Thread: How to maintain honing skill ?

Offer to help others hone. There are gazillions of razors out there. Canvas your State/Country for people that need help.

Agree with others. There is little to maintaining the skill. But I would attack a few razors every once in a while if you can.

I have a Dova stainless which just falls that tad shy of my carbons.
I have DMT, Norton, Naniwa and coticule hones.
Having spoken with Gary Haywood recently I've been inspired to stick with and master my coti's.
However from what I'm reading I need to mess about with these rocks to unlock the secret to my stainless impass, is this interpretation correct?

I'd say if you have the Jones to Hone, find some cheapie razors..Hone em up, Keep the ones you like, sell the one's you don't. Option 2, and 3. Never over hone your razors...
If your skill is up to it, offer to hone for guys that need it...

Originally Posted by Deckard

I have a Dova stainless which just falls that tad shy of my carbons.
I have DMT, Norton, Naniwa and coticule hones.
Having spoken with Gary Haywood recently I've been inspired to stick with and master my coti's.
However from what I'm reading I need to mess about with these rocks to unlock the secret to my stainless impass, is this interpretation correct?

The Norton, and the Coticule will will both work on the Dovo SS but they require a bit more finesse to get the max out of that razor...
The Naniwa SS will bring the best out of it very easily in comparison...

Don't take away to much with what I just said either, way to much is made of way to little difference in honing SS razors...

I find with this ss razor that I get beautifully arm hair popping as soon as I get to the light slurry from thick on the coti. Trouble is when I smooth out with water only, it seems to dull? What gives?
I'm thinking I should reduce number of smoothing laps or just go to crox paddle from the light slurry. Advice welcome.

Originally Posted by Deckard

I find with this ss razor that I get beautifully arm hair popping as soon as I get to the light slurry from thick on the coti. Trouble is when I smooth out with water only, it seems to dull? What gives?
I'm thinking I should reduce number of smoothing laps or just go to crox paddle from the light slurry. Advice welcome.

There is a phenomenon of a razor popping hair well and further finish honing smooths the striations to a point where they don't catch/pop the arm hairs as easily. The razor may be sharper/smoother. How does it shave ?

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

There is a phenomenon of a razor popping hair well and further finish honing smooths the striations to a point where they don't catch/pop the arm hairs as easily. The razor may be sharper/smoother. How does it shave ?

Pretty darn good with good scything technique, but just not as killer as my best carbons. Maybe I'm being a bit precious and expecting to much.
My best shaver is a Bob Allman 1094 carbon and this SS doesn't even come close. That said I'm getting a TI back from Garry tomorrow so I'll reserve judgment till I've given that one the full shave.