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

30 posts and not one guy will stick up for Mr Carter? Sorry guys, but I don't see the big deal here.

First of all, this guy knows steel. Read his bio - I'm sure he's not misrepresenting himself solely to dupe the online world. Though I would agree that Mr Carter doesn't follow conventional high SRP standards the fact is that he states at the beginning that he is one of us: a straight razor shaver. I'm assuming that he is shaving with his own edges and not shipping his razors out to Lynn every month, so following that logic it would also be safe to assume that his edges are indeed shave ready and likely comfortable (for him). Who knows what that comfort level is, who cares?

I'm not saying that I would ever sharpen a razor this way, neither do I think a newb should take begginer honing lessons from this video. I'm also not convinced that was his intention, and perhaps he did this on purpose to laugh at the uproar it would stir up (?). But I'm not going to automatically jump on the bashing bandwagon because his methods are unorthodox and non-conformist. If it works for him for his daily shaving experience, then great!

Unfortunately, forums sometimes turn us into honing snobs, thumbing our collective noses at different approachs. Do a search on coticule or BBW and you'll see some "heated disagreements". Would anyone here be willing to contact Mr Carter to try one of his edges before finding him guilty?

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Unfortunately, forums sometimes turn us into honing snobs, thumbing our collective noses at different approachs.

Unfortunately Ryan, forums turn all of us into snobs; honing or otherwise. It's easy to sit in front of a keyboard and pontificate about the mysteries of life (and shaving). I have been banned from many Apple forums because I didn't share the Borg Collectives' belief that Steve Jobs s**t golden eggs every time a new Apple product was unveiled.

Personally, I thought Mr. Carter was pretty full of himself but hey, maybe it was just acid indigestion

Originally Posted by Ryan82

30 posts and not one guy will stick up for Mr Carter? Sorry guys, but I don't see the big deal here.

First of all, this guy knows steel. Read his bio - I'm sure he's not misrepresenting himself solely to dupe the online world. Though I would agree that Mr Carter doesn't follow conventional high SRP standards the fact is that he states at the beginning that he is one of us: a straight razor shaver. ...

And it is quite likely he is buying his stones in Japan, from the quarry. I know he buys his steel there. His vitae is accurate. He is one of the very few non Japanese to remotely succeed in the tool making world in Japan. He is one of the few who can, because they know they are selling to one of their own craftsmen.

Having watched human behavior for some time now...there is a gulf of difference between arrogance that is earned versus arrogance that is un-earned. His has been earned, but it also contains a potential flaw. He appears to have achieved his lowest level of satisfaction (if only in this demonstration) and this misses the feeling that he has retained a learner's mind. I am willing to be wrong about this. His intentions are only to be guessed at, but consistent with his business model, perhaps his sense of humor. Nothing about his behavior requires you or me to like it. I have no doubt that he can produce sharp edges. He was able to adapt to the Japanese way of doing things at one time in his life. Arrogance can be all too easily misinterpreted because the witness to it is often left to feel some how less in comparison.

As a fellow knifemaker and bladesmith, I can see exactly where he is coming from and why he fails to impress this audience. Knowledge can lead to a closed mind and that is balanced on a razor's edge, it can also open the mind if the will is present to admit that you don't own all knowledge. As much as I gravitated to this place to learn about razors (thanks entirely to Terry and Randy dang you guys..) I have learned, and am still learning, a great deal. I have been fortunate to be tolerated and allowed to share here. Despite having a head stuffed full of nursing, education, medicine and steel (and I too, could be more arrogant), I am still adapting to what a razor represents to those who know razors better than I do.

There in lies a difference. It's neither better nor worse, just different. Is it arrogant for me to judge him so harshly? Yes, and I'm unashamed to do so, and will prod anyone with a closed mind exactly the same way, when I find out first, where they are coming from and what they know.

While there are paths and ways to achieve an end, there are also ideal ways that simply feel better. I have witnessed Japanese carpenters spend an hour a day sharpening their chisels in much the same way that you folks hone your razors. I've also seen American carpenters use a Sears belt grinder in 30 seconds. Both edges are sharp, and it's no big thought to know whose edge cut longer and finer. If I had been only about getting work done, the belt grinder would have been "good enough." There's a lot to be said for mindfulness and paying attention too.

Thanks for all being good teachers.

Originally Posted by Mike Blue

Having watched human behavior for some time now...there is a gulf of difference between arrogance that is earned versus arrogance that is un-earned.

Arrogance (your wording), is a bit harsh. I'll concede Mr. Carter this; it takes some rather large cojones to upload a video and subsequently open yourself up to the criticisms of others.

i see people talking about him using newspaper..... this is from the SRP wiki......

Other pastes and powders

Iron and aluminum oxide
Both of these can also be used as polishing media. Please be very careful when buying either, as the purity and the micron sizes are very important.
Carbon blacking/lamp black
This might be the oldest of all the sharpening "pastes". When used on a leather strop it increases draw.
Wood ash
Another old fashioned sharpening "paste" which is very light abrasive when used on linen strops and leather strops.
White chalk
White chalk can be rubbed on a linen strop to increase its abrasive qualities.
Newspaper
The ink itself is a very fine abrasive and so is the paper.

does this mean chuck your leather and cloth? NO..

maybe try and look at this video as an "alternative method" to what you know....... i found it interesting to watch and as i said earlier the man has obvious skill working with edged tools *(be they razors/knives/spoons etc).....

i just don't see the need to trash him or his methods because they are not the ones i use to hone my razors......

some guys here make 100's of passes on cloth then 100's more on leather stropping before they shave...... does that mean you have to? no...

some guys hone in little circles... some use x patterns.... some guys spend 100's maybe 1000's of dollars on one stone.... does that mean you have to? no....

and the "3 finger sharpness test" he uses is the equivalent of the thumb pad test.......... no one has issues with the TPT why have issues with him doing it with 3 fingers instead of his thumb?

is this the "best" method of honing.... heckkkkkkk no..... does it work?? apparently... *(for him)......

mr, carter is admittedly highly skilled in metal work... he was trained in japan by masters and he makes his living building edged tools for people to use......

why the disrespect for someone who is a master of their trade???

This honing method wastes steel, most likely scratches the steel above the bevel, makes for an uneven bevel, and uneven wear at the toe of the razor. I would never buy a razor from someone who makes beginner mistakes like this.

Mike said it much better than I could. It tells a lot about a craftsmen how they treat their tools/machines, and their finished artwork. A true craftsman gives a lot about detail, and treats everything he touches with care, and respect. In that video, he obviously doesnt respect the "tool" he is sharpening

Originally Posted by jeness

This honing method wastes steel, most likely scratches the steel above the bevel, makes for an uneven bevel, and uneven wear at the toe of the razor. I would never buy a razor from someone who makes beginner mistakes like this.

exactly, that index finger push he does has to be pretty significant if you want to raise a burr on a razor.

Originally Posted by jeness

This honing method wastes steel, most likely scratches the steel above the bevel, makes for an uneven bevel, and uneven wear at the toe of the razor. ...

Exactly. Jeness you provide a very good contrast about the attitude of a maker as different from an end user. From his perspective and mine and other makers, if it gets worn down faster, or it breaks during use, you can always make another blade. To a craftsman, material is cheap. Steel is the least expensive part of the process for the most part. You have to treat it as a consumable item in the process. You respect different aspects.

To a person who spent hard earned cash on an expensive hand crafted tool, it's priceless and treated with a different sort of respect.

To finish a thought I began earlier, perhaps my arrogance does not show so much, as I have slowed much in my years and am more willing to just sit and listen. I remember a time in my life when I was not so much fun to be around. Hopefully those days are past and I learned something about accepting others knowledge as valuable, whether I adopt their methods or not, whether I like them or not, whether they like me or not. I know how I do things in my shop to get the job done with the tools I have. But I have paid attention to how many others get the job done in their shops. Not because their way is better, but because it's good to know many ways. The teacher in me wants the learner to succeed. They have to be able to succeed when they go home to their tools so it's very important to know their beginnings, their strengths and build on those. Not to say, "This is the only way...". It never is.

The cheap Dutchman in me wanted to build a brick furnace that could smelt steel that could be used over and over and over again without all the time wasted rebuilding walls from clay. I wanted to discover a cheaper, reproducible method so I could get to the business of reproducing steel like the old ways, but using modern stuff. After twenty melts or so, what I learned was that the old way of doing the furnace walls from clay was the best way after all. There were good, subtle and some not so subtle reasons for settling on that method over several thousand years. So much for believing I had a better idea. Talking with some folks who really know this kind of thing (all older gentlemen who I'd like to grow up to be someday..) I get smiles, then realize they had already done the same thing themselves and allowed me to make the discovery on my own.

Knowledge is important in the beginning. How you wear it later is much more important. I remember something one of my martial skills teachers said, perhaps this is a little helpful..."You are always working on the belt you got last." My interpretation is that you have earned a higher rank, a better degree, but it's not that you earned it that's important in the end, it's how you grow into it. I have found that principle to cut well across many disciplines.

Originally Posted by paco664

why the disrespect for someone who is a master of their trade???

Funny thing is Carter is well respected as knife maker but very disliked as a person, arrogance being often the reason.
I am fine with him having confidence in himself, he apparently knows his stuff.
On the subject at hand, however, please grab a 1/6k king and a news paper and follow his process , then shave and let us know how it went for you and your razor. Do not forget the raise a burr, then deburr on piece of wood etc, I can guarantee you you will very quickly abandon the method when you see how much unnecessary steel is lost in the process.

There is so much I can say about this vid and Mr. Carter but I don't have the time at hand to do so. The best I can do at this time is to say that if he was genuinely interested in making a statement on honing razors he should have used his tool of choice, the internet, to research the accepted approach to honing razors and tested the results of a known and respected professional person providing honed razors before putting his 'alternate approach' out to the world as his gospel. I am all for being unconventional (ask those that have seen me hone) but I don't need to experience his work to know how it will measure up to the SRP standards. There was a time where my honing wasn't very good but I paid attention to the details and learned. What I learned to avoid is a lot of what Mr. Carter is promoting. He should try some quality edges and then publish another vid with his learnings if he is able to admit his short comings in the current vid. If some of ya really want to try his techniques please have at it and let us know of your findings. I have too many vouchers for my time to invest in following a path that has no earned value like the one Mr. Carter is presenting through this thread.