Thread: Removing nicks from a blade

Hello everybody, I have started getting into straight razors around a year ago.
While I have started with making some cuts on my face over time they have decreased to practically nothing.
However I am starting to feel that the blade is not as sharp as it used to be.
Using a disposable razor with 1 or 2 passes my face is perfectly clean. Even at its peak condition it was slightly worse than a disposable razor.
I own a NANIWA 3000/10000 waterstone and a strop with 4 sides.
I have failed so far to get me blade to be as sharp as a disposable razor.
I am seeing many people getting near-perfect shaves just with one passes all over youtube.
But I am struggling to emulate that experience.

I will really appreciate if someone gives me instructions as to how I can proceed with the resources I have (NANIWA 3000/10000 waterstone and a 4 sided strop)

Instructions like "Do this 10-15 times" have not really been useful to me since everyone's use is somehow different.
I need a step-by-step guide where I can confirm physically that my blade is ready to proceed to next step instead of counting travels on hones/strops

Here are my strop sides:
1)
2)
3)
4)

This is the picture of my nicked blade:

It is Stainless steel NOT Carbon Steel

And finally here is the link to the stone I have:
Naniwa Super Stone 3000 / 10000 grit combi | knivesandtools.co.uk



Thanks to all of you for your advice and instructions in advance
I really hope this frustration will be over eventually.

For me the 3/10000 hone would not be enough. I would add the naniwa 1K to set the bevel. also I would watch the honing videos on you tube. especially the one by Lynn Abrams. That's the one I learned from but there are many and I believe you can't watch too many. Honing is a learning process achieved by watching the teachers and practice. I would obtain a less expensive razor off the bay to practice on and would send my good razor out to one of the pro's to be honed so I would have something to compare my honing to. Good honing can be achieved by doing this. How ever don't expect to achieve an edge as good as the pros the first pop out the box. it does take practice. I read the Mr. Abrams has honed over 50,000 razors and still counting. I have been honing for about 2 years now and still go back to the videos from time to time. some blades I get a great edge and some wouldn't cut hot butter and all kinds of edges in between. At any rate I wish you success and enjoy the sport.

Thanks for the tips, As I am living fairly close to Solingen, I am planning to have my razor honed by a pro and learn the act

I am also willing to get one more stone for honing, but would 3000/10000+1000 as you recommended would be enough assuming I can do it?

A typical progression of hones would be something like 1K, 3 or 4K, 8K, and once you get that perfected there are a ton of other hones you can go with in the pursuit of the perfect edge. You can achieve a perfectly acceptable shaving edge from the 8K, anything less will not be comfortable. You could try a member search for Germany and PM any active members to see who is near that you could meet with. One on one time with another member is truly the fastest way to learn.

Originally Posted by heyjude

Thanks for the tips, As I am living fairly close to Solingen, I am planning to have my razor honed by a pro and learn the act

I am also willing to get one more stone for honing, but would 3000/10000+1000 as you recommended would be enough assuming I can do it?

That would be plenty. Personally, I'd joint that edge to the final profile I wanted to keep and then cut the bevel. It'll make it easier to work only as much metal as needed, and you'll be able to control the profile of the final edge a little easier (otherwise it can end up dead straight, and you may or may not want that).

You'll be surprised how fast a 1k stone will remove metal with a little pressure (not too much) and tape your spine while you do the work (at least the 1k stone work), it's already got enough wear that you don't want more on it.

There's less metal to remove than you'd expect there (as in it looks worse than it is). If you take a before and after picture, aside from the nicks, you won't be able to see any visible loss in the chord of the razor)

I currently use 1-3-5-8-12K Naniwa stones for honing and a 20K to finish but as stated before you can get a good edge off a 8K . The 1K for setting the bevel and the others to build up to the finisher. One on One teaching would be great but practice is steel needed. I also tape my spine even on a new razor. I really don't like scratches but that would be a personal choice. The 10,000 stone you have would probably take the place of my 12. Before I got the 20K I used the 12K for a finisher and it gave really good shaves. My stones were like a really good cake. the 20K was icing. There's a world of knowledge here on the place and the guys here are more than willing to share. good folks. When your not around your instructor remember the videos on you tube. they help tremendously. Have fun and enjoy.

I'd use this video as a reference: https://youtu.be/

You do need a better progression at least to 8K and a proper strop.
You can easily undo a proper honing with a rough synthetic strop, which may be the root of your edge problems.
Good strops can be purchase for around 50 dollars, check SRD for a nice beginners strop.

I have nothing to add to the great advice you already received.

My comment addresses your request for step by step directions. That's impossible to do. Honing is really a play it by ear skill.

There are too many variables. You are one and the razor is the second and the hones you use are another. You access the problem and decide how to start and monitor your progress and as need be alter the methods as you go.

We can only give general advice. That's why honing is a skill.

Thanks to all of you guys for replies, I have found them extremely helpful

I have decided to add one more combination stone to my arsenal,
So I am already having, 3000/10000, which NANIWA you think would close the gap?
I am given to understand that coarser grits have bigger impacts on the blade but it is not good for finishing as it will not produce a fine edge right?

Also, the strop I am having is a reasonably good one, also German-made so I seriously doubt the dullness would be caused by strop, because by shaving experience got better as I was handling stropping better.