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Progressive Straight Razor Honing Clinic – 9 Part Video Series

Here is my 9 part honing series on Youtube. I need to give a huge thank you to all the people who attended the clinic and made this possible. Special thanks go to Jerad (Nickelking) for bringing his video camera and taping the long clinic; and to Tony (Richardhead) for handling all the format conversions, editing, and posting. As I have said before, there are many different ways to hone a razor (everyone probably has a slightly different approach) but my goal with this video series is to teach you what I consider the fundamentals so that you can have an easier time developing your own style. With proper instruction and practice everyone (except the few with significant disabilities) can put a great shaving edge on their razors and I hope that these videos can make the initial learning curve easier.

Due to the time constraints (not everyone could stay for a couple of days) I was not able to cover every topic. If a specific question comes to mind please feel free to ask the question in the form of a post in this thread (you can also send me a pm). You probably are not the only ones with that question and hopefully the further responses can benefit you as well as others. Depending on the response to this series I might decide to make a more “professionally produced” video in the future but I would need the assistance of people with video taping and producing skills. Hopefully the quality of these videos are good enough but if there is a fairly large demand for this series on DVD then I would be willing to make a run and sell them for a low price. I hope that you enjoy the videos and welcome any constructive criticism, feedback, questions, and/or comments.
David Polan (heavydutysg135)

Part 1: Introduction and Stone Selection
http://youtube.com/watch?v=cvYIzgcfTAg&feature=related

Part 2: Technique and Bevel/Edge Setting Theory
http://youtube.com/watch?v=hAC0siWGkP4&feature=related

Part 3: Sharpness Tests (TPT, TNT, HHT)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=6_-YhJdie2s&feature=related

Part 4: Setting the Bevel
http://youtube.com/watch?v=raCek9ysO_w&feature=related

Part 5: Polishing Theory and Stage 1 Polishing
http://youtube.com/watch?v=Kcoy2k5VkXA&feature=related

Part 6: Stage 2 Polishing
http://youtube.com/watch?v=BTT38PJO2tk&feature=related

Part 7: Double Bevel Theory
http://youtube.com/watch?v=yhJkQheVCRA&feature=related

Part 8: Permanent Marker Test for Double Bevel, Rolling Hone Stroke for Smile
http://youtube.com/watch?v=s1Wsvs4oeYs&feature=related

Part 9: Rolling Hone Stroke for Warped Razor and Q&A
http://youtube.com/watch?v=IumHXAUZnw4&feature=related
 

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Stjynnkii membörd dummpsjterd
Outstanding!!!

I only watched a few moments, but I had to stop and make it a sticky already.
 
Nice videos very useful lots of good information. Should help me when i eventually try to learn to hone. I have just one question if you dont mind. When i use the thumb pad test on my shave ready razor it feels sticky as though it is digging in but i dont feel any teeth as such does the feeling of actual teeth digging in go away as you move up the grits? or perhaps they are smaller so i do not feel each one so much? I need to find some dull blades to test the differences. Thanks for taking the time to make and post the videos to help us all.

Swiftsteel
 
I have just one question if you dont mind. When i use the thumb pad test on my shave ready razor it feels sticky as though it is digging in but i dont feel any teeth as such does the feeling of actual teeth digging in go away as you move up the grits? or perhaps they are smaller so i do not feel each one so much?.

Swiftsteel

Great observation! That is something that I notice as well and the reason (just as you said) is that the "teeth" that the lower grits leave on an edge even when it is sharp are bigger than what a higher grit stone leaves. The lower grit abrasive particles in the hone tear deaper channels than the higher grits (this is how they remove metal faster) which leaves a more "toothy edge" This can be felt with the thumb pad test if you really pay attention. As you move up to higher and higher grits you should feel the teeth almost going away so when you are done it is just a really smooth stickyness (is that an oxymoron :001_smile).


David
 
FWIW The razor honed in the video was Matt's (Mvforza) Goldbug. When we were done honing it there was very little hone wear and Matt told me that it was his favorite 5/8 shaver after he tested it a few days later.
 
Thanks man glad to have that confirmed have been wondering for a while as to why i couldnt feel the teeth as such i hear described and thought that must be the case. Now off to watch the last 2 videos :biggrin:

Swiftsteel
 
I just watched em all. Good stuff right there, should help out novice honers a lot, especially the smiling blade/warped blade segments.

Great work man!
 
David - COOL!!!...I have been anticipating the arrival of these since you mentioned them awhile back and I am looking forward to watching all the segments!
 
Great job !!!



I only watched the first video but I will try and watch the rest as soon as I can . I love the tip about rounding the corners on a Norton for the newbies .
 
I have been waiting for these, guess I'll have to wait a little longer, darn firewalls at work :frown:

I can well imagine that these are well worth the wait just by the fellows who commented before me.

I'll be back...:biggrin:
 
The thin coticule you are using on the last videos, what are the specifications of that?, widht and length?
Is it an combination stone, or coticule only?

I'm trying to find out if Howard at theperfectedge can deal with stones like that, or if I have to cut one myself.. any pointers would be great.
 
The thin coticule you are using on the last videos, what are the specifications of that?, widht and length?
Is it an combination stone, or coticule only?

I'm trying to find out if Howard at theperfectedge can deal with stones like that, or if I have to cut one myself.. any pointers would be great.

I got it as a special order from Howard at the perfectedge.com a while ago. Tell him that I sent you and maybe he will give you a special deal :wink: It will likely take a few months but I am sure that he can get you one. He got it cut that way straight from the quarry, so if you can order direct than that would be another option. The specifications are 3/4 of an inch wide by 8 inches long. For some reason, some people ask me if it is a missprint when I tell them the specifications of that one :biggrin:. At this point I think that there are only two like it in the world; Allen from Ross Cutlery has one and I have the other. Mine is just a yellow coticule attached to a slate base; I think that a natural would be too weak for such a narrow stone. It takes a little bit of getting used to but I really really like using it.


David
 
Great, so that would rule out using an combostone and cut that.

I'll talk to Howard about the coticule rod.

The smaller stones you used was like 6x2 combo?, I'm thinking to buy one that I can take a long, but debating witch size on that, 4x2 looks like to small to hold, but 6x2 looks better, I guess.
 
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