[OLD_SCHOOL]

To start, I would like to give thanks to Lynn, for taking the time to put together his DVD which covered honing. This was a good starting foundation for me to build upon.
Next my thanks goes out to Heavydutysg135, for his 9 part honing clinic, these videos were very detailed and helped explain a few things, that I did not pick up on Lynn's DVD. For me it's not so easy to learn something without being able to ask specific questions, about a particular thing, however as said, Heavyduty did an excellent job of providing answers in his videos without some questions being asked. I also thank Heavyduty for being a guinea pig and trying the second razor I honed.
More thanks goes out to Joshearl for also being a guinea pig and trying the very first razor I honed, from bevel to final polish.
Final thanks goes to all other members who have asked and answered many honing questions.

I first practised touching up razor edges in January and had success, several months later I received some straight razors that were worse for wear. After restoring them I needed to hone them but had only some coarse hones, that I used for my work knives and a Japanese finishing hone. I attempted once to hone a razor on the Japanese hone and well as you can imagine, that did not work. So I put my honing projects to the side temporarily, later, I don't recall which I did first, but I bought a 1k and 5k hone and watched Heavyduty's honing clinic, a bit later I got a phone call to say that my 8k hone had arrived in store. I Then went to work on a no name razor, there were no stamps or anything. The bevel was easily set, the razor took an excellent edge very quickly, I stropped it, tested it and got a very good, comfortable shave, compared to what I had experienced in the past, mostly due to my inexperience with shaving at that time. I contacted Joshearl and asked if he would be willing to test the razor and let me know how my skill was, he obliged. As it turns out, there was just a minor issue with the edge that I had not picked up on, but Josh said it was definitely passable especially since it was my very first attempt with a proper hone setup.
My next honing attempt was on a Boker that I had received from Heavydutysg135. It was like a resto project really as the razor had no scales and Heavyduty indicated that the razor will need to have a bevel set as it did not have one. After setting the bevel and completing the final polish of the edge, I test shaved this razor and found it to be not as comfortable as my last razor, so I honed it some more and the second test shave was equivilent to shaving with a fresh feather professional blade. I spoke to Heavyduty about this, and then took it back to the 8k hone and then changed finishing hone, the edge improved to a more comfortable shave rather than the likeness of a feather blade, but still it did not feel as I thought it should. IIRC I ended up trying out another Japanese hone to finish the edge and after this third attempt, I thought that this is the very best this edge can get. Feather sharp for a three pass shave on my face is too sharp and causes irritation, which is why i was trying to fix it. So I sent the Boker to Heavyduty and asked if he would be kind enough to test my second honed razor, it also gave him the chance to see the nice new scales I put on it. He tested it over several days and approved of my honing skills. So to have two experienced honers say approve of my honing skills was a definite boost of confidence.
As I am sure you are all well aware now that I had the privilege and honour of being taught by a retired barber, how to hone Japanese razors and he approved of my honing ability for Japanese razors. So lately I have also been honing some Japanese razors and have found, these to be truly amazing to hone, they are almost like a natural hone, in that no two are ever the same.

One very important thing I have discovered during my short time in honing, is that you do not need multiple hones to achieve the perfect edge, nor do you need a bunch between the 8k and Japanese natural. I added an extra hone between the 8k and Japanese natural and my edge did not get any sharper or smoother or anything. All I did was waste time and remove a speck more metal than necessary.
So it is possible to get the perfect edge on a razor, without spending thousands, and without having to use a dozen different hones.

Later on, I will post about some of the razors that only needed a little time honing and some that required a lot of time honing. I really should have made a journal like I did for shaving, as I am sure there is tonnes of stuff I have missed out/forgotten, that may have been of some use to other members, who are just starting out.

[jwoods]

excellent post old school i found it very informative as well, i have been trying to save up for one of your fine japanese hones and hopefull soon ill get one, that is a nice service you provide here at srp for those that dont have the thousands to spend on one, or two

[JimmyHAD]

Thanks for the post. My journey in honing also owes much to Lynn's and Heavydutysquare's videos and most of all in person sessions with The Topher. I also got a lot of help in PMs and on the phone from Randydance. It did not come easy for me and it was a great feeling of accomplishment when I finally began to get it.

I too have thought about keeping a honing journal. I had/have a heck of a case of RAD and have accumulated a hundred or so razors. Most of them needed work. I also have HAD and hone with Shaptons, Nortons, Coticules, Eschers, Thuringans, and Scottish hones. It is hard to remember what was honed with what and how much effort was required with individual blades.

I haven't gotten to the Japanese hones or razors yet. There seems to be a lot to know in choosing a Japanese hone and I am not quite sure which end of the spectrum I want to cover. I have it pretty much covered with the hones I have. Then again the ultimate hone may be the one I don't yet have.

[Russel Baldridge]

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

One very important thing I have discovered during my short time in honing, is that you do not need multiple hones to achieve the perfect edge, nor do you need a bunch between the 8k and Japanese natural. I added an extra hone between the 8k and Japanese natural and my edge did not get any sharper or smoother or anything. All I did was waste time and remove a speck more metal than necessary.

This is very very true!

Lately I've been using an Aoto(2k to 3k), Narutaki (~8K) and the Maruichi (30k+) for just about everything and have seen no need for intermediate stones.

If the bevel needs more than a little touch up, I'll start with the Aoto, if it just needs the touch up I'll go to the Narutaki. There's no real difference between using those three stones, or setting up a progression of 10 or more to fill in all of the grit levels in between.

[joke1176]

I like your lengthy posts, they are interesting.

+1 on the not needing a series of hones between 8k and finishing.


and I WILL buy one of your fine fine hones....as soon as the wife stops watching me like a hawk.

[JimmyHAD]

Originally Posted by joke1176

I like your lengthy posts, they are interesting.

+1 on the not needing a series of hones between 8k and finishing.

"O, reason not the need!" (King Lear , Scene 7/425)

[OLD_SCHOOL]

Here's something new. Recently Lynn purchased one of the vintage Tosuke's, so I sent back the Wapi that I was given so that it could be passed onto another newbie.
So since Lynn was getting 2 razors that were honed by me, I decided to ask if he could let me know how they shave. Lynn has also approved my honing skills, and after having 3 experienced honers, approve my ability to hone, I feel that is a great milestone in my straight razor hobby. TBH when I first sent my razors to both Heavydutysg135 and Joshearl, it was actually because I wanted to offer honing services and be recognised as someone who can offer great service. However, (yes there's always a however) I can't stand honing, my goodness, it drives me up the stinking wall. I swear, I much prefer spending 14hrs sanding a blade by hand, (which I have done on many occasions) than honing razors. I don't know how you guys do it, even if you do get a little pocket change, there is nothing zen or relaxing about honing razors.