Thread: New to straight razor

I know they are different that’s why I joined here. I’m going to get a few more stones and keep trying as I enjoy just sharpening things lol. I get it will take time and I don’t have an overly expensive razor yet but I will get one once I can perfect it. Would a 16000 shapton glass stone be any good?

I dont have the 16k but i know folks here do have it. I have over 100 razors but i still dont have an expensive one. I cant see spending that kind of money on a razor but thats just me.

Good luck. Hope the best for ya. Lots of info here about honing so read and learn.

When it comes to honing, the common thin to do is start with a shave ready razor and work on your stropping and shaving. When the razor starts to pull you can try refreshing the edge on most hones 8K or above. The Naniwa 12K is very often recommended for this. Once you have shaving, stropping and touch up working in your favour, and you have enough razors to warrant I, you can start working on your ability to bevel set and refine the edge. Straight razor have a funny terminology. So to clarify a bevel set is the formation of an apex from heel to toe. There are some really great threads that have been done over time. None of it is rocket science but it often require some time to get the proccess figured out. There are many paths to the perfect edge.

I have a very simple (and relatively inexpensive) honing kit. I set a bevel on a Sharpton 1K, hone using a Norton 4K/8k combination or a combo coticule and finish on a Vermio. I touch up using a paddle strop with felt and diamond spray on one side and balsa with chromium oxide on the other. Works for me.

I don’t know if a 16k or a 20k stone would create a better edge, but I am very comfortable with the edges I get to shave with.

Welcome to SRP!!!!!

Sounds like you have a goal to reach and we can help you out.
I can't really add much to what was said. These guys all have great experience and knowledge to pass on.
I tried a lot of things and by listening to the great advise I got, Straight Razor shaving has become true bliss

HERE is our library, you can learn a lot there as well

Enjoy and have fun!!!!!

Welcome to the forum from Georgia!
Sounds like you have the homing essentials. You'll end up with more toys though. I would recommend getting a professional hone at least once from someone like gssixgun just so you have a point of reference. I'm still a novice but my honing improved once I had a professional edge to compare to.
Lynn Abrams has great honing videos.
The whole preshave prep process makes the shave more enjoyable, but I usually just lather and shave when I have time.

+1 to what TC and Jerry said above: at least once send your razor to a pro to get it honed properly. When I first started I was teaching myself to hone and thought I had it pretty much figured out. Then I damaged the blade and had to send it off for repairs. It was only when it came back to me with a properly honed edge that I understood what "shave-ready" really meant.

So it's absolutely worth a few bucks to send it off to a pro just to feel what it could or should feel like. Until then, you're aiming for a target you can't see. It is a small amount of $$ well spent.

Good luck!

Agreed, a good shaver or 2 and strop. They both have to be good!
Especially, they need to be used properly.

That is where YOU come in!

All good advice so far. I will add this; The softer you can make your beard the easier it is to shave. Your blades will stay sharper longer and irritation will be minimized.

Hi and welcome aboard. A lot of peuple thought they just will trim the beard, but after à White, they just make it disappear.