Thread: I'm a Canadian, eh !

Some pics would help...are you trying to hone the GD or the FR?

Also, whereabouts are you located....

Sounds like you need some hands on help. Where you at Barry2.

It isn't really all string, mirrors and a lot of black curtains. I think you are on the right track. Honestly it is all about the bevel. When the apex is perfect from one end to the other, it gets polished and by that achieves the sharpest edge possible. The translation of that to your hands is where it gets tricky, the use or not of pressure is key. It is a pretty large country and there are a bunch of us scattered everywhere. I am with TrilliumLT and a hands on session could save hours of frustration. Also what is your straight razor experience. Are you brand new to straight razor shaving or just honing?

Im with rezdog and think it is most likely a bevel issue. Can take a while to learn to set the bevel properly and on a 4k is going to take a bit. Did try to meet up with someone for some hands on help.

Originally Posted by eddy79

Im with rezdog and think it is most likely a bevel issue. Can take a while to learn to set the bevel properly and on a 4k is going to take a bit. Did try to meet up with someone for some hands on help.

- - - You may be right, but I have a hard time seeing how one can go wrong, especially since the spine acts as a jig. If the spine and the cutting edge are both touching the stone, then it is virtually impossible to get it wrong, unless the horizontal stabilizer is also touching the stone. That is why it appears to me to be somewhat important to watch where the stabilizer is when you are on the stone.

Originally Posted by eddy79

Im with rezdog and think it is most likely a bevel issue. Can take a while to learn to set the bevel properly and on a 4k is going to take a bit. Did try to meet up with someone for some hands on help.

- - - As I said in one of the other posts, is it really possible to go wrong ? The spine of the razor functions as a guide to honing by preventing an erratic bevel. But I also question why a varying bevel angle would be a hindrance since the important thing is to have an angle of around 20 degrees + - . A little tolerance shouldn't make much of a difference. At least that is my theory.

Originally Posted by eddy79

Im with rezdog and think it is most likely a bevel issue. Can take a while to learn to set the bevel properly and on a 4k is going to take a bit. Did try to meet up with someone for some hands on help.

- - - How is it possible to go wrong with a built-in jig ie. the spine ?

I'm a relative new straight shaver as well, and if I read your posts right you are thinking that just shaving with the top say 1" of blade actually set correctly will shave comfortably?
I think, if only that area of the blade was allowed to touch your face maybe, but presuming you are honing and stropping the whole blade at the same time, there will be some areas close to shave ready and others not, so your face will overall just feel harsh.
The bevel needs to be set the entire length of the blade, not the same width necessarily, but at the point where the two planes meet, for sure set straight and true.
Adding tape to the spine during honing will allow for a smaller bevel, more concentrated at the edge and will allow for spine irregularities to some degree as well.
I rushed from the bevel very often, and still do at times, but it is, as everyone else has indicated, is the key difference between shaving, and enjoying shaving with a straight.
Good luck.

I'm newbie too.
When I first started, I read a lot. And I took the advice of those who are experienced and who act as mentors to folks like me.
I started slow. I started with a shave-ready razor. I visited someone who showed me some basics - shave angle, grip, stropping. I took it easy - and generally speaking I've had and excellent experience so far.

Also I didn't go near hones. At least, not until I had worked downwards - initially just stropping, then a pasted strop, the finally a small finishing hone, and now more recently I've acquired a 3K/8K Naniwa. At each step going slowly and deliberately, trying to understand and to learn the craft. I have a long way to go - but I feel like I'm on the right path, one step at a time.

So, i don't want to sound disparaging, and certainly I mean no disrespect, but if you take some of the advice on here to heart, you may not get frustrated after a few weeks.

• Send your FR (Fred Reynolds) out to get professionally honed

• Learn to strop

• Go over your technique with someone who can help - if you let us know where you are on the east coast (that's pretty broad), maybe there might be a member near you.

Good luck to you.

When the apex is perfect from one end to the other, it gets polished and by that achieves the sharpest edge

- - - Well, its great to have a perfect bevel from one end to the other, but is it really necessary ? It should be possible to shave with a perfect bevel on only the first centimeter from the tip. However, it may take a little longer to shave.

I cannot be absolutely certain, but with the Sharpie pen, I blacken the edge at a few intervals and give it 2 or 3 runs on the stone. Then, if you see a polished area between 2 black areas you know that your cutting edge is rounded.