Thread: Interesting "twist" on honing

I don't like it, but I remember trying it just to make sure it didn't work. I think all these honing and stropping videos have to be considered in aggregate. Once you see how he strops it lends more credence to why he hones like this. Good news though is that the blade isn't overhoned. Bad part is its not all that sharp.

That is some serious slurry!. Also, that guy has some serious slack in his strop. I would think that edge must be all sorts of rolled.

I shave in my barbers we use use feathers or shavettes. But i have used customers old razors that i have honed for them and shave realy well as i test on my self and i think all he is taking of that guys face is soap i don't think the guy actualy has a stubble. and the stropping carn't be right can it ? my mate is a 78 year old ex barber infact he still does one day aweek for me and his dad was abarber he taught me how to strop on his old strop and how to hone on very old coticule i think with water only

Yes the stropping was not very, erm... technical shall we say. But just as butchers can get good cutting edges on their knives with techniques that really shouldn't work, I bet there are some experienced barbers who do things differently and still get great results. I've only had my straight a few weeks so I'm not the one to judge.

I even read a theory somewhere that an ideal cutting edge should be elliptical at the edge (microscopically.) This gives an ideal balance of thinness vs stress levels at all distances from the blade tip so you get good cutting edge with reduced chance of rolling the edge. Using a loose strop could certainly give a rounded/elliptical edge. While this certainly isn't the best way to treat a razor, maybe it gives a workable solution, one that sometimes works for the pros?

I'd still give the shop 10/10 for ambience.

Yea, its hard to grasp how he fell into those bad habits but by using a slurry he'd be creating a good cutter. By stropping then, with some slack, he may be shortening the "teeth". Most of us, ofcourse, hone on far higher grits and use a virtually smooth edge, for closeness and comfort (or we do not use a slurry).

Specifically on the honing technique the circular pre-stroke would tear off any overhoned sections. It kind of resets the bevel with each stroke.

I agree that it might be working well for him. I also agree that the patron sure looks clean shaven from the beginning.

I also thought his stroke technique and angle were pretty good, although a little low (angle wise) for me. Nice and gentle though.

Right ! I use a slack strop. Anyone wanna say my edges are rolled

I won't comment on that guys honing but in defence of his stropping his left hand is not lifting the strop into the edge & rolling it. Watch the slo mo. Ok he may blow a couple of passes but the edge trails on flat leather. I can't seer how that would roll an edge.

Even Bill Ellis leaves a little slack in his strop, if you've watched his CD. He says 3/4" or maybe a little more.
He also says he uses about 3lbs of pressure so I don't know about taut strops & no pressure but I haven't read any posts that say Bill's edges are less than perfect.

Your edges are rolled . . . I don't think that was as hard for me as you might have thought!

What Bill Ellis video are you talking about?

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Your edges are rolled . . . I don't think that was as hard for me as you might have thought!

What Bill Ellis video are you talking about?

I see you don't criticise Bill's edges

The video on his CD...

No, but I don't have to constantly "restore" my blades, how do you think he got so good at it?