Thread: Honing Troubles

Though maybe not as you would think.

I have only been shaving with a straight a few months and still figure shaving alone is enough for me to take on for a while so when I got an old Wade and Butcher razor there was no doubt in my mind it was going out to get honed. Made a few inquiries and it turns out Trumpers hone razors and its not far from my work.

This is the great beginning of the tale as I return home from work one Friday to find as a gift my girlfriend has dropped the razor in for me, and its going to be ready Monday. I leave work Monday and go grab it, get home and go for a shave. First thing I notice is the Wade and Butcher has a great weight in my hand, second thing I notice is it is the most effective lather removing tool you could hope for with absolutely no chance of cutting yourself. It was possibly less sharp than when I took it in.

I returned to the shop and explained this to them, the guy rolls up his sleeve and gives it a try on some arm hair, expert confirmation the edge is no good. I leave it with them a week, and hear nothing so stop in, the guy there grabs the razor out the cupboard, gives it another arm hair test, still nothing. I leave it there again and two days later get a call saying its ready. When picking it up its already bagged up and I get warned that its extremely sharp and to take care when shaving, the caution strikes me as odd but they probably sensed my newness to all this, I still figured the renewed sharpness was what we were paying for. I get home, tear open the bag, pull out the pouch, and in it are two extremely heavy expensive looking brass coloured handles for Gilette Fusion blades, yep they handed me the wrong bag.

The excitement turned to despair, looks like another visit is called for. Its now the 5th visit to the store and I find my love of their violet shave soap is being tainted by the hassle of all this. Think I will find somewhere else to hone razors in the future.

Thats it, no questions in this thread just felt the need to share my disappointment with people that can understand how exciting the prospect of a shave with a new razor can be.

I believe Niel Miller hones in UK
www.strop-shop.co.uk - UK stropmaker and razor honer
give him a call and see what he can do.

Your definitely among the group of folks who understand how you feel. So as it is it looks like thing can only get better. Perhaps some of our SRP mates in London can give some advice on honing services near you. Just look at it as knowing your first shave with a properly honed razor will be a joy. Good luck!

I'm not that worried about you, I know you will be fine. I'm more worried about the guy who got YOUR bag. He is sitting at his place, dumbfounded, wondering what on earth to do with that Wade and Butcher!

Michael

That's a heck of a story... You have way more patience than I. I hope you at least got it back.

Eventually got it back now, my razor, now sharp, its all I could have wanted, even if its two weeks late. There was a lot of apologising on their part but sadly no offers of free products.

First shave with it was great, its a little heavier than my Anchor Brand and a little wider and I have to say I like it.

+1 for Neil Miller's touch on the edge. Of all the guys I hear from praising honemeister's edges, I hear about Neil alot. Only one other seems to get more universal praise.

Originally Posted by pinklather

+1 for Neil Miller's touch on the edge. Of all the guys I hear from praising honemeister's edges, I hear about Neil alot. Only one other seems to get more universal praise.

Thanks for that.

I originally assumed the local option would be less hassle that posting it off, how wrong I was. I am sure there are plenty more razors in my future that I will certainly send there for honing.