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Not really. If you decide to experiment anyway (and that's always good) keep in mind the directions of the striations produced by the x-stroke. You need to reverse it for the stropping, or back,...

So should I take that to mean you were not using light pressure? All you can do is daily touch ups and see how it goes. Do 5 strokes, strop, and shave. If it's not right yet, repeat the following...

No, that won't happen with a hone. If you use excess pressure you will cut deeper striations into the edge and this will produce a less comfortable edge for shaving. For a barber hone, and for any...

Just an FYI for anyone who has a two sided barber hone and wonders which side to use first...

Use the darker side first.

A lot of two sided barber hones have a sticker on the side that say...

I use the back most of the time. I only use the front when I'm once again trying to compare the two sides.
:gaah:

Some claim that the imprint side is more fine than the back side. This is described in the product insert for the Swaty Alumin, but I'm not sure if it applies to all Swatys. I have examined over 20...

No, don't do that.
We have to laugh at something!

I'm going to paraphrase Lynn on this one (though I've seen it for myself as well). He said that among the aborted honing attempts he has had to rescue, the worst damage was done by folks who tried...

What was the starting condition of the razor? Did it used to shave just fine and now it's not, or did it never shave well? A barber hone is best used for maintaining a previously sharp razor. You...

If you are using it for touch ups, you should use no pressure at all.

The lather should be quite dilute but there is little in the way of audio cues when honing. Visually you watch for the uniform pushing of the lather/water and you feel for keeping the blade flat on...

I haven't done a direct comparison but yes, I would guess the coarser side of the Winner is the coarsest of the four sides and the finer side of the Reliance is the finest of the four.

Both the Winner and Reliance hones are excellent. Each can produce perfectly good shaving edges.

It depends on how it was honed previously. If it was honed with tape, then touch it up with tape. If not, then don't use tape.


Yes. Trust me, you don't want to set a bevel with a Swaty. If...

Since you are new, I'll tell my story again...

I started straight shaving about 8 years ago. I lucked out and started with a Swaty and a Carborundum 102, which happen to be two of the best barber...

I have a suggestion for you. Pick a razor and hone it on a Swaty using just 4 to 6 strokes. Shave with it in whatever rotation you use but use only the Swaty to maintain that particular razor. ...

I have a few barber hones so I can help you. Beyond this thread, if you need any further help, you are welcome to PM me.

I don't know of a single barber hone that needs to be soaked. They are...