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

I'd be broke if I was paying someone else to hone my straights. I think if you're a dedicated straight shaver, you should be able to at least touch up an edge.

Very well put.
To me, being able to maintain my own razors is one of many aspects that makes this a very enjoyable hobby.
It takes a while to be good at that, but as you said, reading up on all the great info on here sure helps a lot.
And, honing is just plain ol' fun

I use a King 1000/6000 combination stone and a Pike Wireless barber hone to finish with. I don't think 4-5 stones is an absolute necessity...i am new to honing and straights in general, but using those stones (+ a 180/320 stone i borrowed) i managed to bread-knife a razor with a wavy edge and hone it back to a shave ready state. The razor passes the HHT and shaves very close and comfortable. I find that the most dramatic change in sharpness is through stropping. If i want to polish the edge, i will look at pasting some CrOx on the back of my strop.

I started honing my own about six months ago. I had some mishaps but with practice I do pretty good of I do say so myself

I hone my own but try to keep at least a one or two professionally honed razors on hand at all times just to be reminded of where the bar is set. There are tons of options and ways to spend lots of money, but try to be rational. Like Glen, you only need one or two razors, a stone and a strop. Pick a system and stick with it at least a year before buying or trying another. Just my two cents. I wish I had followed my own advice sooner Any more I only use the King 1k or DMT for bevel setting, then the whole nagura progression on an Asagi. I've had unbelievably good and bad results, but time will hopefully improve my batting average.

Originally Posted by lapp

... The razor passes the HHT and shaves very close and comfortable. I find that the most dramatic change in sharpness is through stropping. If i want to polish the edge, i will look at pasting some CrOx on the back of my strop.

I have never had a razor pass the HHT with one of my head hairs... I have a full head of hair, but the stuff is like silk. I also have very few body hairs, but if I pass a razor near my Goatee they do pop off, but I can tell if my razors are ready with a wet thumb pass. What beard I have is a 'once a week' thing - twice at most. Must be the Native American in me.

I'm 55 so nowadays I never spill milk on my face so the cat can lick it off.... 'cause I enjoy that SR shave and wouldn't want him to ruin it for me.

Three and half months into srt8 shavin. Had to get norton stone set and 7 "rough" razors from antique store to try to sharpen so i could send the DOVO back for the free honing. Didn't want to be without a razor. Well DOVO never went.....and now have 9 shaving str8's soon to be 10. After having to shave in shower with disposable sensitive Bic's for years, I've found BLISS! Practice,practice,practice.

I have all these stones but have settled in with Naniwa 5k, 8k & 12k. Will use my Suehiro 20k as well. Started using my Mastro Livi loom strop and find I no longer need my stones unless I buy a razor and have set the bevel or do some major blade work. Once the bevel is set, I may use the 12k but mostly stay with the loom strop.

It's a good thing Halloween is around the corner katman this is a fairly old bone you dug up, that's OK though I'll chime in and say, I think it's a little easier than most people would think, now I do have some honing experience but with butcher knives not SRs, I have a lesser expensive 3k/8k I use on my Boker along with balsa wood with crox for the finish, a brand spanking new Shapton 12k is being delivered tomorrow along with a 30/60 loupe.
I'm like a little kid just waiting to play with me new toy

Ahhhhhhhhh.

It was delivered today and I didn't go to the post office !!!!!
A new Carhartt hoodie to boot.