Rensselaer Union, Volume 7, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 April 1875 — Honing a Razor. [ARTICLE]

Honing a Razor.

“ The first requisite,” says our correspondent G. W. D., “is to have a wellshaped, well-tempered and well (water) grouxd razor; unless very truly ground it will be impossible to hone it properly. Take an Italian hone, of not too fine grit, face it perfectly with fine emery paper glued on a board; dust it off and drop six or eight drops of sperm oil on its face. Hold the razor perfectly flat on the stone, draw firmly but lightly from heel to point (from"" the further right hand corner to the lower left hand corner), against the edge; if a wire edge be produced, run the edge lightly across the thumb nail, and a few strokes on the hone will remove all trouble on that score. If you will examine the edge of the razor now by aid of a magnifier you will find that the fine grooves or teeth incline toward the heel.

“ I would here say that the hone must be kept perfectly clean, as, after using a few times and then neglecting it, the pores will get filled with steel, and in that casejt will not be possible to get a keen edge on the razor. I have had a hone in use for forty years, for my own and friends’ razors. I have kept it perfectly true, and yet there has been no perceptible wear. “ I make my own straps as follows: I select a piece of satin, maple or rose-wood, twelve inches long, one and three-fourth inches wide and three-eighths inch thick; I allow three and one-half inches for length of handle. Half an inch from where the handle begins I notch out the thickness of the leather se as to make it flush toward the end. I taper also the thickness of the leather; this precaution prevents the case from tearing up the leather in putting the strap in. I then round the wood very slightly, just enough (say one-twelfth of an inch) to keep from cutting by the razor in strapping and turning over the same. I now select a proper-sized piece of fine French bookbinder’s calfskin, cover with good wheat or rye paste, _then lay the edge in the notch and secure it in place with a small vise, proceed to rub it down firmly and as solid as possible with a tooth-brush handle (always at hand or should be), and after the whole is thoroughly dry trim it neatly and make the case. “Use cold water forlather, as it softens beard and hardens the cuticle; hot water softens both and makes the face tender. Always dip the razor in hot water before using and also after use, as it will dry and prevent rusting.”— Scientific American.