So, my razor came shave ready which I know does not really make it the best quality shave ready but, I have read all the forums and watched Youtube videos and I just cannot seem to get my razor sharp. Any suggestions on what I could be doing wrong?
Thanks!
Too many variables to list all of them. What blade is it, how is your stropping, what stone or method are you using. Did you lose the edge quickly, did it happen gradually?
If it came with a factory shave ready edge it could potentially need the bevel reset.
As stated a lot of variables to consider,
as you are just starting out I would consider sending it out and starting off with refreshing the edge when it needs it.
I lost it quickly. It is a theirs Issard 6/8 razor. I am using a Nortons 4/8k stone. I do not think my stropping is terrible. I have watched videos on Youtube of Lynn and learned best I could from him. Can you suggest a good place to send it off and what is the estimated cost?
I love my razor and shaving with a straight. I just still have a bit of a learning curve. I am getting there but still learning.
Look under member services in the classifieds. Pro honers list their services there, including price.
Michael
Send it to SRD or one of the members that list their services on the forum (Vendor Services). Of course, since we don't know where you are or where you got it, it's hard to estimate price, but it would probably be less than the cost of your Norton 4/8 for several honings.Quote:
Originally Posted by Refused1979
Thank you all! I love this forum! Every questioned answered every time! If i could get a razor honed for about $20-$25 that would be worth it! The only thing that worries me is my razor getting lost in the mail. How do you gentlemen usually package yours when you ship it to hone it?
Send it tracked and insured for whatever the value is. I recommend and use foam pipe insulation to protect the blade. Its very protective and cheap.
Buy in any hardware store and fits in small USPS priority mail box. Before putting in the piper insulation, I'd oil it and wrap it in Wax paper.Quote:
Originally Posted by bill3152
From what i've researched, I thought that the 8000 is really only starting to establish an edge for shaving. I've seen a lot of videos using 12000 and some going to 16000 then using microfine abrasive powders before stropping.
My take on it,for the first year,just concentrate on your prep, your angles,your stropping.
Do not even think about hones, sprays, pastes.
Having blades pro honed is cheap,you will never reach the leval that a pro who hones day in and day out has,is just not going to happen.
Once you have the above down pat,you can keep a blade going for a very long time,I still get fantastic shaves from blades that have not been honed or even touched a stone in two yrs.
I wouldnt say that the 8k is the coarsest stone to establish an edge (if I interpreted your post right, which I might not have done). When you come up to 8k and finer you do more polishing than you do sharpening. Most sharpening takes place from the lower grits, such as 1k.Quote:
Originally Posted by Robbied
This is to my understanding and I might be wrong.
You can shave perfectly fine off an 8k stone. I love my old Sheffield razors at that level and often I simply use an 8k shapton (I do not use a Norton anymore) to refresh all my razors, for extra smoothness I might use an Escher after the 8k and very rarely a 16k or 30k hone (those are mainly for other people).
many older people only ever used a barber's hone or a coticule
enjoy,
jim
Likely culprit was the stropping...a simple re-hone will get her as good as new...
From what I've read the TI's can need a hone from factory the same as dovo's. Get it pro honed and you should be able to maintain it from there.
At an 8k level you are shave ready. The rest is just refinement but for most beginners technique means the 8k can be a harder edge to shave with than an edge with the extra refinement. It all comes in time.