Thread: Newbie Honing Question

Hello all.

I just bought an old, inexpensive razor which I'll practice honing/ stropping on. The blade is in very good condition with no nicks, frowning, or pits near the cutting edge. It's somewhat sharp; if I run it down the back of my forearm, it'll cut most of the hairs it passes over in half, though it causes tugging and takes a bit of pressure.

What kind of hone or hones will i need to get it ready for stropping? Can I use the same type of hone that I would use to touch it up every couple months when it becomes too dull to strop? Or would I need something a little coarser to get it to that state? If possible, I would prefer to only have to purchase one hone (I'm on a limited budget), even if that means I'll have to hone it for a couple hours my first time.

Originally Posted by NoComment

Hello all.

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What kind of hone or hones will i need to get it ready for stropping? Can I use the same type of hone that I would use to touch it up every couple months when it becomes too dull to strop? Or would I need something a little coarser to get it to that state? ,,,,,,,,,,,

No Comment,,,,,,,,,,

Welcome aboard.

Read through the links that I'm going to provide about touching-up razors & honing.
This will give you examples with videos & photos.

I suggest that you have someone here "shave ready" your razor, so you have a standard to go by once you begin to tough-up, which is honing.

Category:Honing - Straight Razor Place Library

Straight Razor Place - Beginners Tips: November 2014

Can I use the same type of hone that I would use to touch it up every couple months when it becomes too dull to strop?

I guess that "refresh" would have been a better phrase to use than "touch up."

Thanks for the links, they have a lot of useful info. I'll get back to you or anyone else who wants to help if I still have questions once I'm finished reading.

Is this your first or only razor?

You CAN get by with just a single hone. Your first should be one that can be used for refreshing, or touch ups, or whatever else one chooses to call it.

There is a bit of info an another thread which I'll dig out for you tomorrow - assuming I remember. I can't do it from my phone. SRP library is pretty useless IMHO.

If all you want is a refresh, a cnat or barbers hone is a cheap place to start. >$50.

Hi and welcome. I would second getting a pro honing. Sounds like it needs the bevel set so from there to shave ready is probably 3 hones and for a new guy a reasonable amount of practice as well. Add to that you don't know what shave ready is and don't have a benchmark it's not going to go well.

Start with a shave ready razor and just use a high grit hone for maintenance refreshing at the first sign of tugging and you should be good for a long time as long as you don't damage the edge.

Definitely +1 on having someone hone for you, initially... There are just so many parameters and preferences to consider. You really need to understand all the intricacies of shaving first or you will just be taking two steps back for every one forward.

Barber's Hone or similar around 8-12k is what you will be looking for but, the trouble is, just like with Shave Ready, there is a wealth of subjectivity when it comes to information and recommendations about Honing.

My suggestion... 1) Get it Honed by someone in The Classifieds here or similar skill. 2) Get really good and comfortable with all aspects of ambidextrous wet shaving. Then, sometime down the road, acquire some gear and start Honing.

Not that I nor many others have followed this advice, but it really is the best way to go.

Originally Posted by Prahston

Definitely +1 on having someone hone for you, initially... There are just so many parameters and preferences to consider. You really need to understand all the intricacies of shaving first or you will just be taking two steps back for every one forward.

Barber's Hone or similar around 8-12k is what you will be looking for but, the trouble is, just like with Shave Ready, there is a wealth of subjectivity when it comes to information and recommendations about Honing.

My suggestion... 1) Get it Honed by someone in The Classifieds here or similar skill. 2) Get really good and comfortable with all aspects of ambidextrous wet shaving. Then, sometime down the road, acquire some gear and start Honing.

Not that I nor many others have followed this advice, but it really is the best way to go.

Hahahaha!

Yeah, I feel like straight razors draw a very specific type of person. The type that isn't afraid to roll up their sleeves, dig in, and learn by trial and (lots of) error.

Originally Posted by Sxot

There is a bit of info an another thread which I'll dig out for you tomorrow - assuming I remember. I can't do it from my phone. SRP library is pretty useless IMHO.

If all you want is a refresh, a cnat or barbers hone is a cheap place to start. >$50.

While your digging up that bit of information,,, explain why you feel the SRP Library is useless.