Thread: Hone and that one spot I can't quite get

Originally Posted by materpillar

Hello all. I got a straight razor for Christmas last year and have been using it pretty consistently since then. I was thinking about getting a hone to maintain the blade a bit (it came professionally honed). I was wondering what recommendations you have for what to get and where to look.


Also, I'm pretty comfortable shaving the vast amount of my face. However, I can't seem to get a close shave at the very tip of my chin, and a little bit under it. By this I mean that everywhere else on my face I can get as close a shave as if I used a disposable razor, but in this one location it isn't even remotely as good. I've tried a multitude of different approaches but none seem to work out well for me. Any tips about getting that pesky area?

Welcome, materpillar!

Does this occur with WTG, ATG, XTG passes or just one type of pass? The answer should help illicit more targeted responses to the chin issue.

I had to understand that there is no shame in picking up the disposable to help you out in this area of your chin to finish up. Particularly, when you just can't feel that you're gettin the right angle or its causing cramping which if pushed to far can lead to physical tourettes and injury.

I watched alot of videos to get ideas as well.

Regards,

If I had to shave like the guy in the vid, I would not shave anymore.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

If I had to shave like the guy in the vid, I would not shave anymore.

Lol. That's right. pixelfixed neglects to tell you he shaves using The Force

Don't know about the chin but the Naniwa super stone 12k is great for maintaining a razor.

You can pick up a quality barber stone for a fair price...really all you would ever need to maintain a razor.

Originally Posted by shooter74743

You can pick up a quality barber stone for a fair price...really all you would ever need to maintain a razor.

This. I have two old Genco barber's hones (one is a strop backed hone I use for travel) and about every 5th shave with any particular razor from my collection I use a bit of lather on the stone and give the razor about 5 strokes on each side of the blade. I then strop as normal or, in the case of some razors, strop about 5-10 laps on an old cotton webbing belt with CrOx spray to reduce the harshness of the blade and then strop as normal. The CrOx doesn't sharpen the blade any more than the stone, just mellows the edge.

Prior to the barber's hone, I'm only using a Norton 220k/1k and 4k/8k to hone with and finish on one of my barber's hones. I'd definitely be interested to see how the barber's hone compares to, say, a Naniwa 12k or higher, but for now, my system is working.

Now, if I can just get down a rolling X-stroke with any solidarity, I'd be set.

The point of the chin is tough with N-S or S-N. Try going E-W or W-E even if it isn't the "proper" direction relative to the grain. When you go from side to side on the point of the chin the angle doesn't change as abruptly.

I have really thick growth at the chin and stache and was having trouble , so I tried his two hand tech there and it made a world of difference.