Thread: Honing problems

OK guys, so I called the pro honer. He said that i should not expect that much performance from my straights in the first place. He also said that I may need to strop mid shave. Before I bought the straights i was told every 5 or so shaves - what happens with you guys?

Ta all

Sounds like you got a bad honer. You should strop before every shave at the very least. Most guys do it before and after every shave. I have never had a pro honer tell me or seen any of them on here say that you will need to strop mid shave and that I should expect good performance from a straight.

Ok guys, thanks. Out of interest, can anyone recomend a good hoer in the uk

Originally Posted by trenchy

OK guys, so I called the pro honer. He said that i should not expect that much performance from my straights in the first place. He also said that I may need to strop mid shave. Before I bought the straights i was told every 5 or so shaves - what happens with you guys?

Ta all

I do not think he is a pro, and probably not even a honer.
A razor is stropped before the shave and should be able to go full shave with no extra stropping. If you have tyo strop mid shave that means the razor is not shave ready

Originally Posted by trenchy

Ok guys, thanks. Out of interest, can anyone recomend a good hoer in the uk

Niel Miller is located in UK and hones professionally.

Originally Posted by mainaman

Niel Miller is located in UK and hones professionally.

Is he any good?

So if I have to strop a straight before every shave then that is normal?

Originally Posted by trenchy

Is he any good?

So if I have to strop a straight before every shave then that is normal?

Neil is a top notch honer, no worries there!

Yes, stropping before each shave, and/or after, will keep your edges smooth and lasting

Trenchy, I'm based in the UK and have a couple of questions:

If you have bothered to do any research at all how come you need to ask these basic questions? Send me a pm and I will try and advise on the person who sold you the razor - it's a fairly small community in the UK so I'm pretty sure we will know if it's a rogue trader. Just on reading your comment that he advised stropping mid-shave raises big doubts that he knows what he is talking about.

One of the first posts here was from Jamie (Celtic Crusader) who gave you some good advice - maybe you should consider sending him a PM as well.

Thanks all. Much appreciated is all the help

Originally Posted by trenchy

So if I have to strop a straight before every shave then that is normal?

Yes, every time. I do 40 laps on the linen side then rub my palm briskly on the leather to warm and oil it then strop 60 laps on the leather... Good luck. Hope you get it shave ready from a reputable honer...