Thread: First Try

Hello,

I have a couple of beginner questions with what I am sure are not stock responses. I have read the first post by the wonderful user that prepared a guide for beginners, it was wonderful.

I have the following questions.

1. I have a straight razor that I got for Christmas that I can say without a doubt is not sharp (I have my grandfathers razors that most definitely are). Should this be honed professionally, or am I okay to do it? I have been honing knives for a while (approx 2 years).

2. I would like to us a straight razor on both head and face, how do I begin, and how is one to ensure a proper <30 degree angle as instructed (obviously practice but any tips / grips /etc) would be most welcome.

Thank you for your time and guidance.

Bad news your first question is a variation on one most will eventually ask. Sorry nothing new under the sun and all that.

Yes you can learn to hone, as long as the razor can take an edge. There are two easy ways to learn honing. The easiest way is to start with one known shave ready razor and touch that razor up with a good finishing stone, a synthetic 12k is easier than a natural hone. The next easy path is to have one shave ready razor and one practice razor. On this path you will want a full set of hones 320 dmt, 1k, 4k, 8k, 12k. You could do it all with a 4k/8k combo hone, but a bevel set can take a while at 4k.

I have never shaved my head.

Jonathan

Thank you very much for your reply. I am discouraged but I refuse to give up. I just wish this razor would cut hair, for whatever reason it just won't just hair. It looks sharp, it certainly feels sharp, but maybe not sharp enough...I am not sure. Any advice on this, plus the above questions would be appreciated.

If it won't cut arm hair it most likely needs to have the bevel set. If the second razor is not on the list of razors to avoid, I would send it and probably your grandfathers razor to be honed by a pro. This would allow you to have two shave ready razors to learn to shave with. When one begins to pull and a pasted strop will not bring it back. Instead of sending it out get a finishing hone in the 12k range to touch up with. It makes for an easy introduction to honing.

Jonathan

Originally Posted by camarr

2. I would like to us a straight razor on both head and face, how do I begin, and how is one to ensure a proper <30 degree angle as instructed (obviously practice but any tips / grips /etc) would be most welcome.

Thank you for your time and guidance.

Hi camarr and welcome to SRP, +one on getting the razor sent out, it make for easier learning as has been mentioned. I would definitely not advise trying to shave your head with it . Good luck

Mark

Originally Posted by Datsots

If it won't cut arm hair it most likely needs to have the bevel set. If the second razor is not on the list of razors to avoid, I would send it and probably your grandfathers razor to be honed by a pro. This would allow you to have two shave ready razors to learn to shave with. When one begins to pull and a pasted strop will not bring it back. Instead of sending it out get a finishing hone in the 12k range to touch up with. It makes for an easy introduction to honing.

Jonathan

Thanks again guys for all the help...one thing I would like to ask is hypathetically if I had one of the razors on that list of razors to avoid, what can I do? I don't want to just discard / throw it out, I would like to use it, is this something I will be able to do?

Thanks,
camarr

Some of the common re-purposing of razors with temper, geometry, or other problems. Letter opener, patch/other knife, display piece, donor for scales/parts, dulled muscle memory practice razor.

If you got one of the razors to avoid you could try to return it as unusable.

Jonathan