Thread: New Razor Troubles - pls help

Originally Posted by hokulea2001

Thanks for all the good advice. I'm sure sending the razor out for professional sharpening would have been the smart thing to do - but I often don't seem to do the smart thing. Thanks for trying. I think the idea that DOVO lifts the spine to set their factory edge is right on. I've kept at the 4K/8K thing and the razor keeps getting better - I'm just about to where DE with a high quality blade would get me - the straight is still pulling a bit more than I'd like - so I'm now the proud owner of a Belgian stone as well.

Thanks all you experienced guys for helping us rookies out. Straight razor shaving is really getting to be a blast - I actually look forward to shaving in the morning - and nothing gives one a completely present in the moment experience like shaving with a striaght. I hope one day - after I've done a lot a saving, shaving, and sharpening to own a Damascus blade - they're beyond beautiful.

Thanks again.

Very well said.

I finally got one of my razors to be truly sharp last night! It's a vintage razor I got on eBay that had a small nick in the blade. I hone that out with the 230/1000 Norton and then got to work sneaking up on sharp. After about five iterations on the 4k/8k followed by the 12k Chinese stone, it's now sharp and smooth on the whole edge.

Man, what a difference! I've got two others that are close--sharp at least on part of the edge. One of them has a wicked smile to it and it very difficult. They shave tolerably well once you recognize which part of the blade works best.

The final razor is a new double arrow that just won't get sharp or even close. I've got a good bevel, but it pulls like a beast inspite of all my efforts. I've decided to put it aside for now and focus on getting the other two fully up to speed.