Thread: God, It's Hard!

Today is 3rd day of my straight razor experience(all after showers) and it's still blood everywhere. I honed the razor using Turkish Oil Stone and then I've got an original Arkansas but I guess it turned out less fine than the TOS. Anyway, I managed to get a clean edge and used a good leather belt as the strop. It never passed the hanging hair test but it was as sharp as double sided I guess. I also have a razor used with the half of the double sided. I use it to check if my straight was sharp like it. I mostly cut my self with this bloody double sided though

Anyway, I've just ordered 4K/8K Norton from Leevalley(it costs $48 to ship to Turkey ) I hope I'll be able to get it sharp enough to get a shave like you guys talk about.

I apologize, because I may not be understanding you completely.

Hmmmm...Sharp as a DE razor? I'm assuming that's what you mean. Well, if it's that sharp, you should be good to go, Don't worry about the hair test. How's your angle, and pre shave prep...?

I don't know that I'd shave off an Arkansas stone, but that's me...I'm sure some have...

Hi zib,

Sorry for the misunderstanding. It's because I'm confused too. I used this crappy handler for the double edge and it might have been quite old. Here's the razor. Cuts(I hope it doesn't leave scars) I have is not because of the angle, it's the edge(called toe i suppose) of the razor, i'm sure it's supposed to be dull or I couldn't crack it where it should be cracked before inserting into the handler. I used it when I feel like I can't get any whiskers using my straight razor.

I'm in deep dirt i guess but I'll carry on because I'm in love with this straight razor. It's so beautiful!

On the DE blades I'm not familiar with that brand. That place where you bought them also carries Derby, Merkur and Wilkinson. I've shaved with those and they are decent. If you can find some Feather blades are very good IME. The Norton is probably more suited to straight razors than what you've been using. You might consider buying a shave ready straight from a known vendor or sending yours out to a honemeister.

Thanks Jimmy,

The problem is, there's almost nothing on straight razors in Turkey anymore. No honemasters, no strops, no community. I've been looking for them for a while but the closest I get is knife lovers community and knife sharpeners who really don't care about shaving. Turkish Oil Stone is quite sufficient for these guys. I need to get everything online and as I mentioned even only shipment is quite a cost. There are no shave ready straight razors around too.

I don't know, maybe I should take the risk of ruining the razor by taking it to a knife sharpener(they all use some kind of machine with abrasives). I didn't like double edges at all(because of the width) probably I'm not gonna use them later.

Now I know a few people have posted about getting really good straight shaves in Turkey from barbers. You might investigate and see if you can find a barber who does them and maybe he can give you some advice.

Please, do yourself a favor and send your razor to be sharpened by a pro.

Getting a good shave with a straight is not just reliant on a sharp blade, but also on technique. The last thing a beginner needs is a razor that hasn't been properly sharpened, as just trying to get the basics down will be hard enough.

Originally Posted by fatcatmehmet

I don't know, maybe I should take the risk of ruining the razor by taking it to a knife sharpener(they all use some kind of machine with abrasives).

Oh please don't do that. The sob story you have now will be nothing compared to what will happen then. I'm afraid your only real option is to send it to a honemeister, but you'll at least be glad that you did. Once properly sharpened you can get some pastes and a paddle strop and keep that razor in trim for quite some time.

Originally Posted by xman

Oh please don't do that. The sob story you have now will be nothing compared to what will happen then. I'm afraid your only real option is to send it to a honemeister, but you'll at least be glad that you did. Once properly sharpened you can get some pastes and a paddle strop and keep that razor in trim for quite some time.

What the masked man said I say.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Now I know a few people have posted about getting really good straight shaves in Turkey from barbers. You might investigate and see if you can find a barber who does them and maybe he can give you some advice.

Yes all the barbers use straight razors with disposable razors. None of them hones or sharpens. My barber really surprised when he saw my straight razor. He never used one

Originally Posted by markevens

Please, do yourself a favor and send your razor to be sharpened by a pro.

Getting a good shave with a straight is not just reliant on a sharp blade, but also on technique. The last thing a beginner needs is a razor that hasn't been properly sharpened, as just trying to get the basics down will be hard enough.

I'm sure I'm lacking skills and technique too. I'm not properly stretching my skin. I'm practising on it.

Originally Posted by xman

Oh please don't do that. The sob story you have now will be nothing compared to what will happen then. I'm afraid your only real option is to send it to a honemeister, but you'll at least be glad that you did. Once properly sharpened you can get some pastes and a paddle strop and keep that razor in trim for quite some time.

Well, unless I can't find a honemeister in Turkey I guess it's not an option for me. But I'll not take it to a knife sharpener too. Worst case is I'll do it as good as I can when my 4K/8K norton arrives(probably next week).

Do you think I should order anything else from this list? Since I pay the shipment for norton already, I can a few other items from this vendor.