benchmark to shoot for. Years of experience, thousands of razors, natural talent and a true love for what he is doing add up to Lynn's stellar results. As an amateur honer I only have to please myself and hone when I want to. I'd have a hard time having a pile of razors to hone for others with a deadline to meet. The pressure of whether they found my work adequate. I take my hat off to those who are pro honers and really deliver the goods.

You guys are so right. It was actually kind of encouraging. I was sensing that my edges needed "more" but not sure if maybe I had hit the limit. Then shaving with those done by Lynn not only showed me how short I come of outstanding, but in a way, also showed me how far I can go. I have a nice set of stones, and I have the gift of being able to follow instructions and advice, and I watch the results. So I'm hopeful that my own razors will slowly move toward that high level of shaveliciousness if I am patient.

Every time I shave with a razor that Sham has sent me I have gone though the same experience. The bench mark is very high and I am humbled by how much more I have to learn. I feel I do the same things but there is just a little something missing that separates my "Good" edges from his "amazing" effortless cutting edges.

It is what keeps me going.

I did something like that when I started getting serious about my edges. I picked up the Gold Bug from Bill Ellis, shaved with it and my own work. I was pleased that I was getting close and had an idea of what that edge should feel like.

I've always wanted to get another razor done from Lynn just to see where I am now vs than. I'm happy with my edges but I just get that currious streak that pops up now and again.

I also try different honing styles now and again to see if anything changes in my edges. While I stil end up doing my own style of honing, by trying other methods I pick up bits and pieces that can fit in my usual paterns. Lately I have only used Japanese Naturals (personal choice over performance), after the sluury is thinned away and just clear water left, I use a stroping method that I have tried from Murray Carters teachings. I really liked the edges I get that way so that piece was incorporated to the rutine.

I imagin I will be testing and fiddling with different styles all the time, I'm just to currious to leave it alone

Hey Lawson, dont fret, even when you become good at it, one will come along to kick your butt! I am dealing with one now. An old W&B with a nice smile and all the inclusions/air pockets in the metal you could ever ask for. I have already re done the bevel umpteen times now!

Originally Posted by LawsonStone

You guys are so right. It was actually kind of encouraging. I was sensing that my edges needed "more" but not sure if maybe I had hit the limit. Then shaving with those done by Lynn not only showed me how short I come of outstanding, but in a way, also showed me how far I can go. I have a nice set of stones, and I have the gift of being able to follow instructions and advice, and I watch the results. So I'm hopeful that my own razors will slowly move toward that high level of shaveliciousness if I am patient.

Lawson,
This is in no way a knock on your or anyone else ability to hone, but it is about the ability of a true master like Lynn. I was talking to my wife the other day about how you can teach anyone how something is done, and they might be able to do it very well, but the true masters just have that extra ability to do it great. You could teach some one how to oil paint, and technically they will understand how it is done, but that doesn't make them a master artist. So I might be able to sit with Lynn and have him teach me everything he knows about honing ( I wish ), But with out that extra special gift from god I still wouldn't be as good. Some people just have the nack. What does this all mean? Well I guess nothing really. Just that we all can't be masters. Keep honing away, next year we might all be sending our razors to you to be honed.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

Hey Lawson, dont fret, even when you become good at it, one will come along to kick your butt! I am dealing with one now. An old W&B with a nice smile and all the inclusions/air pockets in the metal you could ever ask for. I have already re done the bevel umpteen times now!

Hmmm... Stubborn as your avatar. I mean the razor of course

That souvenir set from Soligen. Lemme know how you like it. I passed a nos set up at the last antique show.

Like yourself, I'm really very happy w/ my edges. I like the shaves, I like that I can get wicked sharp on most, and very sharp but very smooth. Probably like yourself, there are blades that just make a monkey out of you. I sure do.

In most areas, I have little natural talent. Guarnera rightly points to this as being a big separator between the 'most' and the 'greats'. But what one lacks in talent, they can mostly make up for in hard work. 'Not my words - they're from Lanny Basham (multiple gold & silver Olympic medalist & world champion marksman) in his book "With Winning in Mind". Basham described himself as having little natural talent for marksmanship. I don't think this was false humility. Notice the blade counts for the better honemeisters - in the thousands. 'Starts sounding like they learned through hard work too. Through their generosity, we're treated to tips, tricks and insight for free that others must pay dearly for. We're the grateful recipients.

Dwarvenchief - you've got me agitated to learn what stropping secrets or techniques you've gleaned from Carter. Is this material online? One reason for the aggitation is that he's about 15 mi. from me. Does he use a straight? I understand he apprenticed in Japan. What better guy to talk about Jnats (if he does use a str8).

Lawson, what you've shared in this & other posts has been great. I'll never forget the line about abysmal technique assures that everything on your face will get cut except hair. You'll be immortalized for that one! Thanks again for sharing.