Thread: How many of you guys hone your own straights?

I love a lively debate. It would take a lot more than words in a post about straight razors to affect me. They are inert objects that I just enjoying shaving with. However, if we were talking about life changing events, of course you would get my attention. It's all good!

It's all good guys, you know how sometimes I go off too quick, he's allowed and opinion, I just didn't like being told I shouldn't have straight razors. After all I don't want to throw all my customs away cause someone thimks that if I don't hone I shouldn't have them, it's a knee jerk reaction from a dedicated straight razor guy, who shaves with the best edges available. Just like my grandfather and my dad did, by dropping them off at the hone guys shop every month or so. So mine is the age old tradition and I,m proud of it. So carry on, fm an old Ranger. Tc

Yes I hone my own. Initially curious of the process and the idea that I can maintain my own collection did satisfy a certain ideal imposed by myself. I however completely understand if some folks are not necessarily interested in this aspect of the hobby. I as many, I am far more intrigued by the shave and look forward to that far more than the need to hone my razors. At this point I almost avoid it as much as possible and having 2 dozen or so razors in my rotation that are shave sharp means I do very little honing these days and just a touch up now and then. Getting a couple of razors professionally honed combined with effective stropping can keep you in the game for a really long time. I hone when I'm in the mood some days its a pleasure others its drudgery. I have kept my honing system to a minimum as a result and at this point I am very happy with my results and ensuing shaves, so am very slow these days to experiment with new stones and systems. I do find it a fascinating subject but don't see it as the rocket science some like to make it into. I see many ways to enjoy this hobby of ours and you can move into and out of any aspect of it to suit your pleasure. Enjoy your shaves gentlemen, I know I will.

Originally Posted by Easttexasman

I have only been using straight for around 4 months but I do hone my own and it feels good knowing that I have can shave with a razor that I honed myself.
I only use a coticule and a slurry stone from start to finish.

Hello Eastexasman. I am also looking at a coticule and slurry stone for honing and wondering what you have achieved from that set up. Do you require a workbench or any old table will do? Thank you and beat regards.

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I to hone my own razors. Took me years to get them close to the pros but now I pretty good at it. Tried all the different stones including JNats and found what Lynn said to be true. I use the Naniwa 1k, 3k, 5k, 8k and 12k stones. I fine tune the razor on my Escher then to my Mastro Livi Loom Strop depending on what needs to be done. I find the Naniwa's to be faster then other stones and they give an excellent edge. I've gotten exceptional results from the JNats and slurry stones but it takes a lot longer and the results are not that much better then the Naniwa's. I find the right use of the Escher and Mastro Livi strop to fine tune the edge is the key to the perfect results.

Originally Posted by jkatzman

I to hone my own razors. Took me years to get them close to the pros but now I pretty good at it. Tried all the different stones including JNats and found what Lynn said to be true. I use the Naniwa 1k, 3k, 5k, 8k and 12k stones. I fine tune the razor on my Escher then to my Mastro Livi Loom Strop depending on what needs to be done. I find the Naniwa's to be faster then other stones and they give an excellent edge. I've gotten exceptional results from the JNats and slurry stones but it takes a lot longer and the results are not that much better then the Naniwa's. I find the right use of the Escher and Mastro Livi strop to fine tune the edge is the key to the perfect results.

Agreed - pretty much bang-on sums up my experience and what I do...

I have a collection of all the different types of stones at a considerable cost and in the end the Naniwa's are substantially less and gives a very fine edge. Like Lynn says, if you want perfect, you can go crazy with stones and take a considerable amount of time learning to use them. If you want a really good edge then you can go with the less expensive stones. Lynn sent me a razor honed on the Naniwa's and it convinced me it's more the honer and his technique then the stones. I saw Murray Carter use a brick and then shave with the razor and it looked really good to me.

I too hone my own.

I've settled on a couple Naniwas: 1k - 5k - 8k - 12K.

I complement that with 2 natural type stones: Coticules and Thüringers.

Pretty much all I use / need.
I have a couple of Coticules, one very fast one I mainly use for bevel setting. And 2 others that are very slow I use for finishing.
I have 2 Thuringians stones, a dark and light one.

Pretty happy with the progression, I like to sharpen things, I've got a humble razor collection and when all my razors are honed I'm a little lost since I just wanna sharpen more razors.

Originally Posted by Johntoad57

I hone all of my own straight razors. That's just part of the experience and responsibility of owning a straight razor. My personal opinion is that if you can't hone your own razors, you shouldn't own them. There will come a day when I won't be able to hone my own razors and when that day comes, I'll get rid of my straight razors. It's the natural order of things.

Just because someone does not want to stand at the BBQ grill does not mean they do not like to eat steak.

I hone my own because I want too.
I feel if someone doesn't want to hone what they own, its a choice they make. And not a thing wrong with it. Some folks cant, some folks just dont want too for whatever reason. When you think how often a razor really needs a honing, you could go a year if you own just a few razors. Then send them out all but one and have them honed.
JMO.