what do I need to get my razor real sharp? (sweden))

I got an old erik anton berg for christmas. this model: Erik Anton Berg Razor - Badger & Blade

I've tried shaving with it two times before the first time I was stropping it in the wrong angle and the result was of course a razor that was not very sharp. I had to finish the work with my old mach3.
I then found out that the angle was wrong and strapped it a lot in the right angle with the spine against the strop. that kind of repaired some of the damage I've done to it in the first place and the edge was sharp but I guess not sharp enough. I tried shaving with it and It went pretty good but the edge got more and more blunt trough the process.
I got cut on a few places at the end and now the edge is real blunt and it doesnt get
much better with stropping. Did I destroy the blade in some way? do I need to hone it? I currently got no hones. what do I need? I looked around a bit and found these.


ardennes couticule selected 100x40mm. 449kr ~ 45 €
http://www.gents.se/ardennes-coticul...-i-traebox.htm

global 800/6000 535 kr ~ 53.5 € is it enough with 6000 grit?
http://www.bagarenochkocken.se/shop/?cat_id=263

Zwilling J.A. Henckels 3000/8000 finishing stone. 795kr ~ 79€ this seems like a good one and a pretty big stone to?
http://www.prokok.se/zwillingtwinsli...00-p-1277.html

norton 4000/8000 1199kr ~ 120€ I've seen this is recommended by a lot of people but is is really worth the money? it seems to be a lot cheaper in the US.
http://www.exclusiveshavings.se/till...nslipsten.html

I guess i need something with a lower grit to? or can I just use one of these and put more time in to it? what grit is recommended to start with?

I would send it out to a honemeister to be honed.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by RayG

I would send it out to a honemeister to be honed.

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+1. Send it out to be honed.

There are too many variables when it comes to honing. It may need to have the bevel reset, in which case a 1k would be helpful.

Check this link:

What hone(s), paste(s), or spray(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Wiki

See, the problem is that you have no idea what condition your edge is in and therefore what hone(s) should be used. And evaluating the edge over the internet is next to impossible.

I can tell you that the henckels' hones are probably your best bet, but then you'll probably have hard time making whatever edge that razor has much better.

It's best to have somebody with experience fix it for you and then you can concentrate on only shaving with it, not second guess if it's sharp enough.

I think your options in Sweden may be a bit limited, but I know there are people there who can do it. Or there are others in the rest of europe/uk, and a trip across the ocean is relatively fast (1-2 weeks each way).

Welcome to SRP. You can buy the hones but you have to acquire the skill to use them effectively. If you send your razor out to be honed professionally you'll have something to shave with and to compare your honing efforts with other razors.

It takes practice and chances are you won't be successful in the beginning. So sending it out and picking up some vintage razors in good shape is probably your best bet. Not sure if any honemeisters are in your neck of the woods. Maybe someone on this forum will be along who can make a recommendation. You can check in "member services" in the classifieds here. :gl:

+1

Send it out to be honed.

If you want to learn to maintain your razors, I would recommend getting a different one and practice on it.

As far as just maintaining an edge on your razors, I would get a barber hone (search ebay for just that, you will find some) and it can be used to maintain your razors while not eating up a lot of steel.

Coticules are good for upkeep as well, but as has been said many times, in many threads, when you get to natural stones, it gets complicated. Each one is different, and for a new person, it cuts down on a lot of variables to stick with a man-made synthetic hone (like the barber hones are.) initially. Feel free to look me up if you have any other questions! Always glad to help!

Congrats on the new razor, and good luck :)

thanks for all the fast replies. sending it out to be honed seems like the most convenient alternative but I think I'll buy the henckell stone to and a cheap straight razor to practice with to.

the services for that sort of things I find in sweden all seems to use some sort of spinning machines that grind away alot of the blade. can anyone recommend a honemeister in sweden or anywhere else? or if any forum member wants to do it for a fair price please pm me :)

You could be lucky and have someone close to you
http://straightrazorpalace.com/vbgooglemapme.php

A normal sharpening service will usually do a lot of damage to a razor,
Some sites that sell razors may offer a honing service

Oh yes those shops you found does seem a little on the expensive side.
With the extra shipping and no added tax i think you will still be ahead shopping from other european shops

There is a Group on SRP that is made up of all our Scandinavian members you might check there for some more local help

Straight Razor Place Forums - SRP: Nordic

Here is the Group leader's info
http://straightrazorpalace.com/members/rawaz.html

Send him a pm he might be able to point you in the right direction

I don't know about Sweden, but One of our members, Bart, lives in Belgium. If you were to drop him a line on here, or on his site, he might be able to help you out. From what I hear, he does great work :)

Welcome to Coticule.be - home of the famous Belgian Coticule Whetstone

As far as i know it don't exist any honemasters in sweden. I would suggest that you send it to miller at www.strop-shop.co.uk - hand made straight razor strops, razor pouches, shaving accessories, vintage razors, razor honing and restoration and also pick up an extra from the Bargain Shave-Ready Vintage Razors You will have enough to learn how to shave before the art of honong,


As a swed almost everything is much cheaper to buy outside sweden but inside EU.

Glen has given you some good links to follow.

Here is another option. SRP maintains a membership listing. Some have a location specified. To find others in Sweden go to

1. Community
2. Members list
3. Search members
4. Advanced search
5. Location field fill in Sweden & enter

this will bring up a list, currently 3 pages long. Look at the number of posts for each member then click on the selected name
then click on the Send message button to send them either a PM or email

Hope this helps, :)