Thread: What a SHARP razor feels like. Finally!

So I bought a razor from ebay a while ago, a nice razor but not shave ready. I sent it to get honed and was very excited to get it back, still not shave ready. Needless to say I was not very happy. I found an antique shop by my house with straight razors and got a really nice razor for about $45, it looked like it had never been used and I thought that was a good thing. Again, it would shave but not as well as I would have liked, razor burn and a scar on my neck from a slip. So as a last resort I had a lansky shrpening system with a diomand stone and a finishing stone. I thought the stones would be too small to work well, boy was I wrong. I NEVER felt a shave so smooth and close. It was awsome. Still struggling with my jaw line but my cheeks, baby smooth, lol. Just wondering if anyone else has tried this and if it worked as well for them.

What was the grit size on those stones you bought?

I have a lansky diamond sharpening system and the finest stone marked extra fine is way too coarse for a straight razor.

Agree with thebigspendur. If you are looking at diamond stones, extra extra fine is about 8K grit. Anything else is not going to cut it

But glad that you got the results you did!

Originally Posted by darkdragon

So I bought a razor from ebay a while ago, a nice razor but not shave ready. I sent it to get honed and was very excited to get it back, still not shave ready. Needless to say I was not very happy.

That sucks, I'm sorry to hear about that. Where did you send it to get it sharpened.
There are plenty of people who will do it here in the classified section. Maybe someone would help you out.
Some people may even help out for free, I would be happy to sharpen it for you for return postage, but I haven't been tested or anything by anyone but myself.
What kind of razor did you get that was not sharp. Was it from the list of razors to avoid.

The Lansky system lists the finest stone as 1000 grit. If this worked for you imagine what you would get if you used more appropriate grit stones and technique. You can only go up from here.

Ok, so you thought you got a good shave, boy do you have a bit to learn. That honing system ends where most of us start with honing a straight razor. Read that sentence again. I use the same lansky diamond system for my custom knives. Diamonds are for ladies, knives, lapping stones, & once and a while for razor repair.

If you want to learn what a true shave ready razor is about, send me a quality razor & return postage. I will evaluate your edge & if needed will put a proper shaving edge on the razor. Your face will thank you...

A really shave ready razor has no feel at all unless you make a mistake, and it is quick to show you that you have made one. Beyond that, however, you don't feel anything at all as the whiskers are eliminated. When I start to "feel" my razor doing its job, I know it is time for a touch-up.

Lol thanks for all of the replies. I looked at the stones I was using and you were all right. The last stone was only 600 grit so I can't even imagine what kind of shave I will get when I actually either get it honed by someone else or actually have some money to get some stones to hone it myself. I'm still new at this and to tell the truth at this point I am getting what I pay for. Using a homemade strop made using an old pair of jeans, some scrap leather, and a clothes hanger.
@Sirtexan the first razor I bought was a Sword and Crown. The second was a Kama 23. I knew I was in trouble when I got the Sword and Crown back because I also sent a knife to be sharpened and it came back duller then when I sent it. There was also electrical tape on the razor .
In conclusion I can't wait to feel a really sharp razor.
@ Shooter74743 That would be awesome. Do you have a suggestion on which razor would be better to send you the Kama or the sword and crown. Please let me know what you think and where I can send it.

Send both, then you will have two shave ready razors so that if one starts to pull you can have it touched up & still be shaving. Look at www.ruprazor.com at Ken's filly strop...it's about the most affordable strop out there that I know of that's quality. You really must have a strop before you start your shaving venture, along with proper shaving soap & a brush.

I have pm'd you my address.