Thread: hi am new to straight razors but need an answer please

Originally Posted by busa1977

the pics up the top are my strop with the leather smooth and rough side and the shiny black canvas is the other side of the linen picture and dont worry not tryin to sharpen a bladed razor.that was i started with and just chuck the blade each time.sorry meant to say had three one with blades no stroping or anything and then two proper or what i call a proper bladed razor so already have proper razor as you say and have one 2 inch strop like i said and one 3 inch the 3 inch is the one with the pics shown.have collected rare knives for twenty plus years so am not new to sharpening blades and you would av to be nuts to try and sharpen a disposable blade one but i spose there are a few out there.was not mentioned when bought and did not take a real good look so thats why i have that one.then got an imperial which comes with 2 inch strop on e,bay but seems very good steel compared to a cheapish one i got.thanks for reply mate ,chris

Oh, right, OK, cool. Sorry, just checking! :-)

cheers mate.have the stones will just take a bit of time watching vids etc and learn how to do the razors thanks for the help,appreciated.am nearly there,just need that little bit more sharpness which like you say will have to check teqnique etc and change my stlye for sharpening, have seen the vids for putting tape on back of blade so no scratch and keeps blade flat and same angle,think just a learning curve.cheers people.

The one thing that helped me the most when I first started honing was a CrOx pasted paddle, it gets that last little bit of sharpness out of the blade, at least for me.

Originally Posted by busa1977

cheers mate.have the stones will just take a bit of time watching vids etc and learn how to do the razors thanks for the help,appreciated.am nearly there,just need that little bit more sharpness which like you say will have to check teqnique etc and change my stlye for sharpening, have seen the vids for putting tape on back of blade so no scratch and keeps blade flat and same angle,think just a learning curve.cheers people.

will give it a try mate,cheers

Originally Posted by busa1977

thanks for your replys,been great help,as i said i have not done this for long and have been mostley using a razor i bought that splits in two and you insert the blade into it.did not realise when i got it looked really nice all stainless hande etc with design on handle but did not notice it was a bladed one.to be honest i just put in cutthroat razors and just picked one that looked good for the money.the razor does work brilliant but its not what i would call a proper razor. i have two at the moment but just cant get them sharp enough,takes off arm hairs no problem gave it a strop but tends to tug a bit just dont know what im doing wrong or is it the fact the razors arent expensive and use poor steel,one was sposed to b shave ready,think they were having a laugh wont even cut arm hair.i got a 3 inch strop to help stropping instead of the 2 which had to do x pattern but went bigger to make sure wasent the way i was doing it.the one i have is an imperial razor which looks good steel but cant tell edge with no magnifier.if anybody can help in any way let me know cheers.

No offence meant but is the razor from eBay ? Possibly one of these ?
Cut Throat Razor Straight Marble Imperial | eBay
If so you may be dead in the water. There are a lot of razor like objects on eBay that won't shave or if they do, not for long.

Re the strop, the same applies there are many no name strops on eBay that may/may not work.

Originally Posted by busa1977

cheers mate.have the stones will just take a bit of time watching vids etc and learn how to do the razors thanks for the help,appreciated.am nearly there,just need that little bit more sharpness which like you say will have to check teqnique etc and change my stlye for sharpening, have seen the vids for putting tape on back of blade so no scratch and keeps blade flat and same angle,think just a learning curve.cheers people.

It is just a slight learning curve, and the one thing that you will need to get used to, coming from knife sharpening, will be putting no pressure on the blade as you hone and flipping after each stroke. we're not working to a burr on razors as is usual for some stages of knife sharpening. Let the weight of the blade do the work for you with your razors. Your hand is just the motor that gives the movement across the stone. Keep your elbow up and that will help to keep the blade flat. If it doesn't feel like work, you're doing it wrong. If it feels like work and deep meditation, you just might be on the right track.


Mick