Thread: Honing review

Originally Posted by mainaman

You can search for tests that work to tell when the bevel is set, I personally like to use a scope, others like TPT, or TNT or shaving arm hair.
All those work so you have a choice what to go with that works best for you.

Did you hone the razor to get feed back for your honing progress? If that is the case I do not see a reason to sink like that, it is part of the learning experience.
You should get motivated to keep on going till you get trough the challenge.

I'll be fine in a day or so it just feels like my old man would tell me I'd never Amount to jack squat but that's another story. And I have a loupe but I guess I never fully understood what to look for as I look thru the loupe

Originally Posted by cudarunner

Something that I'll do sometimes is to 'Spot Check' at the heel, the middle and the toe, before running the edge over the nail. Remember that every time that you do, you dull the edge!

When you think that you've got a good bevel follow the advice and give it a good stopping and a test shave! You'll never know until you've tried it!

I'll heed your advice and shave with a 1k and if it's ok and doesn't suck I guess I'm getting it down

Originally Posted by Tylerbrycen

I'll heed your advice and shave with a 1k and if it's ok and doesn't suck I guess I'm getting it down

Tyler please be prepared for a test shave like nothing you've ever experienced!!! It's not going to be something that you'd want to do every day. It's just another 'tool'! I've done it off of the 1k, 4k, 8k, and 12k just to see the difference as I've progressed!!

Originally Posted by cudarunner

Tyler please be prepared for a test shave like nothing you've ever experienced!!! It's not going to be something that you'd want to do every day. It's just another 'tool'! I've done it off of the 1k, 4k, 8k, and 12k just to see the difference as I've progressed!!

How else will I learn from you old mentor so I think I got the bevel set on a henckel I got to practice honing with cause it really grabs the thumb nail and I'll give it a couple more xstrokes and I'll shave with it tomorrow

Originally Posted by Tylerbrycen

I'll be fine in a day or so it just feels like my old man would tell me I'd never Amount to jack squat but that's another story. And I have a loupe but I guess I never fully understood what to look for as I look thru the loupe

I do not think loupe is the best to use for edge monitoring, at least for me too small of aperture.
I like to use a scope with light source, it gives me good enough magnification and resolution to see what I need to see.

The times I got feedback saying my edges were disappointing were really really hard days for me. It was like a lightening bolt of grace when one of those guys wrote me after having a moderator hone his blade and said my edge wasn't bad. The owner graciously wrote and said the other person's honing didn't produce a significantly better edge. Hearing that was such a relief.

When down over one that wasn't your best - its easy to forget your accomplishments. I've shaved w/ your Norton 8k edge. It was quite respectable. There's no way I could have had that good a shave if you hadn't done alot of things right. We're doing at least as much restoration grinding on alot of these blades - which greatly complicates things. This honing stuff comes easily for some. I'm not one of them. I have to work my butt off. I expect to be working it for a few more years. You get good shaves on your razors. They'll get better. For now - this is why I hone for free. Some time, ask me about a couple razors that still have me stumped. Glen finally took over on one of them. I'll get there. So will you. FWIW - don't ever believe anyone who tells you you won't amount to much. At least mentally, give them the digital salute and another for me.

I've been asked to offer a honing service here quite a few times but have so far resisted. As much as I would like to help out like minded individuals I know that sooner or later a razor would turn up that would kick my ass, no matter how good a honer I am/could be. Im always up for a challenge when the razor is my own, but I think ill leave honing services (and the expectations of noobs) to the honemeisters! (or at least not charge anyone until I have a ton of experience). Anyway keep trying Tyler! We're all still learning!

Originally Posted by pinklather

The times I got feedback saying my edges were disappointing were really really hard days for me. It was like a lightening bolt of grace when one of those guys wrote me after having a moderator hone his blade and said my edge wasn't bad. The owner graciously wrote and said the other person's honing didn't produce a significantly better edge. Hearing that was such a relief.

When down over one that wasn't your best - its easy to forget your accomplishments. I've shaved w/ your Norton 8k edge. It was quite respectable. There's no way I could have had that good a shave if you hadn't done alot of things right. We're doing at least as much restoration grinding on alot of these blades - which greatly complicates things. This honing stuff comeseasily for some. I'm not one of them. I have to work my butt off. I expect to be working it for a few more years. You get good shaves on your razors. They'll get better. For now - this is why I hone for free. Some time, ask me about a couple razors that still have me stumped. Glen finally took over on one of them. I'll get there. So will you. FWIW - don't ever believe anyone who tells you you won't amount to much. At least mentally, give them the digital salute and another for me.

First off congrats on making moderator Robert and thanks for the kind words I appreciate it

Originally Posted by Tylerbrycen

I understand Rome wasn't built in a day I have to figure this out alone which sucks but it's life. It just would have been nice to hear from actual buyer instead of someone else

Tyler am I reading this right? Someone bought a razor from you or your honing services. Was not happy with the edge or did something to it and sent it to another person to hone. Then that honer write you the letter.

I think you end up with an entirely different perspective when you take on honing or any hobby for that matter, number one for yourself and then when you start to get proficient, take it on as a hobby to really learn it. This of course takes a lot of time and being able to accept the frustrations that come from learning anything new. I am a little lost on lamenting right from the start with the expection to make a vocation from this and parden the expression but looking at this environment as "Easy Pickins".