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Greeting all I've shaved with a DE several times liked it and decided that I should try using a straight so I acquired one, however I can't really start because I bought a used straight with a minor chip and there are so many confusing things about honing, bread knifing, pasts, strops, stones etc. so I decided to join a community and hopefully get some advice and start using that straight!:)
There several very good honers here on SRP. Send it to one of them so you will be sure you have a "shave ready" razor. Here is a good place for beginners to start:
Beginner's guide to straight razor shaving - Straight Razor Place Library
+1 to ChopperDave's suggestion. Get that first blade honed by a pro. By all means learn to hone yourself, but until you have experienced a truly shave-ready blade, you'll be aiming for a target you can't see. Please learn from my experience on this! I honed my own for ages until I dinged it on a faucet and sent it out for repair. The edge that came back was a revelation. Not only did it work *way* better than any edge I had put on to that point, it also taught me what to aim for myself.
Honing is relatively cheap, and (IMHO) worth every penny! Look in the "Member Services" section of the classifieds here on SRP for members who offer honing services. And don't take it to just any knife sharpening store. Sharpening knives and honing razors are very different process.
And welcome to SRP!
Welcome to SRP!
:chapeau
Hi and welcome aboard. Good luck and +1 for the pro honing.