Thread: Old timers, what have you seen change over the last ---- years?

Originally Posted by Denvernoob

There is also, of course, the element trying to squeak a bit of a profit out of it...and like any research for any hobby, some are garbage, some are great, and anyone who really looks more than skin deep and has an ounce of common sense can separate the wheat from the chaff.

You and I can separate the wheat from the chaff but a newbie will have big trouble doing so. That is what really bothers me.

Having said all of that...making blanket statements that someone who has or has not been a part of this hobby for "x" period of time, and by extension then has no credibility is also a bit of an overstatement. I hate to say it...but this is NOT rocket science. Both some of the smartest and also dumbest people throughout human history have been able to successfully shave and hone...and while it is a skill mostly lost, it is not that hard to pick up.

This is not about smart and dumb, it is about experience. As you said not a rocket science, everything that there is to honing has already been invented, however some guys that have been honing for a few months already marketing themselves as inventors of new methods. Why is that? Profits! The ones that suffer are not the experienced shavers, but the newbies. They are being fed faulty information, latest mantra being that honing using circles is wrong. I have seen on more than one occasion claims that Gold Dollars are as good as any vintage razor and Filarmonica...What is that about?

I don't see how your last remark honestly has anything to do with anything. If I were to sell my services and don't want to or like honing wedges, how in any way does that affect the quality of my honing of a hollow grind?

I thought that honemeisters were supposed to be able to hone any razor no matter wedge or hollow ground? Unless that is not true then a lot of folks out there that claim fame are not really worth their salt.

Originally Posted by mainaman

You and I can separate the wheat from the chaff but a newbie will have big trouble doing so. That is what really bothers me.

This is not about smart and dumb, it is about experience. As you said not a rocket science, everything that there is to honing has already been invented, however some guys that have been honing for a few months already marketing themselves as inventors of new methods. Why is that? Profits! The ones that suffer are not the experienced shavers, but the newbies. They are being fed faulty information, latest mantra being that honing using circles is wrong. I have seen on more than one occasion claims that Gold Dollars are as good as any vintage razor and Filarmonica...What is that about?

I thought that honemeisters were supposed to be able to hone any razor no matter wedge or hollow ground? Unless that is not true then a lot of folks out there that claim fame are not really worth their salt.

I totally get your point about methodology and self-proclamation of expertise, and perhaps I missed that in your original post. I agree 100% that if one claims to be said Meister that they damn well better be able to hone a wedge! There certainly is a lot of BS out there, and I do see your points on that level. I don't think I was looking at it through that lens but points well founded!

On a side note (this is my edit)...
I didn't like circles at all when I started, and now they are a critical part on any hone I do for bevel setting (tape or no tape depending on the razor, its condition, age, etc.). I still use my second hand to stabilize my x and rolling x strokes, but that is just a comfort thing at this point. I totally agree with your point there as well!

Originally Posted by Denvernoob

I totally get your point about methodology and self-proclamation of expertise, and perhaps I missed that in your original post. I agree 100% that if one claims to be said Meister that they damn well better be able to hone a wedge! There certainly is a lot of BS out there, and I do see your points on that level. I don't think I was looking at it through that lens but points well founded!

On a side note (this is my edit)...
I didn't like circles at all when I started, and now they are a critical part on any hone I do for bevel setting (tape or no tape depending on the razor, its condition, age, etc.). I still use my second hand to stabilize my x and rolling x strokes, but that is just a comfort thing at this point. I totally agree with your point there as well!

You still use your second hand...wow...what hand do you use to tear your hair out by the roots when you can't get the bevel set after two hours.....I need that second hand....

Originally Posted by Phrank

You still use your second hand...wow...what hand do you use to tear your hair out by the roots when you can't get the bevel set after two hours.....I need that second hand....

Hahaha....If both hands are getting tired I put that puppy down and try again the next day!