Thread: Maintaining Sharpness

I just got a new razor for SR Designs and a new leather strop to go with it. Do I need to pick up an 8k or 12k grit hone to maintain the edge between honing sessions? If so, should I tape the spine to protect from hone wear?

Welcome

The razor came with a honing coupon for the next time it needs it. Learn to strop it ain't as easy as it first appears but if stropped correctly the razor may not need to see a stone for quite sometime. You can always strop on the webbing element with some paste if the leather doesn't do it.

There is a massive amount of information concerning stropping here. Start by reading the Wiki and viewing the stropping videos.

It just keeps getting better.

Hi, Ben, and welcome to SRP! All rookies should learn how to strop properly first before worrying about honing. Good stropping technique is essential to maintaining your blade's edge. So no, you don't need a hone yet. You can conceivably go a whole year (or more) without needing to hone your razor again
That being said, the "standard" hone around here appears to be the Norton 4000/8000 combination water stone. What razor did you acquire? If it's a "brand new" one (and I think this is likely from SRD) you don't need to tape the spine. Some people do tape it anyway, but most do not for new razors.
Hope this helps, and I'll see you in the trenches, buddy!

Thanks! I was under the impression that my blade would need touchups every other week even with good stropping. Good to know I won't be under the weight of such a big learning curve.

Happy to help, Ben! Some long-time shavers like myself only use a barber's hone (I use a Swati myself) once in a while to "freshen" a blade's edge.

Ben

There are a lot of things that determine how often a blade needs to be refreshed on a stone. When I started shaving with straights a short while ago, I managed to dull the blade fairly quickly through poor stropping and shaving techniques. As you improve the time between honing being needed will increase. You should have a voucher for a free honing so you are good to go for a fair bit without a stone. Eventually you will want something to help maintain the edge other than a hanging stop. Take that time and read up here on what is recommended to purchase to maintain your edge. There is no immediate rush but 6 months or more out you may find it necessary.

Bob

Originally Posted by BenSelf

Thanks! I was under the impression that my blade would need touchups every other week even with good stropping. Good to know I won't be under the weight of such a big learning curve.

You might want to consider a pasted strop to keep the razor up to snuff. You could get by on that for a long time before needing a hone. Some guys need to do a touch-up every few weeks and some can go for weeks. it depends on the razor too.

I agree that with proper stropping, you should go months without needing a stone. You have a free re-sharpening from SRD so don't buy anything just yet. Learn to strop first. Go slow on the leather, not like you see on TV, and concentrate on each pass on the strop. Most newbies dull their new razor while learning to strop so take your time and concentrate so that you don't repeat the same mistake. Then after a few months start looking at stones. The usual first stone is the Norton 4/8K and that's all you'll need to start. But again, do not buy anything until you master stropping.

Hi Ben,

There's a million answers to how to maintain your edge. When new, its common to think you have to get stones, abrasive pastes/sprays, etc. MapleleafAlumnus tells you right about stropping well will keep you going a long time. To put it mildly, I wasn't good at stropping. My stropping dulled my edges. Its not uncommon. You have a coupon or something for a honing from SRD if you roll the edge. After that, there are plenty of guys that will gladly help.

One member had a beard that ate edges. At that point, he didn't yet hone, and needed a way to keep an edge. Each week, he took 2pc of newsprint covering a hard, flat, smooth surface for 70 strokes. Then 100 linen, 100 leather. The newsprint is very low-tech, but will keep you going a long time. If I understand correctly, the greatly missed Utopian did a similar technique using the inside surface of a cereal box. I don't remember if he used any abrasive in addition, but its a variation on this theme.

You might consider having at least a 2nd blade - doesn't have to be costly - so you stay shaving when one need to go out for an edge. PM me if you need a hand w/ edges. 'Just actual cost to mail it back to you.

Enjoy that new blade. 'Sounds like great shaves are in your near future.

Thank you, I appreciate that. I'm pretty meticulous by nature, so hopefully I can avoid common mistakes.