honing

[bokerfan]

to me,the key to a great straight razor shave is a honed razor! i think all straight razor shavers should learn to hone their razors. unless you can afford to send your razors for honing,and still have a supply to shave with daily,emphasis on honing is a must. i hone my razors and my friends razors-who have started shaving with straight razors. it really is not that difficult.practice is required. i have used waterstones and oilstones with similar results,its a matter of preferance.honing my razor adds to the enjoyment i have from straight shaving just as tying my own flies adds to my enjoyment of flyfishing.

 

[rickboone1]

Couldn't disagree more. Do all drivers need to know how to work on their car? I would dare say you have not yet experienced a truly well honed razor. One that melts the hair away.

 

[Herr Graf von Carrabas]

I rather agree with the TO. Always sending your razor out sucks in the long run. In addition, honing is fun.

 

[bokerfan]

i learned to hone knives as a scout,and knives and razors from my gunnery sgt in the marines,so i put a good edge on them. the hair doesnt melt but it comes off. my face is as cleanly,if not more shaved than using a cartridge razor. i use nortons and a washita oilstone.

 

[Lmarkow]

Though occasionally curious, I have no real desire to learn how to hone my razors. I'm near to positive that I will not be able to put the time, care, and attention to detail that is required to learn to create the fine, comfortable edges I am used to shaving with; I'm spoiled, I admit it. I am happy to send them out to friends, pay postage and/or a reasonable fee.

 

[Thomas Martin]

It is a really good feeling to shave with your own edges. And it's not that hard. I've done this less than a year and I am able now to put an edge to a razor that has not to hide itself behind edges from so called Honemeisters. It needs some investment in time and money though and you have to have some resistance to frustration. It's worth the effort though and a really nice way to spend your time on winter evenings or rainy Sundays.

 

[Brooksie967]

For the amount I've spent on hones I could have probably sent all my razors (too many to count) away to be honed by a 'pro' but I really did enjoy learning it myself and now doing it for others

 

[Lmarkow]

I have tried and failed. The only thing I made sharp was the pain in my back. There are just other ways I enjoy my time. But I sure am glad you guys enjoy yours making really great edges for the rest of us.

 

[mjclark]

This thread is fascinating and I guess shows that it's all just YMMV again.
I put together a very low budget honing regime cobbled together from fleamarket acquisitions, where I also got the razors themselves.
Witg the help of other forum members I soon found that honing is a lot of fun and can be very satisfying if you're prepared to expsriment, get it wrong a lot and ask for help.
I also got a couple of straights in a trade with Chasmo which he'd finished beautifully and these set me a benchmark to aim for and which I am now close approaching.
Getting a great shave from a straight that you've honed yourself is a magic feeling
However, if you're easily frustrated or just want the best result with the least trouble then call those honemeisters (or get an SE)

 

[buca3152]

If you can learn and have the hands for it and intestinal fortitude(some blades come out just crappy LOL) go for it. Its like cooking for yourself, you can make it exactly as you like it, but that's months and months before you will at least.