Originally Posted by
Blackpool
A couple of years ago I read that the reason double-edges lasted such a disappointingly short time was not so much due to the bevel blunting as a build-up of skin cell and soap scum. So in an effort to remove these and extend their little lives, I split a pencil in half, took out the lead, then glued it back together, leaving a slot in the middle as long as the blade is wide. I could then push/pull the blade back and forth on either 3" paddle strop or chinese hone, rocking see-saw fashion holding the ends of the pencil steady with both hands. Not bad. But as previously pointed out, they can be bought very cheaply, and it is a lot of bother to go to. However, I would of course be grateful to hear of a better and cleverer method than my effort.