Thread: keeping track

I've not read anyone mention how they keep track of the condition and state of readiness for the razors. I have a bunch of razors, some need honing, some have been honed, some have been honed and refreshed on Crox and some have been used several times.
So how do you keep track of how far along each razor is?

I was thinking of starting a spread sheet or a note book.

It is a great idea. I posted my intention of doing so a couple of years ago but never did more than take notes on a few off and on. If you only have one series of hones and a few razors it would be easy but if, like me, you have a ton of razors and stones it is impossible to remember which were honed with what. Keeping a log, whether on spread sheet or written down, would be a valuable asset.

I've started keeping notecards with the razors where they are stored they list what they are honed on, when they were last honed and I mark how many shaves I have on each razor. I even will mark what I plan on trying next honing on occasion. I have just started marking how each shave went and what I used.
Most of the information is redundant, but I enjoy keeping track anyway.

Spreadsheets are great. I use them for razors, knives, hones, etc. Info like when and where acquired, price paid, type of steel/scales, when and how sharpened, and the like. Comes in handy when the memory starts to slip....

I used to do that, I used a word doc, and just updated and saved it, Then, I went Old School, and got one of those Black and White Comp books, and liked that better, I keep it with my hones..Hmmm. Old School... Straight Razors...maybe a connection....Ha..

I still use the book to keep track of my razors, when and how they were honed last.

I started months ago keeping a honing journal. I list the razor, when honed, honed used, laps and results...In this journal I also have a monthly calendar where I list the razor used...this way I know how many shaves I've got before the next honing. Just a little bit of my OCD. HOG

I have a spreadsheet on my computer that covers all of that as well as what I paid for each razor, and the date I acquired it.

I am working on putting together an Access database so that it's easier to enter and retrieve data, and I can put in pictures of the razors and longer notes, etc... I just don't have enough time to devote to putting it together.

Beyond that I have racks in my shave-den for razors, I place them in different slots depending on how well they shave. If you ever come to my house and need to borrow a razor, I suggest using one in the rear-left compartment.

I use the OpenOffice Calc program which is a free spreadsheet, like Excel. I started logging comments on brushes, soaps, razors, blades, AS, time between shaves, etc, and just updated it to log my progression in straights. Now I need to log shaves on each razor, experiences with strops (#of laps, leather, nicks), hones and progression, and so on. Eventually I will probably just narrow it down to number of shaves on each straight.

wow some great advices above.
This is the reason i never try to hone more then 7 razor and keep them shave ready condition.
Rest of the razor are not shave ready.
good question.

I used to use a portable wiki application. Now I use index cards if the computer isn't available, or more often an application called MemPad.