Thread: Honed vs Shave Ready

So my question to all you pro honesters,what is Diff.When a customer sends a razor to your shop to you ask them if they want it honed or do you ask them if they want it shave ready???

To me there is only "shave ready" I send razors back fully honed, stropped, and ready to shave... In fact I include a letter the states what system I used, and to please not strop for the first shave...

The only exception is if I am helping a new Honester get started, and I only set the bevel so they can take it from there...

To me the process of Honing is to make the razor Shave Ready. This is the reason I test shave each razor I hone. If it does not shave me smooth and comfy, it does not go out. I also sent a little note out with the razor, but because they are oiled, I advise that you don't have to strop (You should definitely rinse and wipe off the oil), but I have come to recommend more that the razor be stropped before shaving. A new guy can roll an edge when stropping, but more times than not, it is technique/poor angle that give them troubles.

Have fun,

Lynn

For me, it depends what the person wants. If they ask for the razor to be honed, I assum they want it fully honed, which means shave ready. I hone it up as best I can, strop, test shave, strop, and mail it out. I tell people that if they are comfortable with their stropping, they should - if they are not, they should try the razor before stropping themselves.

But I'll also just set a bevel or do something else if that's what the person requests.

Originally Posted by Lynn

To me the process of Honing is to make the razor Shave Ready. This is the reason I test shave each razor I hone.
Have fun,

Lynn

I know when you test shave a razor you are testing a lot of razors. For us new to honing and may be testing only one razor what would be your recommendation? Should we do an entire shave with the razor, or only half the face and use a pro honed razor for comparison of comfort/closeness on the other side?


Duane

Fro me honed razor means shave ready razor.

yes, honing is a process not a state and honed just means it spent time on a hone. Shave ready is the end result. That's how I see it.

Originally Posted by Dllandry

I know when you test shave a razor you are testing a lot of razors. For us new to honing and may be testing only one razor what would be your recommendation? Should we do an entire shave with the razor, or only half the face and use a pro honed razor for comparison of comfort/closeness on the other side?


Duane

I can normally tell how a razor is cutting with any single pass. If I question the razor, I'll do a WTG and ATG pass. If I still have a question with it, it goes back to the hone. Nothing wrong with doing a full shave with one.

Have fun,

Lynn

I do not hone so many as Lynn or others, so I usually always do a full shave when I test a razor - WTG and ATG. If I have more than one to test, I'll usually do WTG and ATG in one area. I then do a couple of sharpness tests once I have finished. If it is still good after a complete shave, then it is good to go. Of course, if it becomes bad during a shave, stop!

James.

I'm still only a progressing beginner with honing. I've done maybe 20 eBay or flea market razors, all of good quality, good name brands, good steel. Most needed only a little sanding, a few needed more. But all needed the whole process from setting the bevel on up.

Lately I've been enjoying using these razors and feel like a sound razor I can hone pretty well to shave-ready if it doesn't have any unusual problems or quirks. I generally test-shave at least half my face because of the several different types of growth on my face. Usually I have two razors ready to test, and so I'll shave half with one, half with the other.

I can see, though, how a pro honemeister or even just a very busy excellent hobby honist could be busy with a lot of razors and would need to just shave a patch to test.

Also: I have learned a lot by shaving only with razors I have honed for the last couple weeks, and then switch back to a professionally honed razor. I can see my progress, but I can also see…how far I have to go!

My razors cut nice and smooth...but the ones Lynn honed, well, the whiskers just commit suicide when they see the edge coming!