Thread: I'm not sure what to say about this.

More then one way to skin a banana. I haven't tried his method and until I do .... if I do, I can't unequivocally say it is not effective. Harrelson Stanley, famed plane blade honer of Shapton USA, once put out a video demonstrating his 'side honing method' adapted to straight razors. I tried it and it did get the razor sharp but I prefer the standard method. The only way any of us will know if the Carter method for straights is good it to give it a shot. Other than that we are just speculating.

Originally Posted by rodb

I've got a few junk blades, and I'm going to try this for my own curiosity.

Ok, I tried this following as close as I could the steps, it got sharp.........but very harsh. Curiosity satisfied.

OK. Even with his special honing technique (that costs 35$ for the DVD), if he can't make the blade shave ready-ish, he will have to try honing to the 6000grit stone for more passes. and then he could use the chromium oxide belt for another 500 passes. This way he might be able to make at least the sound effect of shaving while passing whatever he is passing over his skin. I don't think he is an idiot, he is just inexperienced. Btw am I the only one who thinks that you can't back-hone a spoon? He has to make a new video about how to hone a spoon, I'm confused

Originally Posted by Vasilis

OK. Even with his special honing technique (that costs 35$ for the DVD), if he can't make the blade shave ready-ish, he will have to try honing to the 6000grit stone for more passes. and then he could use the chromium oxide belt for another 500 passes. This way he might be able to make at least the sound effect of shaving while passing whatever he is passing over his skin. I don't think he is an idiot, he is just inexperienced. Btw am I the only one who thinks that you can't back-hone a spoon? He has to make a new video about how to hone a spoon, I'm confused

The Advanced Blade Sharpening DVD is available for digital download for only $22.

Mr. Carter's method appears to be just the standard method for sharpening knives - i.e. raise a bur, then break it off, then do the same on a smaller scale.
It certainly does make for a sharp edge, but it is not particularly effective for straight razors, where in addition to sharpness, the edge needs to be smooth (at least for us who shave with straight razors because it's more pleasant, not just to show high level of testosterone). Breaking off burr is highly uncontrollable process, and it leaves behind a jagged edge, and that's the exact thing that one tries to avoid in razors.

That's why the traditional honing methods for straight razors involve things like edge leading, slurry, few strokes - all these minimize the chance of raising a burr that has to then be broken off. Sometimes people would describe the process of honing a straight razor as 'sneaking on the edge'.

As far as Mr. Carter'a shaving, he says he's shaved for at least two years this way and his technique is certainly consistent with that. What I know for sure is that the pedagogical value of this video is very very low, especially compared with the multitude of honing videos from this community. But I'm not sure that was a goal of his, to me it looks like not much more than another marketing video.

Originally Posted by gugi

...the pedagogical value....

If I might be allowed Mr. Gugi, that would be andragogical value. I don't think children can shave yet.

Knife sharpening is not as different as razor honing. I'm not talking of course for cheap kitchen knifes, where you just don't care as long as they can cut. The "sneaking on the edge" applies also for the knifes. For them too, you have to remove the least possible steel. The deeper you go, the softer the steel becomes, something that doesn't necessarily apply to the razors. Knifes are less prone to unforgiving sharpening errors than razors, but don't take it so lightly. (a little off topic answer). Indeed it looks like a marketing video. And those errors- alternative approach to the art of sharpening-honing are still not acceptable for the knife sharpening practitioners.

Originally Posted by Mike Blue

If I might be allowed Mr. Gugi, that would be andragogical value. I don't think children can shave yet.

Yeah, what happened with the good old days...



(I just thought I'd correct your 'yet' to 'anymore' )

"Yeah, what happened with the good old days..."



...when children worked in factories.

I wouldn't call that fine establishment a 'factory'