Quote Originally Posted by edhewitt View Post
There is also a difference between refreshing and honing, perhaps one of the more experienced guys could chime in at this point, I don't know enough to be much use.
Regards ed.
I think you make the salient point here, Ed. In my opinion people need some basic skills in tuning up a blade that was originally acquired shave ready. When I started straight shaving I decided I wasn't going to do this unless I took care of the sharpening myself. That doesn't mean learning how to repair it, just know how to maintain it during normal use.

A couple of weeks ago I spoke to a man who used straight razors for religious reasons. He said the reasons would be hard for me understand, but he could use a straight or an electric but couldn't use the typical department store fare. When he was in the Army he had to get special permission to use a straight because the Army considers it a weapon. Anyway, he ordered $500 worth of razors and because the only thing he knew how to do was strop, he discarded the razor when it got dull. Now that he is no longer in the service, he pays someone $35 to sharpen the one he has now when it gets dull. I thought that was kind of extreme. He needs to learn to give his razor a tune up.

I can set a bevel and keep my edges sharp. I can't mold steel, restore, or re-scale. I would like to be able to re-scale and tighten the pins, and I think I can learn that.