Thread: I know it's been asked: Newb asks a question about refreshing straight razors

I have a naniwa super stone 12k. Do I need anything else to refreshen my straight razor that was professional honed?

Originally Posted by BrendanWA

I have a naniwa super stone 12k. Do I need anything else to refreshen my straight razor that was professional honed?

That should be plenty. Not many laps needed nor pressure. Very light strokes, then strop and shave. That is a great stone.

Just a strop.

Thank you, gents. Looks like I am in the clear for now.

as a follow up question. I bought the dovo black ebony Bismarck razor from Lynn Abrams's site (not sure if I can mention specific sites on here) and he professionally honed it for me. This razor has the gold on the spine. Is it a given that he taped the spine to prevent the gold from spine from getting a little wear when he honed it? Thanks.

Originally Posted by BrendanWA

as a follow up question. I bought the dovo black ebony Bismarck razor from Lynn Abrams's site (not sure if I can mention specific sites on here) and he professionally honed it for me. This razor has the gold on the spine. Is it a given that he taped the spine to prevent the gold from spine from getting a little wear when he honed it? Thanks.

First and Foremost, Lynn Abrams owns this Site along with Straight Razor Designs. As far a 'other sites' I for one refrain from mentioning them out of respect to Lynn.

From the picture at SRD it looks as if there isn't any 'gold' on the Side of the Spine only on Top. So it's doubtful that tape was used.

With that said please hold off as I have an email in to a good friend who is only about a short distance away from you (about a 20 minute drive from Portland). He's not only an excellent honer but a good teacher.

I highly recommend that you wait for one on one help either from my friend or at the Seattle Meet next month. However if you insist on having a go on your own, Please use One Layer of 3M #700 black plastic tape. The 700 is much better than the Made by the C. H. Ina crap sold most everywhere.

While Glen is using a barbers hone here's a very good video to explain what 'touching up is':

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tP-GUeN_yBs&t=139s

I hope this has been of some help.

Cudarunner, thank you and I am going to hold off. That's a nice gesture. Appreciate it!

Originally Posted by BrendanWA

Cudarunner, thank you and I am going to hold off. That's a nice gesture. Appreciate it!

Thank you for displaying something that most newbies can't seem to grasp and is 'In my opinion' the #1 most Important item needed when learning how to use and maintain a straight razor and that is; PATIENCE!!!

A perfectly honed razor can have the edge damaged by just improper stropping. The amount of damage that can be done on a hone is a 1000 times worse and much harder to correct!

hehehe with that said I had a razor sent to me for honing but looking at the blade I didn't feel that it needed it so I gave it a good stropping (100 on cloth and 200 on leather) and it shaved fine. So I sent it home and told the owner what I'd done. Seems that he was so afraid that he'd turn the edge with too much pressure while stropping that he'd only been stropping the spine and not the edge. So there is a point of diminishing return on both sides.

Again thanks for holding off. Even if my friend is available to help I still highly encourage you to make that Seattle Meet Next Month!!

Ditto on Roy's (cudarunner) advice. Be sure to meet up with someone to get some one-on-one mentoring before you give honing a go. You will save yourself from making the basic mistakes, trust me.

And that 12k Naniwa is a great stone by the way. You will love using that hone when you get the chance!

Originally Posted by Speedster

Ditto on Roy's (cudarunner) advice. Be sure to meet up with someone to get some one-on-one mentoring before you give honing a go. You will save yourself from making the basic mistakes, trust me.

And that 12k Naniwa is a great stone by the way. You will love using that hone when you get the chance!

Mark, since you chimed in about One on One I hope you don't mind me posting this video of you and Glen when Glen was teaching you how to hone.

I find that it really shows how very simple things that a newbie misses that are indeed very important.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vxrs5kFkmJg

(Was it really so many years ago that the two of you sat down together for the lesson out in the boonies of ID? )