Thread: As of today I can call myself a true straight razor shaver

Woohoo! Just got my first good shave off a Genco razor I bought on eBay and honed myself. Notice I said first good shave I got my hone about 2 weeks ago, a DMT 8k and have been working at honing every day since. I've been frustrated quite a bit but about 4 days ago I started getting my razors shaveable but not comfortable and tonight, after hours of work, study, video watching etc. and the addition of a 1 micron pasted strop between my 8k and the .5 Cr3O2 I got a very smooth, comfortable shave. I know it could have been better because it wasn't buttery smooth as I know it can be but it was leaps and bounds over what I had been experiencing and was cause for me to celebrate. Just wanted to share to give the other newbies hope.

Ebay Genco razor $15, DMT hone $77, TM aprentice strop $35, 2 homemade balsa paddle strops $15, the feeling you get from honing your own razor and shaving using a centuries old method with a great piece of history, Priceless.

Good stuff!

I'm in a similar situation. Still a newbie, but getting good shaves off razors I honed myself.

What a great feeling!

Mike

Yeah, I gotta admit I was getting very frustrated for a while because I thought I was doing everything right from all the reading and video watching but I think it mostly came down to consistency with my strokes and developing that feather light touch. I probably spent 12 total hours trying to get proper honing down and finally my razors are passable but I still have a long way to go.

My "eureka" moment came courtesy of Josh Earl. I bought a shave-ready razor from him to use as a benchmark, and we corresponded about it afterward.

I was having a tough time getting my razors anywhere near as nice as the one he sent me. I figured I needed a finer hone, a lighter touch, some diamond paste... whatever. He suggested just the opposite: probably need to get rid of the factory edge. Cut a new bevel and start over.

Exactly right. I was worried about finesse, when what I really needed was a fresh start. Thanks Josh!

Mike

Grats, Backpacker. I'm sure the paste helped loads; a shave of an 8k can be pretty rough. I think you'll also find that after you've honed a razor it needs plenty of time on a plain leather strop, so it should get better with time...until it get's dull again.

Congrats on the first good shave! It feels good when you finally get a good shave out of a razor that you honed yourself doesn't it??