Thread: need help on sharpening

Originally Posted by a1boy

Yeah I understand now, I was assuming that a shaving edge was attainable on this razor but if the metal is too inferior then the only remedy is to buy a proper one.

I don't mind spending ~$75 for a first razor, that would buy a proper brand with decent blade metal won't it? That is if we're talking second hand and ugliness is no problem..

Thanks for the input everyone

Yes, $75 is enough to buy a decent razor. If you are frugal and handy, $75 could go a long way toward a complete setup, without hones. But hones can be added over time. You could probably fit a barber hone into an initial $75 razor budget.

Originally Posted by a1boy

Yeah I understand now, I was assuming that a shaving edge was attainable on this razor but if the metal is too inferior then the only remedy is to buy a proper one.

I don't mind spending ~$75 for a first razor, that would buy a proper brand with decent blade metal won't it? That is if we're talking second hand and ugliness is no problem..

Thanks for the input everyone

You'll see some good un's for even less in the classifieds.

Originally Posted by a1boy

Yeah I understand now, I was assuming that a shaving edge was attainable on this razor but if the metal is too inferior then the only remedy is to buy a proper one.

I don't mind spending ~$75 for a first razor, that would buy a proper brand with decent blade metal won't it? That is if we're talking second hand and ugliness is no problem..

Thanks for the input everyone

Have you looked at the Classifieds here? At the top of the screen right under the logo. Click on Classifieds. Great, great place to start. Yes, $75 will buy you a very nice razor. You can spend less than that too.

For shipping + about $20 you can get it honed by someone that understands
and knows razors. If it can be sharpened they can and more importantly they
can tell you if it is worth investing more....

The least expensive honing solution I know of is abrasive film
from Woodcraft. Honing Film Assort Pack - 3 Pieces
it contains 15 micron, 5 micron and 0.3 micron abrasive
film. Glue it to something very flat and stable that is resistant
to water. I have some pieces of tempered glass...
You could use a cut bit of granite or marble tile or even
scrap counter top drop. I can get a decent strop ready
precision edge from these films.

Good for one or two razors...

Originally Posted by a1boy

Ok well it seems to be majority consensus that I buy a properly sharpened one first so I'll make one my next purchase. I just don't see anything wrong with going the other direction and getting all the equipment needed to hone a razor to be shaveable first and then getting the razor that would be my first proper straight once I've learned a decent amount on the one that I don't care if I scratch and scuff here and there.

We say this because you need to know how a real straight razor should shave first. It's not just "well it's sharp enough to cut hair" -- it's more about comfort and smoothness. Imperfections are probably acceptable on most normal edges (e.g. kitchen cutlery) but it's a different story when you're using it on your face.

Originally Posted by a1boy

Also although I realise I could probly get away with just stropping to maintain the edge of a professionally honed razor for a long time. I feel like it's unsustainable to an extent because when it gets dull enough to need to be rehoned then I won't have the skill or equipment. We can assume that by the time stropping doesn't bring it back I will have collected a bunch of equipment, and by that order I'm able to get into actual shaving sooner, but I don't know why I'd just really rather learn the maintenance side first for some reason, It probably stems from my experience with pocket knives and how I see no point to buying an expensive ''from the factory sharp'' pocket knife when I don't possess the know how to maintain that sharpness, and the best way I found to learn was to practice with knives I didn't care about. That's the best explanation I can think of as to what angle I was coming from by trying to learn how to sharpen before I learned how to shave haha!

Honestly, I'm still suspicious about the razor you posted pictures of. I'm with rickboone in thinking that's a razor probably on our list of razors to avoid. No point in spending time and money on that.

Get a proper razor as you've said you would, see how it feels, then get some inexpensive vintage razors if you'd like to learn how to hone and upkeep them.

EDIT: Whoops, I totally missed that there were two more pages of posts.