Honemeister Contacts

[moses]

I thought, given the usual advice to newbies to have their first razor honed by an expert, it might be usual to start a thread to compiled names and some sort of locating information for various honemeisters who 1) are known and respected as such, and 2) are ameanable to requests to hone up a razor in exchange for a reasonable fee.

Of course, as everyone points out, a good way to go is always buying a pre-honed used razor from someone you trust to be a good edge on it (what I did), buying a new razor from Tony Miller and asking him to hone it, and buying a new razor from Classic Shaving and having them send it by Lynn for a hone before it gets to you.

But for a newbie who has a razor and wants it honed, who might they go to? The more options, the better, I figure. Especially in the UK/EU, since most of the names I've heard are based stateside.

-Mo

[GeeQue]

For lack of this type of information, I have postponed the purchase of a straight razor for the time being. Sounds like an excellent suggestion Mo.

[Scorpio]

I know of some:

Joe Chandler
Lynn Abrams
Randydance
El Alamein
Tony Miller
I can't remember the names but I am sure there are some members here at B&B that will also hone you razor.

check SRP(Straight Razor Place.com) and you will find the above names as well as others. I have 2 going to Joe Chandler at this moment. Cost may vary but if you are new I recommend to have them hone by a honemeister and concentrate in learning the shaving technique. Once honed all you need is a strop to keep the blade shave ready. Hope this helps.

Raf

[rtaylor61]

I know of some:

Joe Chandler
Lynn Abrams
Randydance
El Alamein
Tony Miller
I can't remember the names but I am sure there are some members here at B&B that will also hone you razor.

check SRP(Straight Razor Place.com) and you will find the above names as well as others. I have 2 going to Joe Chandler at this moment. Cost may vary but if you are new I recommend to have them hone by a honemeister and concentrate in learning the shaving technique. Once honed all you need is a strop to keep the blade shave ready. Hope this helps.

Raf

You mean Joel?

Randy

[LX_Emergency]

I'm in europe....might be a bit quicker than sending it to the states.

[joel]

I'm in europe....might be a bit quicker than sending it to the states.

I can attest to his honing skills gents.... just received a TI Frameback from this fine gentleman - and it arrived pre-honed, and sharp as the dickens all the way from the netherlands. Even with that long trip, all it needed was a light stropping.

Well done my friend! :smile:

[joel]

Dear UK Shavers

If you have a dull razor needing sharpening (provided that the blade is not irremediably damaged), I will sharpen it for 15 GBP including return postage. Regrettably I do not sharpen All Stainless Steel Razors. I will also try to repair minor nicks on the blade, where possible.

If I cannot get it sharp or serviceable again, I will not charge you anything and return it to you at no cost.

Vincent Schwager

Before you consider using Vincent's services, I suggest you read all of his posts, and some of our well establish members posts to his comments. Unfortunaly - Vincent has deleted some of his posts, however - the skinny is - if you are in the U.K. and need a razor sharpened - I would suggest sticking with LX_Emergency.

Just my .02

[Tony Miller]

Thanks for the inclusion to the list of Honemeisters but I must decline. I rarley hone razors now days prefering yo use the services of an SRP and B&B member, EL, who far surpasses my abilities. While I did many a razor the past 2 years I find it far better to let a real expert handle this for me now.

All the razors I stock have already been honed by EL and I am glad to handle any requests for honing but do pass them on to him.

Tony

[AFDavis11]

I am not known or respected for my honing abilities but would certainly be available to any forum member if desired. I usually stick with providing one-on-one instruction in honing, stropping, lathering, etc. for individuals in person. These classes usually take about 2-3 hours. Some of my "clients" have been SRP members . . . I never charge for my services.

I prefer instructing members as I think its a better long term investment for them, but honing isn't a problem if ever requested. I do insist that individuals pay shipping to and from my residence though.

[rtaylor61]

I am not known or respected for my honing abilities but would certainly be available to any forum member if desired. I usually stick with providing one-on-one instruction in honing, stropping, lathering, etc. for individuals in person. These classes usually take about 2-3 hours. Some of my "clients" have been SRP members . . . I never charge for my services.

I prefer instructing members as I think its a better long term investment for them, but honing isn't a problem if ever requested. I do insist that individuals pay shipping to and from my residence though.

What Alan meant to say is that he is not known for his honing at B&B! The man knows his stuff...I just never understood putting ash on the linen strop!

Randy

[AFDavis11]

Why thank you Randy . . . sometimes the old secrets are the best secrets.... shhhhhhhh .... :smile:

[vschwager]

Hello Joel

All of my posts are still there, I have deleted only posts I double entered, except the one regarding my honing services which I have removed permanently from this website.

I stick to what I have stated in my posts. I am sure that LX_Emergency can provide an excellent service and I wish him good work. As for me I will consider it a success if any of the razors I sell will not need me or anyone else's services to be used and maintained.

Vincent


Before you consider using Vincent's services, I suggest you read all of his posts, and some of our well establish members posts to his comments. Unfortunaly - Vincent has deleted some of his posts, however - the skinny is - if you are in the U.K. and need a razor sharpened - I would suggest sticking with LX_Emergency.

Just my .02

[LX_Emergency]

I'm flattered by the kind words. I'd love to be of service. You can mail,PM or even call me (but you'll have to PM for the number first :)).

[rtaylor61]

For those who don't know, Alex (LX_Emergency) is a very active member at SRP.

Randy

[AandW]

The man knows his stuff...I just never understood putting ash on the linen strop!

Randy


Why thank you Randy . . . sometimes the old secrets are the best secrets.... shhhhhhhh .... :smile:

Please, do tell.:confused:

[rtaylor61]

Bruce,

Over at SRP there was some "experimenting" going on with just exactly what you could apply to the linen strop to make it a more "effective" strop. Alan used, as I understand it, "ashes". Like from the fireplace. I have heard of using wax, chalk, and even Turtle Wax, but that was the first application of ash I had ever heard of. Regardless, I would have no hesitation of sending a razor to Alan for honing.

Randy

[randydance062449]

I am not known or respected for my honing abilities but would certainly be available to any forum member if desired. I usually stick with providing one-on-one instruction in honing, stropping, lathering, etc. for individuals in person. These classes usually take about 2-3 hours. Some of my "clients" have been SRP members . . . I never charge for my services.

I prefer instructing members as I think its a better long term investment for them, but honing isn't a problem if ever requested. I do insist that individuals pay shipping to and from my residence though.

Hello all,

I would not hesitate to recommend Alan to anyone who needs help with honing. He has provided superb counsel to others over on SRP and I have never heard a bad word from others about his honing services. He knows what he is doing.

[randydance062449]

Bill Ellis should also be on your list. I do not know if he routinely provides honing services but it would be worth an email.

There are several others who will hone a razor for someone but they keep a low profile. They are not in it for the business.
Just post a request over on SRP in the honing forum if you need that service.

[randydance062449]

I am no longer available as a provider of honing services due to a lack of available time. I am actively persuing the craft of forging and grinding my own straight razors so that is where my time is being used. I also have over 300 razors of my own to fix up, hone and sell.:biggrin:
I will make my honing services available occasionally but it will be based on a special need/circumstance and time available basis.

[AFDavis11]

Now if I had an opportunity to purchase a razor forged, ground and honed by Randy . . . myyyyyyyyyy, what a masterpiece that would be.

If there is something about honing I didn't learn from Randy, I'm not sure what it would be.

[SSLStudio]

Thanks for the inclusion to the list of Honemeisters but I must decline. I rarley hone razors now days prefering yo use the services of an SRP and B&B member, EL, who far surpasses my abilities. While I did many a razor the past 2 years I find it far better to let a real expert handle this for me now.

All the razors I stock have already been honed by EL and I am glad to handle any requests for honing but do pass them on to him.

Tony

That makes sense now Tony why you didnt answer my question when I asked how much money you take for honing an old straight I might pick up.
I guess my Dovo was honed by EL aswell ? I dont mind just aslong as its done well.

[AandW]

Bruce,

Over at SRP there was some "experimenting" going on with just exactly what you could apply to the linen strop to make it a more "effective" strop. Alan used, as I understand it, "ashes". Like from the fireplace. I have heard of using wax, chalk, and even Turtle Wax, but that was the first application of ash I had ever heard of. Regardless, I would have no hesitation of sending a razor to Alan for honing.

Randy

Randy,

Thanks for the info. I do spend some time over at SRP but I am not able to participate at all or even search at SRP very well. It appears that SRP does not like macs. Oh well, at least some of you guys are over here at B&B.

[Tony Miller]

That makes sense now Tony why you didnt answer my question when I asked how much money you take for honing an old straight I might pick up.
I guess my Dovo was honed by EL aswell ? I dont mind just aslong as its done well.


Rene,
El does all of my razors now and is far better than I. I was hesitant to commit to offer sharpening services as I didn't know if he wanted that volume of business added to what I send in new. Since he does them I didn't want to create a burden.

Tony

[mparker762]

Thanks for the info. I do spend some time over at SRP but I am not able to participate at all or even search at SRP very well. It appears that SRP does not like macs. Oh well, at least some of you guys are over here at B&B.

Those of us with macs use firefox to access SRP. A little annoying, but not the end of the world.

[AandW]

Those of us with macs use firefox to access SRP. A little annoying, but not the end of the world.

Thanks. I have not tried Firefox because Mozilla also does not work for me. I guess I thought wrong.

[Twilliger]

Those of us with macs use firefox to access SRP. A little annoying, but not the end of the world.

I have been trying to access SRP for a couple of days now - I thought it was down - but it was me. I had tried safari, icab and explorer, but not firefox. Thanks for this tidbit, I now have firefox and am registering at SRP.

I come to learn about razors, and I learn about browsers :-)

Bill

[rtaylor61]

Bill, SRP is down for at least part of today, maybe all day. They are doing some upgrades to the site.

Randy

[BillEllis]

Bill Ellis should also be on your list. I do not know if he routinely provides honing services but it would be worth an email.

There are several others who will hone a razor for someone but they keep a low profile. They are not in it for the business.
Just post a request over on SRP in the honing forum if you need that service.Randy... I heard that Bill is pretty busy with his own stuff as well... :biggrin:

http://home.comcast.net/~cherylellis01/SRP/josh.023.jpg

[Steelforge]

Bloody hell Bill that razor looks amazing, I haven't looked at the thread on SRP since you had the blade ice hardened! :drool:

Seriously nice piece of work, keep it up. :thumbup:

[netsurfr]

Oh my goodness!!!
I am in lust...
Any chance of getting one of these?
Steve

[LX_Emergency]

nope, only ONE has been made. Besides it's soo big it's almost impossible to shave with. It's a 12/8 (yes you've read that right. It's an INCH AND A HALF in width!!!!

[Joe Chandler]

nope, only ONE has been made. Besides it's soo big it's almost impossible to shave with. It's a 12/8 (yes you've read that right. It's an INCH AND A HALF in width!!!!

Well...I wouldn't say that. Bill is, after all, a custom knife/razor maker by profession. He'd probably be open to an order. His waiting list might be a bit long, so you wouldn't get one soon, but if the money's right, he'd probably make you one. I know the guy he made that one for, and he said it's a killer shaver.

[Steelforge]

Thanks. I have not tried Firefox because Mozilla also does not work for me. I guess I thought wrong.

Firefox used to work just fine when I had it on my iMac last year, maybe give it a try - it's only about a 5Mb download. :)