So I'm new to straight razors. Got a blade from a guy online and shaved/ strpped with it for about 2 months. Now it's dull and needs honing. Now I should mention I'm a chef and have been doing my own knives for some 15 yrs. I wouldn't trust my knives to anyone. But rather then be cocky I realize that a razor is different in huge ways to a chef knife, I get that.. So I thought I should baby step into honing my 2 razors. Thought perhaps I should get them professionally honed so I have a refrance point. I've looked in classifieds here and can't seem to find anyone close by to do these blades. (I'm in London Ont. Canada) Then I find a guy in Ingersall just down the road who sharpens straights. He has a store front called on the edge.Knives, swords yadda yadda. So I think what the hell I'll take a drive. $10 a razor. Well i just got back. Here's what I thinnk. I found him to be very over confident.. Like I was just some idiot who knew nothing.. He began by telling me to make sure I don't use shaving foam. Make sure I have a brush and soup blah blah! But I didn't get insulted.. Told him I know all that thank you.. I've been using these razors for a bit now. But I need them honed before I tackle it myself. But then he started talking about how he hones them with an angle not with the spine flat.. Plus he`s using a machine and a electric stop.. Whatever that is. Now I'm thinking hmmmm.. Whats that going to do?? He tells me to strop them with a slight angle as well spine not touching the leather. And that that the leather doesn't do anything to the blade other then hold the diamond paste!!!! What is this guy going on about??? I paid him my $20 and left feeling a little bummed. Like another dead end. Anywho I just had a shave and well the two razors are better then they where but I still think my beard and the shave itself should be smoother. What am I to do? anyone in southwestern Ont wanna teach me to hone?? hahaha!!!!