Today I shaved with my newly restored Carl Monkhouse. I bought it cheap on the bay and had Glen take it from there. Now I knew that I was going to get back a beautiful razor and if your at all familiar with Glen's work you would expect nothing less. What I got back was better than expected, much better. Included with my restore was a humbling honing. I have been studying Glen's videos , reading the threads and have honed a few of my razors using the Naniwa progression technique. I have had what I thought was success until I shaved with one that he honed himself. This was a shave superior to all others I have had in the past. Including ones honed by other professionals. It took nothing to shred through 3 days of growth, in fact it felt as if the blade was rolling over my skin and just disintegrating the hair in its path. It was amazing and when I finished all I could do was acknowledge the fact that I am not even close to honing that well. Not close, not in the neighborhood, hell not in the state!
My advise to all the nubees out there giving the hones a try...Keep it up, I know I will but get a razor honed by glen or one of the other pros here at SRP. Give yourself something to compare with. Shaving with one after having shaved with one you did yourself is a humbling moment to say the least but it is a teaching moment as well.
Good Shaving Gents.
-Ben