Offering a Sharpening Service In Our Store?

**Utopian** · 08-12-2016, 10:43 PM

Honestly, it is disturbing the number of people who hone a few razors and declare themselves experts. I'm not saying this applies to you, but there is a glut of people who hone maybe six months if that and then declare themselves honemeisters. First, that term was coined affectionately for Lynn Abrams, and as far as I am concerned there is no other honemeister. Regardless of the term, no one becomes an expert that quickly. There is a reason that even modern trade apprenticeships last for a few years. Razor honing is not that complicated, but it does take a lot more experience than a lot of these recently minted "professional honers" think that it does.

In my opinion, it does not sound like you are ready to hone for others. I understand your desire to keep your beard, but you really cannot ever develop the proper expertise in honing if you are not willing/able test your edges on your face. That is the only way that you can get adequate feedback to be able to keep experimenting with and tweaking your edges. I do not believe that your arm can give you the proper feedback on your honing.

**Phrank** · 08-12-2016, 10:54 PM

I'll chime in and say I've been "learning" to hone for two years now.

I'd say I've done about 25-30 what I'd call somewhat difficult razors, with about 7 of them being downright frustrating - from bevel set to finishing stones.

I've refreshed a heck of lot more and I've learned enough that each razor is unique, the geometry of each razor is different, and what would take my friend Val at the Gentleman's Den, who is as pro as you get at honing razors, what he can do in an hour or two, or three depending if it's a difficult razor, or the metal is particularly hard, like a Japanese or Swedish razor, can take me 5 hours or more if I don't do the right thing and step away and send it out.

In all fairness, I'd be very, very careful about potentially taking someone's expensive straight razor, and ruining the razor through inexperience.

There's a thread somewhere on the forum of someone who thought they could hone a razor, and a beautiful 8/8 Sheffield wedge went out looking like it had been frozen in time for 150 years, and came back essentially ruined - the person doing the honing hadn't used tape, the spine had ruined and that pristine razor became junk.

And the guy who did it - got to replace the $500 USD straight razor.

It's not an assembly line process, and some razors can take hours upon hours to do properly, and the guys that do this certainly aren't making much money from it, I'd say at best they make less than minimum wage for the level of expertise required, the time to do a razor, versus the return....

**tcrideshd** · 08-12-2016, 11:08 PM

If you can't shave test them when your done then you can't charge people for the edge you do. It's that simple. The guys who hone for a living don't send a razor out that won't shave and the only way to test is to "Shave With It" arm hair sharp any one can do, I've gotten my pocketknife sharp enough with damn near a rock from the yard. So learn to shave then hone, then after that oh I Don't know maybe after 3-400 razors done for free and giving the service as a gift to evaluate your edges then you have a shot. Cause let me tell you the competition is steep, cause most guys who use one can hone pretty good. Good luck, Tc

**Utopian** · 08-12-2016, 11:24 PM

OK, Alera, I feel like we've shot you down enough. Now how to turn this around for you?

I don't have time to write much right now so I'm going to bang out a few questions and I will get back with more later.

First, can you at least be able to shave some of your neck for testing?

Do you have any guess about your customer base? How many honings/restorations would you expect to do per week?

What kind of budget do you have in mind for hones and restoration equipment?

Do you want to be able to replace scales?

Do you want to be able to make scales?

**dinnermint** · 08-13-2016, 12:44 AM

Alera, there have been some tough posts. However, these are for a reason and don't be afraid to get into this.

We want you to succeed and hone a million razors.

We want you to learn all you can to be a go to source in CO.

The difficult thing is that there is a learning curve. It is not impossible, but you are going to have to cut your teeth for a bit.

Your best bet is to read as much as possible, get some hands on experience and buy some stones. Get a buncha cheap razors and have *many* people try them.

It would help if you don't go full grizzly adams, you can keep a beard. A goatee would be better.

Seriously, if you have questions, message someone or all the people that provide services now. Heck you can message me and we can talk all day about how to hone a razor to not shave ready. I'm batting about a .136 for razors at this point....

**Hirlau** · 08-13-2016, 01:42 AM

**ultrasoundguy2003** · 08-13-2016, 10:23 AM

Short answer has been given.
We "Wetshavers are a picky finicky bunch who like what we like.
Synthetics stones give you known qualities, grit, particulate size, binder equally spread throughout hone.
Naturals are a completely different animal.
I think its great you want to cater to wet shavers.
1 day spent in the apprenticeship plan at a meet is worth 200 razors in a room by yourself.
We bring a boatload of Hones and enjoy sharing , learning and teaching.
Oh and I/we are very devoted to our way of life and have tried about every crazy idea and trick you could think of.
We know what works and what is plausible and what is a fish story.
Sharing our collective knowledge is the only way to preserve this time honored practice of wet shaving.
Welcome and feel free to kick the tires and ask questions.

**bluesman7** · 08-13-2016, 03:14 PM

@alera, We will likely have another Denver meet in Jan.

**Johntoad57** · 08-13-2016, 07:56 PM

John -

This is the most helpful set of links that I think that I have ever seen on SRP. I have searched and and searched and was never really able to find what you posted in one place such as this. I have been struggling with honing for a while (some good results and some bad) but this one singular post has open the door to me getting a solid foundation in improving my honing skills.

I just wanted to say Thank You Very Much!!!

Originally Posted by Hirlau

**Bruno** · 08-15-2016, 09:06 PM

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

If you can't shave test them when your done

This. The shave test is the only reliable test. Especially if you're new to honing.

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