Thread: Bad edge or bad technique?

Thanks guys! That was quick.

My natural tendency is to think, "For $25 I can get a professional honing, but for $135 I can get a Norton 220/1000 and 4000/8000 and never have to pay someone else to hone my razors ever."

That's probably my stubbornness. Around the house I am a real DIY kind of guy -- fix my own plumbing, rotate my tires myself, change my own oil.

Having said that, I do think everyone is right on target, that going for a good solid professional honing, and shaving on it without stropping first, will really help so that is what I think I will do.

Originally Posted by 400E

Thanks guys! That was quick.

My natural tendency is to think, "For $25 I can get a professional honing, but for $135 I can get a Norton 220/1000 and 4000/8000 and never have to pay someone else to hone my razors ever."

That's probably my stubbornness. Around the house I am a real DIY kind of guy -- fix my own plumbing, rotate my tires myself, change my own oil.

Having said that, I do think everyone is right on target, that going for a good solid professional honing, and shaving on it without stropping first, will really help so that is what I think I will do.

Hey Steve,

Thanks for the PM you won’t regret having your razor professionally honed!

For one thing, it will give you a ‘Point of Reference’ in that you know how it shaved, then if it feels the same after stropping etc.

I cut meat for a few years and the man that taught me to sharpen a knife started as an apprentice meat cutter in 1934. To say that he knew how to put a killer edge on a knife would be an understatement!

When I decided that I could hone a straight razor using my knowledge I very quickly came to the conclusion that sharpening a knife compared to honing a straight razor was as different as the color black is to white/night and day!!

I had to entirely relearn the muscle memory let alone the new and ‘Very Delicate’ strokes!!

I feel that most that want to learn to hone can!

With that said, it takes patience!!! In fact everything about using a straight razor takes patience!!!

Have patience and wait until you have your razor returned.

First off i must say congrats on owning your first razor and it not needing honed for more than half a year. Half a year is about how much time my razors would hold a good edge anyway, but i still hone and touch them up more frequently because i have an addiction. With that said it might not be so much of your stropping technique as it is the razor just needs honed from use. As for the nick, I have shaved with razors with small nics without much of a problem as long as the rest of the blade is inline and stropped properly, but bigger nicks will definitely cause agony especially when applying too much pressure. If you are a diy guy i would recommend learning to hone, but also to have it honed by a pro now so that you know what to expect when you start attempting to do it yourself. Just my 1 1/2 cents.

I admire your courage going after honing. Its a very relaxing but sometimes frustrating when you are at it and you have no idea why it wont cut. Then you learn different techniques and off you go. The most important thing I learned was adjusting my different strokes to each individual blade. They are all different and I don't think I ever honed one that was dead flat. But that's how you learn. I would consider a few inexpensive ebay or yard sale antique store that aren't extremely valuable. EVen a junky Chinese blade or Pakistan just to learn, they aren't worth much to shave with but they hone up just the same. The more you do it, the more muscle memory you get. Good luck.

I appreciate the advice everyone has given.

I got my razor back from Glen this week - really great work, fair price, and amazingly quick turnaround time.

Used it for first time today and great to know that my razor is at peak performance. It did highlight for me that I really need to go back to basics with my technique now. I think I will just focus on WTG for a while, paying really close attention to blade angle, using a light touch, and stretching the skin.

I still want to learn honing, but that needs to wait until I have a better handle on shaving technique.

Originally Posted by 400E

I appreciate the advice everyone has given.

I got my razor back from Glen this week - really great work, fair price, and amazingly quick turnaround time.

Used it for first time today and great to know that my razor is at peak performance. It did highlight for me that I really need to go back to basics with my technique now. I think I will just focus on WTG for a while, paying really close attention to blade angle, using a light touch, and stretching the skin.

I still want to learn honing, but that needs to wait until I have a better handle on shaving technique.

"I still want to learn honing, but that needs to wait until I have a better handle on shaving technique".

Atta Boy! :

There are so many variables when trying to learn this Art and until you master the lathering, stropping and the angles, learning to hone needs to be last on the list!!

With that said, once you get the basics down and start to learn to hone, you will find it challenging and eventually Very Rewarding!!!

Once you learn to walk, and then run, I hope you run like the wind!

Thanks!

I appreciate the support.