Thread: My first hone result with pictures

I am sure there are many different motivations possible for honing. I am not a collector, the only razor I bought is collector grade but it is going to see storms and high seas, I am not going to store it in a box behind some glass. As I said if anyone want to mail me a cheap razor for honing practice I can pay a small amount but other than that I have no problem at all using that one as I am learning to hone.

How's it shaving today? +1 to forgetting about the hanging hair test PLEASE. It's too easy to get caught up on HHT that as Glen said, needs to be calibrated and may not work on your hair. Just work on the edge a little, then shave with it and see how it feels (smoothness wise) and how it shaves your beard. Then do a bit more work if you aren't satisfied, then test shave again. Basically, you want to do little by little so you can better gauge what you're doing and so you can see how your honing skills in general improve. I also recommend, shaving off your 2K to see how it feels (stropping afterwards of course). Same with your 6K and then finally your 12K. This will really show you what each stone it doing and how your blade FEELS after each stone. It will end up being a lengthly process but it will give you a better understanding of what you're doing, which will take away frustration, not to mention let you feel the progress your making. I know when I first started, I didn't know if what I was doing was helping or what. Keep at it, make little improvements and keep shaving!

Have fun, you'll get there!

+1 Kyle makes a good point about the test shaves as you move to each stage, they really do teach you a ton...

They take TIME but you seem to be invested in learning to do this slowly and correctly

I wouldn't give up the HHT, it's a useful and fast test but ONLY AFTER you have calibrated it.
Take profit of your shave tests and at the same time try to understand and calibrate the HHT, but don't rely on it until you master the test AND the hair you are using.

Originally Posted by sunsweet

You probably haven't read what I wrote but there are no mistakes here. This is my razor and its fate is in my hands. Only I will hone it and it will never be sent to a honing service. Again my choice.

What you don't seem to have considered is whether this could be a problem blade - the fact that it is a limited edition does not ensure that it doesn't suffer from manufacturing problems. The fact that you have a narrow bevel at one end could be caused by an uneven spine and could easily be the cause of the problem rather than your lack of honing skills.

If you don't mind me saying, your quote above suggests you may never learn soon enough to avoid a very costly error. Someone with more experience may have spotted a problem that was bad enough to have it replaced by the manufacturer - your inexperienced attempts may give the manufacturer cause to reject a claim.

I would seriously reconsider your statement - and get it evaluated by a professional.

Originally Posted by UKRob

What you don't seem to have considered is whether this could be a problem blade - the fact that it is a limited edition does not ensure that it doesn't suffer from manufacturing problems. The fact that you have a narrow bevel at one end could be caused by an uneven spine and could easily be the cause of the problem rather than your lack of honing skills.

If you don't mind me saying, your quote above suggests you may never learn soon enough to avoid a very costly error. Someone with more experience may have spotted a problem that was bad enough to have it replaced by the manufacturer - your inexperienced attempts may give the manufacturer cause to reject a claim.

I would seriously reconsider your statement - and get it evaluated by a professional.

It seems some people never get it.
This would be an irresponsible thing for you to do. It is your prerogative not mine. As I said, honing satisfies different goals to different people. This is my razor and no one else will hone it there is no mistake in that. Sending it out would be the mistake for me but I don't think you'll understand. I have no problem practicing honing on a limited edition TI razor.

is that a TI brush with ironwood handle ? It looks exactly like mine.

I have one unrelated question about stropping. I have a two sided leather suede (both sides) paddle one side I lightly rubb with diamond paste. I do not have a leather strop. My understanding was that you can do it one way or the other. But I find most people use leather. Is it really necessary ?

BTW the other day I shaved after honing without doing any stropping. I will not forget again.

Originally Posted by sunsweet

I have one unrelated question about stropping. I have a two sided leather suede (both sides) paddle one side I lightly rubb with diamond paste. I do not have a leather strop. My understanding was that you can do it one way or the other. But I find most people use leather. Is it really necessary ?

I might be misunderstanding,,

But I am reading 1 side Diamond
1 side Suede Leather

If I am reading that right then the Suede is fine for everyday stropping as long as it is smooth.. ie: no damage

For me stropping 60 on unpasted leather before the next shave is required, some people can getaway with less stropping. You should experiment to find what is your minimum between shave maintenance is so that you can always do at least that much.

It's hard to disagree with gssixgun. The unpasted suede side should do fine.

Jonathan

Originally Posted by Sterm

I wouldn't give up the HHT, it's a useful and fast test but ONLY AFTER you have calibrated it.
Take profit of your shave tests and at the same time try to understand and calibrate the HHT, but don't rely on it until you master the test AND the hair you are using.

I would say to forget about HHT at this point because it causes more problems while learning...it's just one more thing to worry about that isn't necessary. Some razors never pass HHT and shave just fine. The shave test is the final word. Idk, maybe Glen can give a final word on this subject :P