Thread: cleaning or honing first ?

I've found an old straight that has some water marks and the beginning of minor pitting on its blade. I have two questions - knowing that the razor is something like a 4/8 wedge and the hone is a well-known Norton 4/8:

- Is it better to try to hone it first (thus maybe removing part of the pitting) and to finish the cleaning with Maas, or to clean it first with Maas and/or sandpaper and hone it afterwards?

- Is it good enough to begin to hone with the Norton, or do I need to begin with a 1000 grit hone?

Thank you very much

I'd recommend cleaning it first then honing. I can't give a reason why, it just seems logical and that's what I do. Honing is probably the very last thing you should do with a razor. Prior to stropping of course.

Because cleaning can dull the blade and honing won't get it dirty enough to make cleaning difficult.

Essentially honing is polishing, just for certain surfaces on the blade. Clean first, get it looking the way you want, then hone.

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

I'd recommend cleaning it first then honing. I can't give a reason why, it just seems logical and that's what I do. Honing is probably the very last thing you should do with a razor. Prior to stropping of course.

Speaking from experience here: I have tried honing then cleaning...and had to hone all over again because I got too close to the edge with the dremel.

That Turtlewax rubbing compound works great for removing rust/pits, but it can trash an edge really fast. So can anything on a felt wheel really.

Yep, Alan's right when you clean the blade whether you use a dremmel or liquid polish or cloths or sandpaper the result wil be a dulling effect on the blade no matter how careful you are. Clean it up first and then do your honing.

Thanks everybody!

I will follow your unanimous advice and clean the blade first. On Monday or Tuesday I'll go buy the sandpaper at the next "tool" shop (I don't and can't own a dremmel - live in a very small apartment). I will keep you posted of the progress (I'll even try to take pictures).

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

I'd recommend cleaning it first then honing. I can't give a reason why, it just seems logical and that's what I do. Honing is probably the very last thing you should do with a razor. Prior to stropping of course.

+ 1 clean first

another thought. if you are cleaning a dull blade and slip and cut yourself, that sucks. now think of doing the same with a sharp, honed edge. that sucks a lot more.

my thoughts.

vgod

Originally Posted by vgod

another thought. if you are cleaning a dull blade and slip and cut yourself, that sucks. now think of doing the same with a sharp, honed edge. that sucks a lot more.

my thoughts.

vgod

Thats true, I don't think I have restored a razor yet that hasn't wanted a taste of my blood during the process. I got a nice slash in my thumb just a few weeks ago which hasn't completely healed..... Imagine if the razor had been shave ready.