Thread: Hone and Pinning questions

I've been DE wet shaving for 8-9 months now. A couple of weeks ago in a weak moment, I somehow purchased a Ern 4720 straight razor.
I've never even had a straight shave.

I've spent about 8 hrs hand sanding all the rust and most of the pitting. It really has shined up nicely.


The scales were warped and cracked and one broke in pieces when I unpinned it.

I think these will be my new scales. Still need a wedge, pinns and washers.


I appreciate all the help and knowledge you guys share so freely... My questions

1. What type of hone finish is best for a newbie?

2. Should I have it honed before I rescaled it?

3. Should I have someone else repinn or can I do that?

4. What should all this cost me to get done. (This is not a cheap hobby lol).

1. Send it to a pro.
2. No
3. You can do it. There are a TON of videos and threads on here about it.
4. Check out the classified section here

Look into the library. There is a ton of information about repining & honing but since this is your first one, you can learn to pin it yourself , then send it to a person to hone it for you. Don't send it to just anyone. If you look in the classifieds on here, you can find someone reputable to hone it for less than $20. In the Library you can watch honing videos & learn to eventually hone yourself. You will definitely want to buy you at least another one if not more to have a spare when you send it out to be honed. It isn't as expensive as you think unless you go high end on razors. You all spend some money on hones but they're worth it in the long run once you learn to hone yourself. There is also a list you can look up on razors NOT to buy & it is somewhere's in the library. Do some digging, there's plenty on this forum you can learn. You can buy pin & washer kits on eBay. Good luck!

Originally Posted by Hthomas

A couple of weeks ago in a weak moment, I somehow purchased a Ern 4720 straight razor.

This is how it starts...its like when they give away Heroin or Cocaine samples...

And we would not call that a "weak moment" but rather a "moment of clarity, like a vision when I could suddenly see the truth"

Chevhead and engine46 have set you on the path, enjoy the journey - you will be better for taking it.

Smooth Shaving...

Originally Posted by engine46

Look into the library. In the Library you can watch honing videos & learn to eventually hone yourself. There is also a list you can look up on razors NOT to buy & it is somewhere's in the library. Do some digging, there's plenty on this forum you can learn. You can buy pin & washer kits on eBay. Good luck!

Where is this library ?

To the right of the forum up above.

Originally Posted by MJC

This is how it starts...its like when they give away Heroin or Cocaine samples...And we would not call that a "weak moment" but rather a "moment of clarity, like a vision when I could suddenly see the truth"

Chevhead and engine46 have set you on the path, enjoy the journey - you will be better for taking it.

Smooth Shaving...

Amen,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,4 years ago I signed onto the forum just to get a chip fixed, no intention of shaving,,, before I realized it, I was hooked by a famous Razor Pimp in Vegas,,,, 35 straights later, I still visit his website twice a day, then look into my account to see if I have any money.

“I somehow purchased a Ern 4720 straight razor.”

Don’t you hate when that happens?

Good thing you weren’t at the Ferrari dealership.

Welcome to the forum. Wow, 2 week and you unpinned and hand sanded the blade… and made a set of scales?

Unless you have stones, you will have to invest a good chunk of cash… and you haven’t learned to shave yet. It could be an expensive razor purchase.

Send the razor out, so you could learn to shave and maintain the razor.

Hone the razor once it is finished, if you hone it first, you will muck up the edge sanding, polishing and pinning the new scales. A razor edge is very fragile.

If you did all this work by reading the forum, you could teach yourself to peen. Practice on some Popsicle sticks and use brass rod and washers. As said there is a lot of info and video on Peening here. It is not that difficult.

A 12k Naniwa Super Stone is a good finish stone to begin with for maintenance, but if you sanded the blade, it will need a complete bevel set honing.

Stropping for maintenance is going to be you biggest obstacle. Find a local mentor to reduce your learning curve and frustration.

Oh yeah, I DID mean to mention that it would be better to have it together to hone.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

“I somehow purchased a Ern 4720 straight razor.”

Don’t you hate when that happens?

Good thing you weren’t at the Ferrari dealership.

Welcome to the forum. Wow, 2 week and you unpinned and hand sanded the blade… and made a set of scales?

Unless you have stones, you will have to invest a good chunk of cash… and you haven’t learned to shave yet. It could be an expensive razor purchase.

Send the razor out, so you could learn to shave and maintain the razor.

Hone the razor once it is finished, if you hone it first, you will muck up the edge sanding, polishing and pinning the new scales. A razor edge is very fragile.

If you did all this work by reading the forum, you could teach yourself to peen. Practice on some Popsicle sticks and use brass rod and washers. As said there is a lot of info and video on Peening here. It is not that difficult.

A 12k Naniwa Super Stone is a good finish stone to begin with for maintenance, but if you sanded the blade, it will need a complete bevel set honing.

Stropping for maintenance is going to be you biggest obstacle. Find a local mentor to reduce your learning curve and frustration.

I've talked to a few local guys about honing this thing including Ken Rupp http://www.ruprazor.com/store/index....d=12&Itemid=36.

Is there a noticeable difference in a Naniwa and a Coticule (or even lapping film for that matter) finished blade?

Great info I will practice pinning. Thats a great idea.

Stroping I haven't really given that much thought. What do I need?

Thanks to all of you for the help!