Thread: 2 questions

hmmm.. Based on your description of kit, i am guessing this razor was supposed be shave ready adn came with a free honing certificate?

I have a feeling you did more bad than good with your norton.

I would just assume that the razor didn't have a bevel when you got it. It's better to be safe than sorry especially considering a professional honing should only cost $20 or so. If you're trying to set a bevel with 4k you're going to have to spend a lot of time (which you learned). If you're interested in setting the bevel yourself and you don't want to buy another stone I would suggest picking up some wet/dry sandpaper. Without a bevel there is no way you're going to get a shave (as you found out and corrected). From the description of the "broken beer bottle" I think that you didn't have a bevel.

Here are some useful wiki links that are applicable for your situation:
Bevel-setting in theory and practice - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Using micro abrasive film - Straight Razor Place Wiki
Formulae For Converting Between Grit and Microns - Straight Razor Place Wiki

To specifically address your questions a lower grit isn't necessary per se but it makes your job much, much easier. Second question: the different lengths of hair probably more had a combination of beard preparation and different hair softness, perhaps inconsistent bevel on the edge resulting in sharper parts of the blade, hair growth direction, and differing blade pressure across your face. I would say that the different types of grabs are probably primarily due to too high of an angle.

Wow. Thanks for the quick responses.

The kit I bought was this one Basic Five Piece Straight Razor Shaving Set - Straight Razors

They wanted 20 bucks for "professional honing."

20 bucks! No thanks, I'm a real cheapi.

Anyway - based on the above two replies, it almost certainly didn't come with a bevel. I'll read the links and post back as appropriate.

Thanks fellas.

O.k.. Yeah, that probably needs honed them. If you dont want to send that razor out ot be professionally honed, do yourself a favor and buy asecond razor that is shave ready to compare with your not shave ready dovo.

The Pyramid system in the wiki is a good starting point and will help you achieve repeatable results.

Instead of sandpaper for bevel setting, i would look about buying a 1k king for around $20(if i remember correctly).

Honing a razor is not quite like honing a knife and takes patience and practice. Do yourself a favor and tape the spine with electrical tape to avoid additional hone wear.

Btw, isnt a 4k/8k stone quite a bit more than $20 honing service?

Just my 2 cents but i would take that razor and send it out to Lynn(founder of SRP) and have him hone it, then you will know what a shave ready razor is suppose to feel like. Then i would put the hone away for awhile and learn to shave and strop till you can pretty much shave with no complications, by that time you can conquer honing which is another beast all by itself. Its easier to do one thing at first , get that down and move on. Hope this helped. Also welcome to SRP!!!!

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

O.k.. Yeah, that probably needs honed them. If you dont want to send that razor out ot be professionally honed, do yourself a favor and buy asecond razor that is shave ready.


Btw, isnt a 4k/8k stone quite a bit more than $20 honing service?

I give up. This is not worth it. I come here and post a question in the beginner's forum and this is the response I get?

Do I need to point out that 20 bucks spent is 20 bucks out the window and I don't learn how to do it myself? But the stone I'll have a good long time?

As for "getting a shave ready blade," that defeats the purpose. I don't want to spend the money for a second razor that will be redundant, and I don't want to pay somebody else to do what I can do myself.

And, seriously, we're talking about sharpening a blade here. Sure, skill is required. But I'll learn that skill - not pay somebody else to do it and use a "spoon feed ready" blade until I get around to it.

I asked 2 questions.

1 appears to have gone unanswered.
The other was answered with . . .
get some wet dry sandpaper.
pay to have somebody else do it.
spend 200 bucks on a redundant tool.

Take care.

I am extremely sorry to offend you by offering advice. I will try to take a more helpful tone from now on.

Yes.. go find the cheapest sandpaper possible and hone until you have a 3/8 blade, then start a thread about how horrible dovo razors are. I look forward to it.

I made that comment about cost due to you saying want to save money and be cheap. Spending $90 on a hone vs $20 does not follow that logic. Unless you plan to purchase many razors and become the newest honester.

I recommended a second razor that is shave ready because you obviously have no idea what a shave ready razor should feel like.

Originally Posted by FrankIvy

I give up. This is not worth it. I come here and post a question in the beginner's forum and this is the response I get?

Do I need to point out that 20 bucks spent is 20 bucks out the window and I don't learn how to do it myself? But the stone I'll have a good long time?

As for "getting a shave ready blade," that defeats the purpose. I don't want to spend the money for a second razor that will be redundant, and I don't want to pay somebody else to do what I can do myself.

And, seriously, we're talking about sharpening a blade here. Sure, skill is required. But I'll learn that skill - not pay somebody else to do it and use a "spoon feed ready" blade until I get around to it.

I asked 2 questions.

1 appears to have gone unanswered.
The other was answered with . . .
get some wet dry sandpaper.
pay to have somebody else do it.
spend 200 bucks on a redundant tool.

Take care.

Here's your hat, there's the door .... what's your hurry ?

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

Yes.. go find the cheapest sandpaper possible and hone until you have a 3/8 blade, then start a thread about how horrible dovo razors are. I look forward to it.

More nastiness? Is this just your "style"?

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

I made that comment about cost due to you saying want to save money and be cheap. Spending $90 on a hone vs $20 does not follow that logic.

Sure it does. I spend 20 bucks on a "pro" and I'm 20 bucks poorer with a sharpened blade to show for it, and nothing else.

If I buy a stone with the money, then I spend a few months learning how to hone the razor, and I have the stone for years, if not the rest of my life.

I'm "cheap" in the sense that I'd never pay another man to sharpen my chainsaw - I'll buy the correct grinder and do it myself. Same with pretty much everything I do. Make the investment, and then watch the savings come back forever.

Something in the posts just hit me. Do some of you guys NOT hone/sharpen your own razors? Do some guys send it out every single time the blade needs to be honed? If that's true - WOW!

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

Unless you plan to purchase many razors and become the newest honester.

Not sure what this means. Like I said, if I was actually going to pay to have somebody sharpen a blade for me, I'd just stick to the Mach - whatever. I'll probably never own more than one razor - to me it's a tool, not a collectible.

I learned how to sharpen any blades I've used, from boning knives to chainsaws to axes to whatever - I use knives a lot - we do all of our butchering, and I butcher for neighbors. Learning curve for all. This will be no different.

Originally Posted by Slartibartfast

I recommended a second razor that is shave ready because you obviously have no idea what a shave ready razor should feel like.

Really? Hah! I think it should shave my face with no pulling, no scratching, and no discomfort.

How's that for "no idea"!! Hah. Wow, you are presumptuous and condescending at the same time.

Think about it. I spent about 20 minutes honing the blade, and I shaved myself once, closely, with just a bit of discomfort after the 2nd sharpening.

It's really not that hard. I've already got the basics, I'm simply working on getting better.

You did read the original part about - "felt like glass bottle, rehoned, felt fine for some strokes and a bit rough for others."

You got that, right? So if i got that far on my hone, then don't you think i can manage to get from the that point to a smooth shave without having somebody hold my hand?

too funny man.

Originally Posted by FrankIvy

I asked 2 questions.
1 appears to have gone unanswered.

The help and advice you get on SRP is second to none. You need to ask yourself why your query was answered in the manner that it was.