Hello folks... I'm a bladesmith (Big Rock Forge - Scott A. Roush, Bladesmith) that forges camp, hunting and kitchen knives and I just tried a straight razor for the first time. I've never even shaved with one and obviously have a lot to learn. I will post pics tomorrow, but basically I started with a 1/2" x 3/16" piece of 1084 and put a hollow grind all the way to the from edge to spine on one side and and flat ground on the other. I put a 15 degree secondary bevel on the flat ground side with a 1" wide 220 grit belt to a wire edge then stropped with stropping board with jeweler's rouge. It just now occurs to me, as I'm writing, that perhaps I should have put a secondary bevel on the hollow side too! Anyway.... the sucker is sharper than anything I've ever made... it shaves arm hair effortlessly and cuts paper with just it's own weight. But it only shaves face hair OKAY. It does good on the side below the temples, but really takes some scraping for above the lips and chin.

So... since I'm new to both straight razor making AND shaving.... I now have at least two variables to contend with. Is it my razor or my technique? As to technique, all I can say is that I've been sitting here watching Youtube videos trying to learn.

By the way... this is very interesting from the perspective of a knifemaker. Really makes you think about edge geometry!