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Hello Everyone,
I am going to be receiving my first straight razor soon and I had a few questions on care. I'm pretty sure I know which strop I am getting but I'm wondering if I should go with a balsa board along with chromium oxide or a barbers hone for additional upkeep? I have very little experience honing and that was on knives. My razor will come professionally honed so I have a good start. Any help is greatly appreciated.
Learn to shave first, then worry about honing. Knife sharpening is very different than razor sharpening.
You should get your new razor honed by a pro if it doesn't come that way so you know what a good edge feels like. Then once stropping is no longer enough, you may be able to add honing to your skill set.
Like Moonshae said. Shave first. You said it is Prof. Honed. By who?
Don't know if you need all the different strops. I have one vintage strop (50-60) years old. Leather and canvas. That is all I have used for over 20 year. More is not always better.
Well in theory it should be a little while before you need to worry about needing them, so in the mean time hang out and watch the treads, do some research, and learn to shave. There are many things that are regularly debated around here. The best method for edge maintenance is retry much a constant. CrOx is a very inexpensive way to maintain a blade.
You have to learn to strop first. If you blow it there then your going to need something to bring the edge back and maybe a new strop. Let's hope not. The learning curve increases when you start sharpening things :<0) There is nothing wrong with being prepared for the future/worst so if you want to add things like pastes , go for it. Just remember each has a learning curve of it's own.
Thanks for the replies. I had no plans on doing any honing above the very basic, I know my skill set is not adequate. I was under the impression that a secondary tool was needed for basic maintenance but it's good to know that a strop is sufficient. If I ruin the edge I have no fantasies I can fix it nor will I try. Is there something I can practice with to learn how to strop, to practice techniques?
With you being new to straight razors..... Once you get your first SR, you might want to get a 2nd one. A back up for when you send one out for honing OR switch back and forth between them. Practice stropping first with a butter knife so you learn the technique first. The first time stropping, you don't want to ruin/ roll your blade or worse......cut your strop. A paddle board strop is also a good choice in case your don't want to use a hanging strop. You can make a practice strop with newspaper....fold it up to the width of a strop and go through the stropping motion with a butter knife or your actual razor. If you cut the paper, no big deal and chances are you won't hurt the blade either or as much. Edges are pretty delicate and also depends on the grind of blade.
Research is your best tool. Ask questions.
:chapeau