Newbie Checking in...questions

I've been getting into traditional shaving...started DE...moving to straight...yada yada

I found a hone/wet stone at an estate sale. Very smooth. It has no ID markings other than an old sticker that says blue green (or yellow green, or yellow blue...something like that) on it. It would appear to be a natural stone. No case or papers.

Other question is about razor sharpness. I have a couple of razors. They will take the hair
off of the arm. But still ruff on the face. So I sharpened one on my new hone (described above).
It will grip a hanging hair, but not cut it. I tried to shave with it, and it still seemed ruff, though I was noticeably taking stubble off. Could this be technique, or do I need to hone the razor some more?

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks

Gabe

The stone you found might be an Escher, and those are quite nice. The older ones run a pretty penny on ebay or here.

Regarding your hair test: the HHT is rather subjective, and to be honest, I don't even use it. Some razors will pass the HHT easily, but provide uncomfortable shaves. Some razors won't pass the HHT but will give amazing shaves. Keep in mind the hair off your head is not the same as the hair on your face. My razor testing starts on my arm. If arm hairs don't literally pop off my arm, she goes back to the hone (or the "to be honed" line). After that, it's straight to the face for a shave test. After all, the quality of the shave is all I care about.

Did you strop the blade before you shaved? Stropping is essential for a smooth, close shave. The problem could be a less than sharp edge, poor stropping, or your shaving technique.

Thanks for the reply.

I got the stone for free actually (a family member picked it up for a buck). I looked up the stone you reference, and it looks like it. So this should be the only stone I need? No need for a Norton Combo?

I think my problem is mainly a technique thing. I will also strop for longer. I only did 10 passes with it on the strop before using it. I read 25 on here somewhere. I'll try that. And since I'm totally new, I'm sure my technique stinks. I'll keep at it. Thanks for the reply.

That stone is a finisher. If you are only going to be touching up shave ready blades, she's all you ever need. If you want to hone up razors that are not shave ready, you'll need coarser stones. The 4/8K is popular; personally I use Spyderco Medium and Fine pocket hones.

Straight off the hone, I'd suggest at least 30 passes, but I usually do more like 50+. Stropping is a great way to get to know your razor, and you can tell how sharp it is by how much resistance you feel while stropping.

Stropping mid-shave is also a good idea if you find your shave quality going downhill. A lot of people will do their cheeks, then re-strop for the chin and upper lip.

I would get your razor honed by one of the honemeisters here. When you are starting out, you really need to understand what sharp is supposed to feel like. It will give you a baseline for comparison. Just my $.02.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by netsurfr

I would get your razor honed by one of the honemeisters here. When you are starting out, you really need to understand what sharp is supposed to feel like. It will give you a baseline for comparison. Just my $.02.

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This is the most logical reasoning for having someone else do it
that I have heard thus far. A point of comparison is a great idea....

Thanks for the advice!

Gabe

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gabeyb

This is the most logical reasoning for having someone else do it
that I have heard thus far. A point of comparison is a great idea....

Thanks for the advice!

Gabe

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Now now, logic shouldn't enter into it. So just to make sure you have a great comparison you should by another razor and have it sharpened by a honemeister then you really have a comparison. Of course then you need to compare honemeisters, and different hones, ETC.


Actually the other reason to get your blade well honed when starting out is so that you can know that it isn't the problem in your shave. I suspect that both your razors need some work but I also suspect that your technique isn't up to getting a really smooth comfortable shave yet. One professionally honed blade will both give you a point of comparison as you sharpen the other one up as well as take one variable out of the perfect shave equation.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Wildtim

Now now, logic shouldn't enter into it. So just to make sure you have a great comparison you should by another razor and have it sharpened by a honemeister then you really have a comparison. Of course then you need to compare honemeisters, and different hones, ETC.


Actually the other reason to get your blade well honed when starting out is so that you can know that it isn't the problem in your shave. I suspect that both your razors need some work but I also suspect that your technique isn't up to getting a really smooth comfortable shave yet. One professionally honed blade will both give you a point of comparison as you sharpen the other one up as well as take one variable out of the perfect shave equation.

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This is a good point. I have also considered picking up a decent shave ready razor here on the forums for around thirty bucks. I just haven't been quick enough.

Thanks again!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gabeyb

This is a good point. I have also considered picking up a decent shave ready razor here on the forums for around thirty bucks. I just haven't been quick enough.

Thanks again!

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Well, if you already have few razors, no need to wait for a cheap one to show up on b/s/t, just send one of yours out to be honed and it'll probably get back to you before you could score something that you like on the board. There certainly is no lack of people providing honing services.