Thread: Need to hone too often

It is a full hollow ground, I'll get something less for my next razor (when I can convince the wife that I need another, but that's another story...)

I do a 3-5 swipe touch up every 2-3 weeks which would equate to every 14-21 shaves, so that's not unreasonable? Perhaps I misspoke when I said that I honed it every 2-3 weeks, I really meant just a quick 2-3 swipes each way. I guess that 'honing' is something more intense?

Though I would still recommend you try a slightly heavier grind next next time, no, that's not unreasonable. It is quite a bit more than I have to do, but in my mind, a quick touch up is not the same as honing. Probably my error for not seeking clarification, but I do separate the two. You should be fine with that.

There are few members among us, such as Lynn and honedright, that can get by with just plain old stropping alone for 6 months or more (keep in mind we're talking about guys with 30 years experience or so), but for us mere mortals the schedule laid out by the OP is pretty reasonable.

I have a very heavy beard, and my Go-To razor is a Wade&Butcher quarter hollow.
I have similar findings. After about 15 shaves or so, the blade is still plenty sharp, but the
comfort level has gone down a bit, so I give it about 10-15 passes on the CrO strop, and
about 100-125 on leather, and that brings it back just fine. Then, about every 30 shaves
or so, I give a few laps on the Chinese 12K, and that keeps me from "real" honing for
a couple of months.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

There are few members among us, such as Lynn and honedright, that can get by with just plain old stropping alone for 6 months or more (keep in mind we're talking about guys with 30 years experience or so), but for us mere mortals the schedule laid out by the OP is pretty reasonable.

I'm in the "plain old stropping camp" & I do have a tough beard but I choose my razors on edge durability eg I couldn't maintain a soft tempered razor for 6 - 12 months on a strop alone. The grind doesn't really enter into it for me.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

There are few members among us, such as Lynn and honedright, that can get by with just plain old stropping alone for 6 months or more (keep in mind we're talking about guys with 30 years experience or so), but for us mere mortals the schedule laid out by the OP is pretty reasonable.

Ryan has a very good point.

But in my mind, this boils down to some simple math here too, not just technique (I may be totally off the mark and apologize in advance if this comes a bit less than respectful...don't mean to doubt the masters of honing ):

1) If I have 1 razor in rotation, then that razor is used every day (touch up every 15-20 shaves or so. Roughly ~2-3 weeks)

2) If I have 5 razors in rotation, then it is used 5 times less and as as such, edge lasts 5X longer (but one thing to consider (75-100 shaves. Roughly 2.5-3 months)

3) etc...

Originally Posted by Sammer

I have a very heavy beard, and my Go-To razor is a Wade&Butcher quarter hollow.
I have similar findings. After about 15 shaves or so, the blade is still plenty sharp, but the
comfort level has gone down a bit, so I give it about 10-15 passes on the CrO strop, and
about 100-125 on leather, and that brings it back just fine. Then, about every 30 shaves
or so, I give a few laps on the Chinese 12K, and that keeps me from "real" honing for
a couple of months.

+1. This is what I do too .

Originally Posted by onimaru55

I'm in the "plain old stropping camp" & I do have a tough beard but I choose my razors on edge durability eg I couldn't maintain a soft tempered razor for 6 - 12 months on a strop alone. The grind doesn't really enter into it for me.

I am curious...on average, how many razors do you have in your rotation?

Originally Posted by BladeRunner001

I am curious...on average, how many razors do you have in your rotation?

At the time I guestimated the duration I used 5 razors. 2 were passing HHT & shaving nicely well after 12 months. 3 needed honing & touchups more frequently than the OP. All were hollow grinds. Just saying not all razors are created equally.

Some razors do seem to go further than others. I have a couple Williams Razors I've probably used 40+ times and they have never seen a hone and my TI Damascus I've been using for years and it's never needed a rehone so the metal apparently does make a difference.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

At the time I guestimated the duration I used 5 razors. 2 were passing HHT & shaving nicely well after 12 months. 3 needed honing & touchups more frequently than the OP. All were hollow grinds. Just saying not all razors are created equally.

That's nice data. Thanks. That is some variation in "honing time" between the str8s.

In my opinion, the right and reasonable honing frequency is whatever is required. Going with some comments above, I fairly frequently use a barbers hone for just a few passes. It maintains the edge at top sharpness, and I don't believe it removes that much, or any more metal than honing less often but longer.

It never made sense to me to let a blade deteriorate in sharpness until you can't stand the pulling, then honing. I believe it is better to hone with a barbers hone between every few shaves.