This has been one of the most helpful videos on this subject that I have seen so far. Thank you for the very practical and approachable wisdom you share on the art. I'm a licensed barber, formally trained in a barber college for two-thousand hours and have over 30 years of experience in the profession of hair-cutting. However, I, have never mastered the art of honing razors even though I practiced honing vigorously in barber college and a little thereafter. I'm now venturing again to master this art because I would really like to bring some of my estate sale straight razor finds into shaving condition. Ultimately, I would like to put into regular use, a cache of straight razor into my servicing routines at the barber shop, reducing my reliance on replaceable straight razors. I think that I have gotten a few blades into range of fair shaving function but far from what I perceive to be possible based on videos like yours. This all makes me wonder just how many barbers can actually do this. It seems a most onerous undertaking but I really want to be that barber in modern times who can indeed keep straight razors in optimal shaving condition. This had to be a significant part of a barber's work when he had to rely on traditional straight razors to shave. An think of the home-shavers and do-it-yourselfers who, before the safety razors, developed this skill-set to give themselves shaves on a regular basis. I have ruined a lot of stones and razors over the years trying to hone a razor. I also now realize that the preparation and training I got from barber college was rather inadequate for actually mastering the art of honing: there was, I now surmise, no real expectation of my instructors for success because the training did not even come close to bringing me into the realm of mastery. Without the type of wisdom and insight you are sharing, I would could forever expect to be frustrated demoralized by failure. What I now perceive to be the actual learning curve for success in honing with consistency makes my barber college honing training seem a bit gimmicky.

Even after two years, you still respond. One of the reasons you're at the top of the list for my razor info.

This man’s setting aspirations, never even thought about a sharpening den

What a great video! You're clearly well equipped and highly skilled with honing.

The panache with which you hone those razors is a testament of experience. cheers man!

You made it look so easy. But the precision of the moments and accuracy showed sheer experience! Wow

Excellent video! Always a pleasure to watch you work. Great job Danny.

A Dr. Matt honing video! What a great way to start off the weekend! I remember Danny’s Lego candy machine. I can’t believe how much time has passed. You guys have such awesome, talented children. Love seeing what they’re up to!

I always learn something new, or am reminded of something I have forgotten while watching your sharpening vids. You have been my primary coach since I began honing my razor and I do appreciate your taking the time to share!

nice! that's a sharp blade ... my first shave with a not-so-sharp TI, that hurt! Thanks for the video, getting my honing game down ...

Thank you so much doc, 4 years after buying my first TI i managed to get it there thanks to this video …. Best wishes !

Superb video, thanks for taking the time to make it. Your a pro and make it look simple, i’m slowly getting there myself and every video i pick up 1 or 2 top tips which helps, this video i’ve picked up diamond slurry on the synthetic and pressure on the start & mid range stones. Thanks again

Great video, you showed me where I was going wrong honing my razor. I was scared of applying any pressure, then wondering why it wasn't getting any sharper

You have really amazing skill with that.. I was under impression that there is nothing difficult about honing straight razor but this video woke me up and shoved me that its like any other hobby... Beautiful work🙏

The apple doesn't fall far from the tree! The ingenuity that is shared between you is obvious even at such a young age and you certainly have a great deal to be proud of... as does he!

You make it look so easy! I think the pressure is something I need to make more consistent. Great Video as always!

Always great and informative Dr. Matt. Great job Danny 👍

Beautiful ending, it almost made me tear up. Thanks for your videos.

Dr. Matt - thanks for the insightful video! You certainly touched on quite a few questions I’ve had. I’ve got a better understanding of setting the bevel, and should be able to keep by Dovo serviceable for years to come after your work on it this week (it should be arriving today). Thanks again! Scott G.

Wish this video had been around when I bought my Theirs Issard razor. I had this exact problem with the same TI razor...it took me a long time to figure out the spine was off and needed to be fixed with honing. Great video Doc. Cheers Mike in Nova Scotia, Canada.

As usual, such great insight and a wonderful approach.

Thanks for this one, Doc. I had exactly this issue with my TI, right slap in the center of the spine too. But after some work setting the geometry, its all good.

Very cool Doc and Danny, great info there. Cheers!

Great instructional, Doc. I'll be purchasing a Norton 8k and 12k soon and following these vids. On a side note, great job raising your kids, man... There's a lot to be said for men that are able to raise young men.

You make something very difficult look relatively easy... Impressive!.. And thanks for working on my Boker and the additional advice on my meager honing efforts.

Thank you for these Videos I just was able to sharpen my Brother in law's Razor he had given up on.... he shaved with it today...... Cheers Sir.

Hey I just got started in the wet shaving and I have the red prorasso soap, but was wondering about another recommendation and your the man to ask! Thanks for the videos!!

Another great instructional video start to finish! Easy Peasy honing from Dr Matt!

You are exactly right about pressure. Been honing my own for nearly five years and have followed you closely. I’ve never had issues out of 45 razors, both new and vintage. Thank you!

This video, mate, turned me into a real pro!!! THANK YOU! I'm joking about my "pro", but I finally revived an old jalopy and I shaved today with it. I was working on that blade from 2 weeks without any clue, reducing the blade from 6/8 to 5/8 without to be able to cut a single hair. Well, after this video and half an hour on the stones, it worked and I turned a "letter opener" into a phreeking razor! Thanks again!

Nice. You do make it look so easy.

Wow Dr Matt, I've been watching your videos and emailing you for a couple of years now and everytime you have helped me overcome any difficulty on a razor. But man! This video is a Masterclass, it took me back to when I looked on multiple videos from your collection, to get all the steps to correct, sharpen and hone a razor from the start. THAN YOU for this. (And as a fellow parent, congrats on your new camera man, hope one day one of mine shares one of my passions with me also). PD: if you would grant me a wish, I'd love to see you handle a smiling and frowning edge (honing as is, but also how to correct them to straight geometry.... a wedge would be nice too...I have one that still resists y efforts).

I will be trying to apply some of these techniques. I have two mostly unusable dovos at the moment, and i have to resort to using some vintage backup knives to get my face in order.

Great educational video doc. I had that same razor and ran into that problem, best way too fix it, is just like you did. Shout out to Danny great filming!!!!!!

You are awesome man! This video is stuck in my head

Really awesome to see your doing these videos again. If I may make a request, I’d love to see you hone a smiling razor(start to finish). I’m more curious as to your different set of movements on the stones and how you clean up the scratch marks.

I’m so getting one.. thanks for the content.

I sharpen knives and never sharpen straight razors but I can still learn a lot from you guys

You’re the man! I knew most stuff here you you make it look earlier. Thanks a bunch’s my TI’s are perfect but my do is give me drouble. I see to watch more!!!

Dang! That hanging hair test was incredible. That is one fine edge. Hats off to you good sir.

Very nice video thanks for sharing your knowledge ...

I tried this on my ti 7/8 French point and it works amazing 🤩 thanks Matt

Your technique continues to allude me. It's always nice to watch your X strokes and crazy stropping. Thanks from Texas. Norton 8k and/or 5k is on my list for next stone. I hate my Kitayama 8k.

Great video wow wish I had your talent for sharping straight razors.

Watching a master at work.

A TI razor with a wobble? Par for the course, but...when dialed in with Dr. Matt’s magic touch...an amazing and worthy blade that sings.

Awesome Dr. Matt .

It takes years of hard work and passion to hone em like that. Looks like you've done a great job. Oh and nice job on the straight as well.😉

Nice work, Danny!

Danny must be 18 now. My daughter just turned 15. They grow up so fast don't they? Great video Dr Matt. I was wondering who was doing all the great camera work for you. Very cool.

Doc, this might be your best video. You debunked a few myths about honing. The weight of the blade crap is probably the most toxic myth for a new honer.

Very cool Dr. Matt.

Best video so far i’ve seen about sharpening straight razors. My brandnew Dovo has never been sharp. Not from factory and recently re-sharpened…Still not good… gonna try to grind/hone myself now…

I see it’s like japanese single edge knife ‘s backside. For that knife, barely stroke like 100:1 As a beginner, i got cheap one to practice sharpening and shaving. So this video is very helpful. Thanks mate!

Masterfully done

Dr Matt your a magic man I prolly would have fd that thing up thats why we send them to you. You sir are the best.

Just left a FB group as couldn’t be bothered arguing with an asshole there that the spine was part of the bevel, he suggested your video was bad advice and was responsible for ruining many a decent razor. I think he was a “weight of the blade” and 3 layers of tape guy. Sad people everywhere Doc, hope you are well. Greetings from Gibraltar.

Much respect great guys right there! Thank you just beginning always have loved to sharpen now I need to learn to do it right think I've found my teacher

good job! i REALLY like your sink.!

Great video man.

Great video!

Great vid doc I really like that wobble test it would of saved some of my hitting the garbage 🗑 cheers

Great hone dr.Nice job.

Thanks for sharing that. Someday I’ll attempt to hone.

Great, very good job

Really amazing!

Ugh, that last scene where the hair just falls over the blade, so awesome!

Exactly right what you said people are afraid to get rough, but some razors need reshaping which means pressure and removing metal, hone wear is a beautiful thing. 😮😆

Well done, Gentlemen. Thank you. Fun to watch.

Great video, Dr. Matt! -Luke

I just ordered one of these! Recommend by the Stallion

First - thanks for all the information. Lots of good tips and techniques. I’ve watched a couple different videos on this and in several I’ve heard the term “sticky” used which preceded a change in the what was being done. Could you please explain that term as I am about to attempt to “refresh” my first two razors and I have a feeling that’s going to be very important. Thanks again for all the info.

I'm a fan Dr!

Interesting, last week i honed a Boker and a Dovo , both like that.. The Dovo was particularly bad like I never seen on any vintage. I wonder if all the new blanks come from the same manufacture. Great instructional video !

Well greetings from Denmark 🇩🇰😉 you are AWESOME and I serious need your skills for my blade.. its blunt, so every time I’m shaving it hurts 😂 so.... need to find some stones so I could try to do some magic to it and with your helping videos, hopefully my face wouldn’t look like something from a horror movie 😂😂

I agree with you on the weight of the blade pressure. Give me a break I don’t have hours to hone a razor!

You make it look so easy.

I liked having the details of the 400 Atoma in the video subtitle, but I would like it even more if you put a list of the stones used in the video description.

Great thanks Matt

I just have barber stones. One has a red side to it. Do you think it will do a good enough job?

Thanks

Really Interesting. What I would like to know, is there any difference, if you use "cheap" stones...I know this might not make much sense, but what if someone has some simple waterstones for 30 bucks and want to sharpen his razor only with this items....For example budget 8000 grid stone and a leather with some grinding paste. Otherwise really good videos !

Love that shirt 😍

Hey Doc, 11:36 what manufacturer is that pocket knife?

Greetings from central Europe. I'm fascinated how easy you sharpened that razor. Really great job! Thank you for sharing this video. I'd like to have a question on you, sir: At 8:42 you "killed" the already sharpened edge. Is this moment of "killing" - making dull - standard step during your sharpening at the 8000 grit? And why at that moment and not sooner. Thank you for your answers. JT

Another innocent tomato sacrificed in the name of sharpness. Great vid Dr Matt.

Thanks for the video, and nice to see the ending. How are those Atoma's holding up? Would you recommend any other diamond plate over them?

that was fantastic

I understand that you need pressure when you do your honing to get enough metal off for a good sharp bevel. However, when I see you stropping you apply quite an amount of pressure too with the strap not being overly tight: Aren't you afraid of rounding off the edge?

Apparently you can do a razor on the Edge pro... still curious to see how that turns out.

I have two razors that I have really enjoyed using, but I had a problem with my hands after I retired from the military, and notched the blades on both. How can get them restored to where I can get back to using them?

I'm eyeing off a Boker ⅝" or 6/8" with the Paul shell scales. Any thoughts on Boker and ⅝" vs 6/8"?

Hey Matt, new to honing here. My razor is a legrelot half hollow. I have a king 4k and am waiting for a 8k naniwa. How do you assess when the job is done with the 4k ? What about testing for 8k ? Is the hanging hair test only available after 12k ? Also what would you take for a third stone, 12k naniwa or 16k shapton ? Thanks for the vids man

Leveling the stone with the, I think, Atoma stone. In one your other videos you used a grant tile with wet sand paper, I think 300 grit?

Hey DrMatt357, Do you round the edges of your norton or naniwa stones?

Hi have you ever tried to hone on a lydian - touchstone and what is your opinion?

Do you want the spine to rest on the stone while you hone? Or do you want to tilt it so the spine is off the stone?

I already have a norton 4K/8k stone, is it possible to finish on the 8k side without doing anything thing higher and still get a comfortable shave?

God job son❤️

Sweet sharpening man cave.