Thread: Beginners Tips: October 2011

This is a great one Glen. Honing and such can be entirely confusing because there are so many mediums, especially at the beginning. There are also lots of systems to choose from, ie: Shapton, Norton, Naniwas, etc. The variables are intense.

I thought it may be worth mentioning that when you're entering the honing realm, each stone is a variable. I remember being confused by all of it when I started. If you have one stone, say a Naniwa 12k for touch-ups, you can learn that stone and understand it. When you add another stone to your mix, say an 8k, then you have the variable of the 12k, the 8k, and the mix between the 2....so if you try to learn two stones at the same time, you actually have three variables to work on....which can become confusing. "Did I do too many passes on the 8.....to little on the 12?.....too many on the 12, and too little on the 8....too many on both....too little on both".

I think I'm just meandering on what you've already posted....that you just need to sit down and think "What do I want to accomplish", before you set out. And when you do set out....take you're time, and take the time to learn your stones.

My two cents....hope that was ok of me to do.

You betcha Nathan

I'm sorry I forgot to add my normal saying at the end of the post

"Please feel free to add your opinions, especially you more senior members, Mentors, and Mods as many of us see things sometimes from a different angle, and the more opinions that the new guys get to read, the better for them...

Thanks as always for your down-to-earth practical information. I just finished 8 months of straight razor shaving and am very slowly learning to use hones to keep my professionally sharpened razors sharp. My newly acquired arsenal includes a Norton 220/1000, Norton 4000/8000, Swaty Barber Stone, SRD paddle strop, and TI diamond paste.

After a two-hour session with Larry Andro, I am now going to work on a junker Torrey razor he gave me to practice on.

I really admire your restorations and deeply appreciate all the help you give to all of us on SRP.

MUCH THANKS,

Originally Posted by gssixgun

You betcha Nathan

I'm sorry I forgot to add my normal saying at the end of the post

"Please feel free to add your opinions, especially you more senior members, Mentors, and Mods as many of us see things sometimes from a different angle, and the more opinions that the new guys get to read, the better for them...

Or maybe 'at this point in time'....hehehe

I have been lurking for a while, and I finally got around to registering today just so I could ask about the razor in the picture at the beginning of this article...I cannot quite make out what the name says on the tang, any information about this razor? Oh and great article, btw!

http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...can-steel.html

There ya go that is thread it came from

Ahh thank you so much! Now I can begin hunting...I absolutely love the look of those scales!

Brilliant guide Glen, I can understand this completely as I've just managed getting some really good edges from my coti, and thats me hooked. I don't think I'll even buy another stone. Thats after trying no brand synthetics, Naniwa's SS's, and a chinese 12k in the last 8 months - I've been shaving for 18 months now.

But your absolutely right about as least things at a time: master lathering, shaving, stropping then touch up honing, then - the most difficult bit I think and most time consuming - choose your bevel setting/sharpening stones; natural/synthetic, then the multitude of brands and mined hones to choose from, then mastering them, it took me 2 months to start getting really nice edges from my coti.

But thats all to look forward to. Take it slow and don't overburden yourself with too many things at once. But trial and error seems to be the only and quickest way to learn straight shaving... obviously after you've came to SRP for some sound advice from the experts of course

happy shaving
Alex