Thread: sharp??

Hi everyone. Bought my first cutthroat 3 days ago. Had 3 shaves and boy do I need help. Fired up the laptop and all signs pointed to this site. loads of great info.
I'm sure my problem is really common - I don't think my beautifull new blade is sharp enough. I bought a Solingen carbon steel and 1st shave was a bit rough. Put that down to bad technique. 2nd was a bit better but not much. Then I read that they're not really shave ready so I've had a go at honing it (scary) with a Cyril Salter stone and 3rd shave was best yet, but still not great. I'm comparing this to my twin blade safety which gives a real close smooth shave. I now realise I should have got a shave ready razor, but too late now. Wondered if one of the replaceable blade straight razors would give me an idea of what it should be like.
I'd be really gratefull if anyone has any suggestions.

The replacement blades are, from what I understand, a different kind of sharp...but very sharp indeed.

I think it would be a good idea to send your razor to one of our honemeisters. Some can usually turn a razor around, shave-ready, in 3-4 days. Then you'll have a benchmark for what shave-ready really feels like and you can hone towards that.

EDIT: You can also check out the stickies in the Honing forum. There are great tutorials and write-ups there.

I agree with cwrighta70, check out the Critical Info sticky at the top of the newbie section, part way down the page it lists people who sharpen razors. Good luck and Welcome


Bob

cwrighta70, looks like you beat me this time

Thanks. Sound advice I'm sure. Is there anyone in the UK that provides a honing service that anyone can recommend? I think this may be a last resort as I'm determined to crack this. Is it realyy that hard???

Originally Posted by gpeter

Thanks. Sound advice I'm sure. Is there anyone in the UK that provides a honing service that anyone can recommend? I think this may be a last resort as I'm determined to crack this. Is it realyy that hard???

Poona hones in the UK. His signature note mentions being off until after May though

Honing a str8 razor is the most difficult of the skills necessary in str8 shaving. It requires a fair amount of practice and a set of the proper hones. Your best best is to have someone else hone your razor for you so that then you have a benchmark for future comparison.

Hope this helps,

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Honing a str8 razor is the most difficult of the skills necessary in str8 shaving. It requires a fair amount of practice and a set of the proper hones. Your best best is to have someone else hone your razor for you so that then you have a benchmark for future comparison.

Hope this helps,

+1

You need a reference so you know what to aim for.

Originally Posted by gpeter

Thanks. Sound advice I'm sure. Is there anyone in the UK that provides a honing service that anyone can recommend? I think this may be a last resort as I'm determined to crack this. Is it realyy that hard???

Enter Knight in shinning armour
[URL="http://www.theinvisibleegde.co.uk"]www.theinvisibleegde.co.uk/URL]
Steve who runs it, is a honmeister and purveyer of everything you need.
He has shave ready razors from less than £30 delived.
www.theinvisibleedge.co.uk don't know what happend to above url
Marcus

+1 to The Invisible Edge. Highly recommended.

www.theinvisibleedge.co.uk

that's better