Thread: Honing and shaving

I'm a complete do-it-yourselfer. Much of the pleasure I get from my various hobbies is doing it myself rather than buying a finished product - in all of my numerous hobbies. Straight razor shaving had been no different.

After buying a new, shave-ready razor from SRD, I proceeded to buy a dozen ebay razors, mostly from razors recommended by folks on this forum. I also bought hones - 220/1000, 4000/8000, 12K chinese, 16k sharpton, several pasted strops, felt and balsa, and a latigo strop from SRD.

After a few months, I'm getting good to great shaves from my straights, which I use every day. Now comes the fun!!! I've honed 10 razors to "shave ready" status based on the TPT (which has turned my thumb into a very sensitive digit) and the HHT for every one. Each day I use a different razor and rate it. The results are recorded in my book depending on the shave. I'm trying to narrow the results down to the blade, it's origin, size, and shape (full hollow, wedge, etc.).

The results??? Cripes! There are so many variables that I can't narrow it down. I have a so-so shave with a 6/8 but the next one shaves great. Good shave with a 4/8 but not with all. Some sheffields are good, others not-so-much. Same with solingens.

The conclusion? Every razor shaves differently no matter where it comes from or what it's grind or steel.

I guess the veterans on this board already knew this but some of us have to discover stuff on our own.

All in all it's a great hobby because of all the variables, just like any good hobby. The learning never stops.

Thanks to all who help us newbies, and for your patience in letting newbies discover what you've known all along.