I think that honing razors on mass is probably very lucrative if you have enough customers. I wouldn't find such work very satisfying but I can see how you can make a lot of money at it.
You also don't want to fall into the misconception that a hobbyist honing a razor for fun and satisfaction should compare his work with a professional who makes a living from supplying a razor sharpening service.
To be fair the profesional has to have a process. You have to open the incoming parcels, keep the records, hone the razors, quality control the final edge, oil, pack, address and ship back to the customer having checked you have been paid in the process.
Today you can purchase synthetic hone sets that will hone a new bevel and take to shaving sharp 99% of razors in less than ten minutes. Some razors need to be taped and some require slower treatment such as smiling edges.
E bay junk can have the niks removed on electric spinning disc honing machines in seconds. To a professional honer, time and cost and the quality of the finished product are the only important factors and the current hones and equipment out there have made the time factor a non problem.
With good administration and a good process, 25 razors a day should be a walk in the park. 50 would be a busy day at the office.
The only time I get upset with the professional guys is when they recommend some of the equipment they use as the best. When in fact its no were near the best, it just the most cost effective. Unfortuneately they can fall into the trap of confusing the repetition of sharpening thousands of razors as being experience. Whilst those who try many variations of hones and methods to discover the best are actually the really experienced people out there and they are usually the quiet majority who understand all of this stuff but just don't want to ruffle feathers or express their opinions.
As you know, I like to express my opinion.
You also don't want to fall into the misconception that a hobbyist honing a razor for fun and satisfaction should compare his work with a professional who makes a living from supplying a razor sharpening service.
To be fair the profesional has to have a process. You have to open the incoming parcels, keep the records, hone the razors, quality control the final edge, oil, pack, address and ship back to the customer having checked you have been paid in the process.
Today you can purchase synthetic hone sets that will hone a new bevel and take to shaving sharp 99% of razors in less than ten minutes. Some razors need to be taped and some require slower treatment such as smiling edges.
E bay junk can have the niks removed on electric spinning disc honing machines in seconds. To a professional honer, time and cost and the quality of the finished product are the only important factors and the current hones and equipment out there have made the time factor a non problem.
With good administration and a good process, 25 razors a day should be a walk in the park. 50 would be a busy day at the office.
The only time I get upset with the professional guys is when they recommend some of the equipment they use as the best. When in fact its no were near the best, it just the most cost effective. Unfortuneately they can fall into the trap of confusing the repetition of sharpening thousands of razors as being experience. Whilst those who try many variations of hones and methods to discover the best are actually the really experienced people out there and they are usually the quiet majority who understand all of this stuff but just don't want to ruffle feathers or express their opinions.
As you know, I like to express my opinion.