Thread: How often to hone - advice needed

I've been shaving with a half hollow Dovo every day for about a month now, and it seems to be noticeably less sharp than when I bought it. Assuming I've been stropping reasonably well, how many shaves should I be able to get before needing to get my razor honed? Any advice on strop paste vs barber's hone vs sending the razor for service?

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Seriously, it depends on too many factors that are specific to your honing/shaving prowess. When I started, a straight would last me a week at most, now it last much longer. If you are new and it lasts for a few weeks then I guess you are doing alright and should see improvement over time.

Stropping decreases the number of times you will need to hone your razor. I vaguely remember the last time I honed mine, just to practice honing. I hone so infrequently that I'll do it, sometimes, just to maintain muscle memory. Six months, and up to a year, or beyond, is not impossible or unreasonable for a single, every day razor. But that's after a lot (years) of experience.

I seem to get about 2 months of daily shaves out of one razor before having to hone. This is with daily (no pastes) Stropping.

I am still very much a beginner but one thing I noticed has had a dramatic effect on the quality of edge is not only your skill in shaving and stropping but very much the quality of the razor and the quality of the strop. For example I recently switched from using a standard issue strop to using a kanayama 80k and i honestly think I may never need to hone again. The thing puts the edge to perfection every time, no pastes or sprays.

I guess what I am saying is the equipment matters at least as much as you do. Get a good quality vintage henckels and a good quality strop and your mileage will vary.

When you notice a drop in performance, that is usually a good time to do a "touch up honing".

What hone(s), paste(s), or spray(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Originally Posted by honedright

Stropping decreases the number of times you will need to hone your razor. I vaguely remember the last time I honed mine, just to practice honing. I hone so infrequently that I'll do it, sometimes, just to maintain muscle memory. Six months, and up to a year, or beyond, is not impossible or unreasonable for a single, every day razor. But that's after a lot (years) of experience.

You only strop on unpasted leather and linen? And you never ever do touch-ups?

Originally Posted by Kees

You only strop on unpasted leather and linen? And you never ever do touch-ups?

Yes, that is correct.

good linen can be quite abrasive in it's own right, and if you get your pressure right (none) then you can minimise edge rounding for a very very long time.

Originally Posted by honedright

Yes, that is correct.

Please enlighten us.