Thread: Your experience appreciated: passes HHT but tugs and pulls and hurts

Originally Posted by edhewitt

Allan, are you serious about coffee cups? And how would that work? I am not being facetious here, just not sure if that part was a joke

\

I saw this on some website, how to sharpen your knives using a ceramic coffee mug. I scoffed at it...went and found a large knife we had, did exactly what the guy did, and there was absolutely no difference.

Here's a vid that similar, could be the same one, it was so long ago:



Maybe it will work for someone else, but made no difference when I tried it.

Originally Posted by Phrank

\

I saw this on some website, how to sharpen your knives using a ceramic coffee mug. I scoffed at it...went and found a large knife we had, did exactly what the guy did, and there was absolutely no difference.

Here's a vid that similar, could be the same one, it was so long ago:



Maybe it will work for someone else, but made no difference when I tried it.

I think if I had honed on a mug, I would rather shave with the mug too, I felt the bottom of a mug this morning and it was pretty rough, though maybe it loses some grittiness in use

Originally Posted by edhewitt

I think if I had honed on a mug, I would rather shave with the mug too, I felt the bottom of a mug this morning and it was pretty rough, h

Bwahahaha!

I would not doubt that in a pinch you could sharpen a knife that way but a knife is far different from a straight razor blade. I don't believe kitchen knives are honed up to the grit levels a razor is and the knife bevel angle is different too IIRC.

Bob

Really amazing advice above, seriously I appreciate every single reply. Learning something with every post I read

Incidentally, when I was watching honing videos to reach a final decision I noticed that every individual has his own technique. Which in a way got me worried, trying to figure what is good for my razors.

Some go quickly in the same direction several times and then reverse. Others have a controlled, each side once procedure. Others brace the stone while some hold it in their hands. What would be good for gold plated or extensively worked razors such as the Bergischer and Wackers? Of course, what types of hones are required? Thinking for a new razor that passes the HHT maybe only 8000 grit is needed? Confused.

ffarouki

Fancy gold plated razors and razors with worked spines are honed on the same stones as plain Jane razors. You simply use tape to protect the finish and spine when honing.

Just look at honing vids as guidelines they are no written in stone and you incorporate different techniques over time as you find out wha works for you and your razors. They offer very good starting points.

Do not count on a factory edge on a new razor as being 100% shave ready, some are and some aren't. If the edge is close to being there but not quite by a hair or two then maybe all tou beed do is touch it up on a finishing stone like a 12K Nani or similar stone. Those finishing stones work well to maintain a shave ready razor when it starts to dull a bit.

If you can't get an edge back using a finishing stone you will need to drop back to lower grit stones and work back up.

I would worry about honing after you are able to get close comfortable shaves first. That is enought to learn without trying to learn honing at the same time.

Bob

Good point. Taping the spine etc I haven't thought of that. So you suppose a 8k gives the edge coveted or does one prefer 10k or 12k? Suppose it's a well factory honed razor I mean, what preps it up a bit?

As I understand it:
Traditionally people used a barber hone such as a swatty to maintain the edge of the razor, but recently finer grit synthetics are relatively cheap and available so now edges are more refined. I believe that some naturals are very fine, but can be more expensive and less predictable than a synthetic.
A lot of advice seems to be:
1- learn to shave before learning to hone. Though some guys here have taught themselves both at the same time it is harder.
2- 12k naniwas seem to be popular as a finisher, and as a synthetic are predictable so you can get good advice from other users. But a 12k is not going to turn a blunt razor into a razor sharp razor.
It will take as long to order and have delivered a hone as it will to send your razor off for honing (well almost) , especially if you pay for express/ overnight both ways.
I have tried to save money and cut corners whilst learning to use straights, invariably it has ended up costing me money and taking longer.

Edhewitt- In what way you mean? For me I'm thinking suppose no one had offered to help I would have paid £5 x 2 postage + £20 honing for each razor. If I have two then already that's the price of 1 Naniwa that I can use again in the future. Also, can be careful and pamper my blades as I want.

Problem is that I'm thinking it'll be difficult deciding on one grit. I thought maybe a well honed factory razor that passes the HHT might only need the 8k or the 10k. Perhaps a 3k/8k combination be nice for future planning.

I have had the naniwa 3/8 suggested to me as a good hone, I prefer to have my stones on a surface rather than in my hand, but I am rather new to using hones too, maybe with time that will change, I found the 10mm 3k and 10mm 8k cheaper as seperate items than buying the single double sided stone, the individual ones also come with a plastic base (optional) so that would suit me better. I have yet to make that purchase, I only have a 10k nani and some Welsh slates. Though I do have a 12k on the way.