how often do you hone

[jnwest]

I am a bit confused on how often you should hone a razor and use abrasive paste

[Soopercat]

If we are talking straight razors, I will "touch up" a razor once I feel a slight tough on my beard. When it stops gliding and starts to skip your in the red zone for me.

A "touch up" is something along the lines of using my finishing hones 10k grit and higher, accompanied by the use of either .5 diamond paste or if needed .25 paste, then stropping.

When a "touch up" no longer brings the edge I want back, after attempting to shave with it. I will go through a full pyramid from 4K-8k then a finishing stone and pastes, then to the strop.

I would also add that this is subjective to each persons face and or head...

Kind regards,

[jnwest]

thank that helped alot

[Crhis]

I still don't have much idea of the timeframe involved with straight razors.

I'd guess it's somewhere between honing once every pass and once every 5 years - but I haven't the faintest idea which it's closer to.

[Thebigspendur]

Its really a YMMV type thing. If your razor is truly shave ready you should be able to get at a minimum 10 shaves before going to a pasted strop or hone for a touch-up. If you can't get that far you need to examine you general honing techniques and possibly shaving techniques.

When the comfort level of the shave starts to go south on you that's the time for a touch-up.