First successly honed razor!!!

**Venom8431** · 07-03-2012, 03:04 PM

Having a bit of a proud moment so I thought I'd share that I did an amazing job (for a novice) honing one of my razors. I tried honing years ago but did a horrible job and buried my honing tools in the closet. Today I thought I'd give it a try and I'm glad I did.

I took my 5/8 Dovo Astrale and went from a Belgian Blue, to a Yellow Coticule, to a paddle strop with chromium oxide, and finally to the strop (canvas then leather). Just for laughs, I thought I'd see if the blade could cut the tops of my arm hair. I was fully expecting the blade to just knock the hairs out of the way, but to my surprise I heard "ping, ping, ping..." I mowed down a mass of arm hair!

Anyway, I guess the point of all this is to just say thank you to all you guys that dish out the sage advice in the straight forums and wiki pages. Without the resources provided by you I'd still have a dull Dovo Astrale.

Now I just need some beard to test its smoothness.

**Krodor** · 07-03-2012, 05:09 PM

Congrats!

**Doc226** · 07-03-2012, 05:15 PM

Excellent, report back after the shave

**Mike H** · 07-03-2012, 05:21 PM

Excellent news, congratulations.

**Wid** · 07-03-2012, 06:32 PM

Very good, congrats.

**BakerAndBadger** · 07-03-2012, 11:09 PM

Congratulations, I too just honed my first razor a week or two ago and it's so satisfying to shave on your own edge! Don't have the BBW so am 100% coticule and then leather strop, works so far. Have decided to drop the pasted balsa strop after reading the easy touch up methods on coticule.be and now I've just experimented with oil on the coti, try it, you won't be disappointed.

**O.G.** · 07-04-2012, 05:06 AM

Congratulations on the first successful honing. Now watch out for SRAD being able to hone opens the door to it. Oh and check out this idea to bring the extra smoothness touch the razor up on lather on your yellow side of the coti before you shave with it. 30 X strokes 40 linen 40 leather. That's another tool in your arsenal that works. Take care.

**professorchaos** · 07-04-2012, 06:54 AM

Congratulations! Feels good, doesn't it?

**BakerAndBadger** · 07-04-2012, 09:21 AM

Dont forget to try oil on the yellow coti, it's wonderful! I tried it for the first time last night and it gives a sweet edge after water.

**Venom8431** · 07-04-2012, 10:13 AM

Originally Posted by Doc226

Excellent, report back after the shave

Will do!

Originally Posted by O.G.

Congratulations on the first successful honing. Now watch out for SRAD being able to hone opens the door to it. Oh and check out this idea to bring the extra smoothness touch the razor up on lather on your yellow side of the coti before you shave with it. 30 X strokes 40 linen 40 leather. That's another tool in your arsenal that works. Take care.

Luckily (and unluckily), my current budget is keeping ADs at bay. However, once my wife finishes law school and starts making lawyer $$$, I am going to spend crazy that first paycheck.

I haven't heard of touching up with lather on a coti. I'll give it a go after my next shave.

Originally Posted by professorchaos

Congratulations! Feels good, doesn't it?

Yes it does.

Originally Posted by BakerAndBadger

Dont forget to try oil on the yellow coti, it's wonderful! I tried it for the first time last night and it gives a sweet edge after water.

What kind of oil do you use? I've heard of using oil, but haven't done any reading about it yet.

**Venom8431** · 07-05-2012, 07:35 PM

Shaved with the Dovo tonight and it went pretty well. There was no pulling or skipping, but I feel like the edge could be sharper and also a bit smoother.

Should I go back to square one with the razor or should I start somewhere in the middle to fine tune the edge?

**dartmn9** · 07-05-2012, 07:43 PM

Congratulations! I would try to strop some more to see if this smooths it out a bit. If that doesn't work try a few more swipes with the crox and then strop again. If it isn't pulling or tugging, you shouldn't have to go too far back.

**honed** · 07-06-2012, 12:20 AM

Congratulations! And welcome to a brand new world of fun!

**Venom8431** · 07-08-2012, 06:29 PM

Originally Posted by dartmn9

Congratulations! I would try to strop some more to see if this smooths it out a bit. If that doesn't work try a few more swipes with the crox and then strop again. If it isn't pulling or tugging, you shouldn't have to go too far back.

I gave the Dovo some time on the strop and it has really improved the edge.