Many years ago I started warming my SR under hot water before my first stroke. It is a comfort thing. I am sure many of you also do this in your daily routine. Recently, I began to warm the blade under hot water prior to touching up on the 12k Naniwa, stropping on CrO balsa, or with the leather strop on the premise that it may make the metal more receptive to honing and polishing. After doing it now for over a year, I think that I can report a measurable benefit to the practice.

Are there others out there with a similar experience.