An interesting look at honing

**Loner16** · 11-12-2011, 04:08 AM

Here's a video that has been makling the rounds. Certainly a bit unconventional, buit who am I to judge that it doesn't work of that it's wrong... I'm old enough to know that there's more than one way to skin the same cat, and I try to be open to different ideas.. even if they're radically different.

**legion** · 11-12-2011, 04:23 AM

Hmmm. I kind of lost count of the number of things that made me uncomfortable there. But each to their own. If that gives him a good shave then more power to him.

One thing I will agree on is putting the CrOx on a flat stable surface. That is what I have found to be the most beneficial as well.

**Loner16** · 11-12-2011, 05:10 AM

I imagine that the gentleman in the video received a fair amount of heat from the established straight razor honing community... a few notables with a following in particular. So, here is an interesting rebuttal...

I wonder if the "Master Honer" will take him up on it...

**Kentos** · 11-12-2011, 08:17 AM

I am not sure why people feel the need to tell someone their methods are wrong when it obviously gives that guy a shave ready edge. I wouldn't want to shave off it, but I'm not the one in the video...;)

**danjared** · 11-12-2011, 12:05 PM

Originally Posted by Kentos

I am not sure why people feel the need to tell someone their methods are wrong when it obviously gives that guy a shave ready edge. I wouldn't want to shave off it, but I'm not the one in the video...;)

ITYM "to each their hone"!

**mvh** · 11-12-2011, 12:28 PM

Of all the knifemakers and sharpeners out there, Murray Carter has been discussed a LOT. He's a very good knife sharpener and I like his "keep it simple" attitude, but I disagree with his technique. If he's comfortable with it and enjoys his edges the way he makes them, then he should continue doing it that way.

I was taught different and tried a lot of different styles, but imo you can not sharpen a razor like a knife. And his technique is very reminiscent of knife sharpening.

For me, everything in the video was wrong, but if it works for him... good for him!

**Bayamontate** · 11-12-2011, 12:37 PM

I've read both sides of this issue and think that in fact, there is no issue. While this stuff is all subjective there are certain ways traditionally to hone and strop, whether you agree or disagree with them this is the way they are done. Mr. Carter's honing technique sort works for him, he does admit not getting the best results, but given the techniques, stones ad razors we use I think there is no need to reinvent the wheel here. If you want to try it, why not, it is something different and your razors are yours to do with what you wish.

The point I'm trying to make is, Kamisori are designed, intended and traditionally used always Ura (stamped side) up, this is simply the way it is. Many use both sides, shaving Omote up, is this wrong? While this may go contrary to design and intend, it is your Kamisori, shave with it as you wish. I guess what I want to say is, to each his own, whether you agree with it or not.

**paco664** · 11-12-2011, 12:42 PM

i got banned over on srp for voicing my opinion on mr.carters first video *(i defended him as to the fact he is a master bladesmith and is not afraid to allow anyone the opportunity to prove him wrong)........... that was a big mistake there and hopefully the powers that be here are not so uptight and pissy..... annnnnnnyway...

there are many roads to rome....

i hone differently than you... you hone differently than him... he hones differently than us.....

i use a 1k6k king water stone...... a 4k8k norton... and a C12k....... followed with different pasted strops.... i have very sharp razors that give comfortable close shaves..... i guarantee i hone each razor differently everytime.... i do not count strokes... sometimes i use circles... sometimes x strokes.... sometimes no pressure sometimes more.....

the final product is what is important...

i have also used his controversial "drag the edge through a piece of wood to remove a wire edge" on a 12/8ths homemade monster fixed blade i made...... it worked.... it took off the wire edge and i passed it a few more strokes on the c12k to repair any damage the wood may have done.... i then had a very very close and comfortable shave.......

like i said ... many roads to rome.... some people run.. some walk... some crawl... some let others carry them.... but eventually they get there....

**Loner16** · 11-12-2011, 12:50 PM

Originally Posted by paco664

i got banned over on srp for voicing my opinion on mr.carters first video *(i defended him as to the fact he is a master bladesmith and is not afraid to allow anyone the opportunity to prove him wrong)........... that was a big mistake there and hopefully the powers that be here are not so uptight and pissy..... annnnnnnyway...

That's too bad, but certainly not unusual or out of character for them...

And.. I agree with your post.

**paco664** · 11-12-2011, 12:55 PM

Originally Posted by Loner16

That's too bad, but certainly not unusual or out of character for them...

And.. I agree with your post.

i like it here much much better.... there is 150% more posting here and 150% less arrogance...

**Kentos** · 11-12-2011, 01:21 PM

The only thing you get here is a ridiculous custom title to keep you in line...but if you want to get banned you can try calling Ouch a nincompoop...;).

**paco664** · 11-12-2011, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by Kentos

The only thing you get here is a ridiculous custom title to keep you in line...but if you want to get banned you can try calling Ouch a nincompoop...;).

thank you sir but i like it here... i don't do name calling.... but would love to hear the story behind that.....

**rajagra** · 11-12-2011, 01:24 PM

People hone differently ... and shave differently too. I'd bet that many people would find his razor hard to shave with because it isn't what they are used to. Doesn't make it right or wrong, just different. You have to admit he got it from blunt to shaving with very little work. If I had a 1K hone I would certainly try his method to see how it went.

**Kentos** · 11-12-2011, 01:30 PM

Originally Posted by paco664

thank you sir but i like it here... i don't do name calling.... but would love to hear the story behind that.....

:) no story there, just making the point that the gentlemanly atmosphere here is very gentlemanly! Although there was one guy that got a really funky custom title...something along the lines of "I invented the Internet with Al Gore" or something like that...was really funny reading that thread and seeing the aftermath...and I think Mod Ouch had a hand in that one.

**Nobody** · 11-12-2011, 02:30 PM

Originally Posted by rajagra

People hone differently ... and shave differently too. I'd bet that many people would find his razor hard to shave with because it isn't what they are used to. Doesn't make it right or wrong, just different. You have to admit he got it from blunt to shaving with very little work. If I had a 1K hone I would certainly try his method to see how it went.

He sure did get it done fast! I'll have to try that sometime. He did seem to be using some pressure in the process as well. Interesting method, to say the least.

**paco664** · 11-12-2011, 02:49 PM

I personally think this honing technique lends itself more to a wedge or thicker blade then to a thin full hollow... Seeing as the thinner blades would flex more... imho

**legion** · 11-12-2011, 04:00 PM

Originally Posted by Loner16

I imagine that the gentleman in the video received a fair amount of heat from the established straight razor honing community... a few notables with a following in particular. So, here is an interesting rebuttal...

I wonder if the "Master Honer" will take him up on it...

Seems like a pretty classy guy, and he seems quite prepared to back his techniques without getting defensive. I wonder if gssixgun took him up on his offer?

**CyiDev** · 11-12-2011, 07:06 PM

I'd try an edge from him. TBH his technique didn't seem to far off to me. You can see after he finished when he did his mustache he really removed a-lot of hair. If his technique was as bad as everyone thinks he would have been bleeding all over the place. That weathering on the pick-nick table probably made it more like cork than the pine it was made of and most of us have already seen the thread where DE shavers "cork" their blades.

**Blix** · 11-12-2011, 07:36 PM

He says he's been straight shaving for 19 years, so naturally he have a technique that works for him.

Not matter how you look at his honing, he sits there with barely a 6k edge at the end, no newsprint or chromium oxide can do that much about that. No thanks, not for me.

**rickboone1** · 11-12-2011, 08:17 PM

I can't say I find the ideas too radical. We use our bevel setting stones to do that...set the bevel, right? The bevel set is primarily the sharpening of the edge. Once that's done, the rest is polishing and fine tuning. Add keeness, etc...all subjective and debatable. So, set the bevel, then clean it up; smooth it out.

Best I can say is try the method out. See what results you get. Don't mess up your belt, though. That part was pretty pointless.