I enjoy reading threads (on various shave forums) stating the proper honing techniques to be used if one wants to enter Keen Edge Nirvana. I have to shake my head at some of the suggestions as they seem to regularly contradict others. Entrenched opinions on these matters seem to abound. Perhaps this 'we can all have our own truths; nobody is wrong' post-modernist mentality that permeates our society has crept into the straight razor world as well. Glen @gssixgun posted the text below (in blue) at the SRP a little while ago, and the more I hone razors, the more I've come to see the real truth in these observations. I respect Glen, and I take what he says about razor honing seriously. Sure, they may be plenty of ways "to skin a cat" (sorry for the graphic idiom, you feline lovers!)—and methods to properly hone a razor, but I rely heavily on a person's experience to help guide me in my training. If an individual has honed literally thousands of razors, I am more likely to pay attention to this person's observations than, say, one who just bought his first norton two weeks ago. Now I estimate that I've honed about 50-60 razors over the past year—and clearly I have not figured it all out. The more I hone, however, the more confident I am the results will be more consistent. BUT I am hesitant to give advice on honing to others as gospel just because I happened to have some success. Trying out a wide variety of exotic stones (natural or synthetic) may be fun and add variety, but if my technique is off or I'm sloppy and not paying attention to the edge, no amount of money spent on the latest miracle stone is going to make me a better honer. Here's are some Glen's observations: Here is what I have learned over the past 7 1/2 years on the forums The more razors you hone, the better you get at it That being said here is what I have seen: • At about 20 razors honed people tend to start thinking they have it all figured out • At about 50 they have learned that they don't have it all figured out • At about 100 they consider themselves experts • At around 500 they wish they could go back and delete all the stuff they posted in the past • At around 1000 or so they have learned that there is always more to learn and try and help others learn that too Just some of the things I have learned about honing and I am still learning.
We can only hope that no one ever takes anything as gospel on the Internet, because...Internet. But as you've noted, It's best to always A) Be open and flexible to considering new, sound ideas. and B) Be smart enough to benefit from the experience of others who've already made the mistakes you may be about to make.
Mike, on point A—I try to be flexible in trying new ideas—not always easy—but the key word in your phase is 'sound.' There's plenty of clutter out there, it seems, in the honing world about the way one should go about chasing the edge. I am more likely to sit back and hear from others to corroborate a claim before jumping in myself. On point B: Unfortunately, some of us have to make the errors ourselves to really let the lesson sink in. Of this, I am guilty.
People are funny creatures...the fanaticism of the newly converted an' all that. "Vanity of vanities...All is Vanity."
Adding "sound" was actually an afterthought And regarding Item B, my own hindsight is my inspiration...
I wonder if King Solomon did his own razor honing or did he have had his minions (or 700 wives) do the work, he being the richest & wisest guy around & all that....
As he grew older, no doubt as was the custom in that culture. But he was still very young when he took the throne... I vote he had a staff of dedicated razor honers....
Speaking of razor honing, I've still much to learn but I do know that THIS is not how to hone a once-very nice rare Bresnick razor.... Perhaps the honer wasn't a fan of the square point?
I'd bet this was an attempt to make the best of a broken tip. Kind of looks like what my tamahagane Iwasaki would look like if I simply rounded off the broken tip...
I could agree more with this post. Right as rain. Honing really takes time, and lots of practice. I wish I could forget some of my previous posts
Actually I've since cleaned up the break just enough to be uniform in appearance and placed her back into rotation. Not great for detailing, but still a fine razor.
