Thread: First straight

Thanks pfries and Ed. Great idea, don't know why I didn't consider practising on a cheap blade. To Ebay!

Originally Posted by AshP

Thanks Bill. Sounds reasonable. Maybe my expectations are a little high. It's very easy to watch someone like Lynn on youtube and think "that looks simple" when of course it isn't and it's experience making it look easy.

I am in no rush at all so I'm going to take my time over this and I guess the worst that can happen is I have to send it away anyhow!

Try and find a mentor near you to get you through the first honing if you insist on doing it yourself. Learning to hone can take time and trying to hone often makes honing difficult for the person you send it to.

That said sometimes the factory edges are rather close so it is simple start with the highest grit you have.... a good strop then see how it shave if it needs work try an 8k. you can do all your honing on a 8k it will just take longer but it is less damaging. also since it is a new razor tape the spine if you need to hone. Always remove the tape after a honing session, even if you are not done as moisture can get trapped and you have stains and rust.

for years I used nothing but a coticule or a barbers hone, maintained my edges easily, now I normally use an 8k shapton or a thurningen stone.

enjoy,
jim