Waiting for my first straight.

Hello,
After finding lots of information on the internet about straight razor shaving I decided I would like to learn all this including honing etc. I bought a couple of vintage razors that have blades without damage but I do not expect these to be shave ready. I have also ordered a Norton 4k/8k and a strop. My thought was that it would be fun to learn to sharpen a razor, but I have now realized that it will probably be difficult for me to judge if I have done a good job honing since I have never shaved with a straight razor so I have nothing to compare to and I might have done a good job honing but have bad shaving technique. My options are now to send one of my razors of to get it honed by a pro, buy a third razor that is shave ready or to stick to my original plan of learning to hone the razor first. Will it be possible for me to judge if I have done a good job honing without ever have tested or touched a properly honed razor?

Any thoughts appreciated.

I can not wait for the mailman to get here.

/Christer

From my own experience with this... A new persons idea of what a shave ready edge looks and feels like is usually far from an actual shave ready edge. Most people are not used to dealing with things so sharp and fragile. Get it honed or buy a shave ready.... Then you'll have an idea of what it's supposed to be like.

Also, from what I understand, shaving off the 8K side of the norton is still very rough and uncomfortable. Usually honing to shave ready brings the blade past 8k to a coticule or another type of finishing stone before stropping on pastes and then a leather strop.

I have not honed anything myself as of yet, but this is what I get from reading on here.

Also from what I understand if you get a shave ready razor and need to rehone in 6 months or so all you need is a finishing stone since the bevel has already been set on the razor

I agree with Delerium on this one. This is how I learned. But, I will tell you that some blades work better with certain people. For example, I like hollow grinds, but some people swear by Wedges or heavier grinds. So listen to the person before me. Buy one shave ready and then you will know what to expect.
Good Luck!

Sounds like I will probably send one of my razors of the get honed and then try to learn honing on the other one.

Disburden,

I guess I need to get a finishing stone. As well as shaving with a straight razor I want to learn how to hone a razor from decent condition (no chips etc).

Quote:

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Originally Posted by svensken

Sounds like I will probably send one of my razors of the get honed and then try to learn honing on the other one.

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you can't go wrong sending it to one of the guys here.. check classifieds/member services, when you get a razor from these guys don't strop it before shaving either (don't risk ruining the edge they put on the razor for you). The rest of the quality of your shave will depend on your beard prep and your technique...the razor will not be the problem!:gl:

+1 on the classifieds there is a reason those guys are able to offer there service on this forum. They know what they are doing. You need a bench mark since you have never shaved with a straight. You might get it sharp enough to shave with but that doesn't mean it is as sharp as it needs to be. Hell I can shave with my pocket knife (thats no lie it is that sharp trust me I have done it) but it is not comfortable. Also right off the bat you will have enough to worry about with prep and angles and such you shouldn't have to worry weather your razor is sharp enough. Get it honed you will be glad you did, then learn to hone. I am about to start learning the honing part:D
Oh and the knife thing. I was sharpening a knife at work one day (yes I have a job where I can sharpen my knife at work) and when I got done I told a coworker it was sharp enough to shave with. Well after he questioned me I proved it.
Damn that was uncomfortable!!! But it did shave my face:tu

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Del1r1um

you can't go wrong sending it to one of the guys here.. check classifieds/member services, when you get a razor from these guys don't strop it before shaving either (don't risk ruining the edge they put on the razor for you). The rest of the quality of your shave will depend on your beard prep and your technique...the razor will not be the problem!:gl:

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Thanks, I will send it to someone from the classifieds. Just got my razor today.

sbrouwers

Shaving with a knife sounds painful.:eek: Reminds me of an old australian movie.

I will probably get one razor to learn the honing part on.

you probably want to pick up some sort of an optical magnification. at a minimum a 30x loupe.
after you compare the honed edge with yours you may decide to start below 4000 grit. but give it a try first and see how far the norton gets you.
as far as hone beyond 8k, sure, most of us have quite a few of these, but that's not the problem new guys have. it's usually the bevel stage where they fail and of course then they can spend the eternity without much chance of improving the edge.
i can shave comfortably off a 8k norton and last week i even shaved off 1200 grit dmt which was not bad at all (not that i have reason or desire to be doing it beyond this one time). it really depends on the razor and your ability.