Thread: help for a frustrated beginner

Thanks for the advice,

Yesterday I did the pyramid honing for the barber stones. I also stroped it this morning and shaved. It was still too dull, so I'm going to continue to hone away. It was much better than yesterday though. One thing I have noticed is that the blade seems to get duller during a shave. By the time I get to my chin and upper lip, it is downright awful (or those hairs are just tougher). Well, I guess learning to hone just gives me the oppertunity to practice the virtues of patience and pesistance.

Additionally, I watched the video on this site of how the shave with a straight and it is a great resource! I found that I was holding the razor all wrong. It really helped- so thank you very much in helping me skip some of the basic beginner mistakes. I think the actual shaving technique is a lot easier than the honing; I haven't cut myself (yet) and the only problem with the shaving (beyond the horribly dull blade) is sometimes it is hard to see what I'm doing in the mirror while shaving (esp. around the sideburns). Thanks to everyone again for their help.

I know what you mean. There is nothing worse than a dull razor to shave with. Actually I got cut more because I would keep going back to get a close shave and sooner or later blood. I have also come to the conclusion that it is harder to learn to hone a razor than to learn to use one.

I know what you mean. There is nothing worse than a dull razor to shave with. Actually I got cut more because I would keep going back to get a close shave and sooner or later blood. I have also come to the conclusion that it is harder to learn to hone a razor than to learn to use one.

Bob, you may want to go over to the Yahoo! SRP forum site and do a message search for "wire" or "wire edge" .... that's possibly a problem when you've done alot of honing.

Bob, you may want to go over to the Yahoo! SRP forum site and do a message search for "wire" or "wire edge" .... that's possibly a problem when you've done alot of honing.

Originally Posted by uthed

Bob, you may want to go over to the Yahoo! SRP forum site and do a message search for "wire" or "wire edge" .... that's possibly a problem when you've done alot of honing.

Hey David, correct me if I am wrong ( it would not be the first time) but I thought it was you who suggested that to remove a wire edge a person does 3-5 back honing strokes (back of blade leading) followed by 3-5 normal (edge leading) honing strokes? :?

That will usually take care of it, Randy.

I have also found that a wire edge usually goes away with a 3-3 rotation on the Norton followed by a couple of 1-3's. :lol: Lynn