Thread: Honing Advice

Hi,

I'm new here and have been doing a bit of research about maybe getting into shaving with a straight razor in the future. Of the things that I need to know about there are two in particular that require first hand experience with (for me) to fully understand: stropping and honing.

Stropping is something I guess I'll have to figure out once I purchase a blade, but as far as honing goes I have a question for you all that have experience in the matter.

From what I've gathered by reading on the forums when you buy a new "shave ready" blade it is still required to have the blade honed by a professional. What I need to know is if you experienced guys think one of my friends could take care of this for me.

He's been a sushi chef for the past two years, and from what I understand, like a razor these guys have to keep their knives stupid sharp at all times to produce a quality cut - the only difference I can think of is that a sushi knife only has one face of the cutting side sharpened as opposed to a straight razor which has both faces sharpened.

Do you think this is a task that he could handle? I don't particularly feel like dealing with shipping the blade out to get it honed, but if I have to so be it.

Thanks,

Dave

knife guys don't know JACK about putting an edge on a straight. I would send it to one of the pros. And then you will have an idea of what sharp is.

Hi Dave,

Like the above posters have mentioned, honing a knife and honing a straight razor are like saying "Oh yeah man, I can drive a standard car", and then someone asking you to drive an 18 wheeler across town and back in between two other rigs with 2 inches clearance on each side.

Ok, maybe not that much....but there's a huge difference. I've been sharpening my chefs knives for a long time (especially when I still worked as a chef), and there's almost no comparison to razor honing.

Anyway. I would highly recommend that A) you buy a razor from Straight Razor Designs, which will come sharpened by Lynn, OR B) you buy a razor off the SRP classifieds and get it honed if you need to.

Also, unless you live around the corner from a honer, you'll have to deal with shipping. It's par for the course when you deal with a largely lost craft.

There have been too many horror stories around here about what knife guys can do to screw up a razor, two different animals. (My apologies to the knife guys at SRP). I would simply buy a quality blade from a reputable vendor and have it pro honed, why take a chance with a new blade and end up money/time in the hole only to be aggravated emotionally as well as facially.

If you live close to one of the other members, somebody might be able to help show you how to strop and hone.
There are also lots of good videos on this site. Just check the Wiki / library.

Honing and stropping aren't rocket science; but you do have to develop a feel for them, to do it right.
Keep in mind that once you learn how to strop correctly, you can touch up your razor on a pasted strop every week or so. If you choose not to do your own honing, you'll only have to send your razor out a few times a year, or less if you have more than one razor.

If you get new Dovo, Boker or Thiers-Issard razor, it's likely that it *will* come from the factory shave-ready. Pro honers like those who offer their services on the shaving vendor's sites and web sites like here on SRP can certainly make a factory razor even sharper, but be aware that this may void the manufacturer's warranty.

Learning to strop effectively is very important, arguably much more important than learning to hone. Careful stropping on canvas can actually act like a mild hone, extending the edge life between going to a sharpening stone from months to years. Careful stropping on leather can extend the period between stropping on canvas from days to weeks.

I completely disagree.

It will come from the factory with a rough bevel ground into it, but by absolutely no means would I ever, ever put that razor to my face.

It's up to the new user to take it to a honer who will even out the spine and the initial bevel, and then take the razor to shave ready.

Don't wait until you get a razor to get a strop. Get the strop first and practice on it with a butter knife. That way, when you do get a razor you will be able to take care of it properly.

Originally Posted by JeffR

If you get new Dovo, Boker or Thiers-Issard razor, it's likely that it *will* come from the factory shave-ready..

I think most would disagree with this, they are all known for being delivered with less than shave ready edges from the factory.

Thanks for the quick responses guys. I think I'll have to try Ace's idea - sounds solid in theory. Also, thanks for the links, it's good to know of a vendor that a few people can vouch for.