Thread: Bringing blunt razor to shaving finish

Before you go any further sit down and view Lynn Abrams' video on honing. Or one by gssixgun (Glen Mercurio). Razor honing is nowhere anything like sharpening a knife. While you can shave off a 6k progressing to an 8k and then a 12k is standard.

Go to the Library and find the Maintaining a Razor section. Honing videos are there.

Post brand of razor and where it came from if you can't work out how to upload photo. Is it vintage or new?

First off welcome to SRP.

AS said read everything in the SRP library: Straight Razor Place Library - Straight Razor Place Library
And watch some of the mentioned videos.

post some pictures, this may help with assessing the edge.

Also, you could send it out to a pro honer to feel what a true "shave ready" should be. Send Jamie (celticcrusader) a private messege http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...ccrusader.html he can sort you out or Steve Dempster https://www.theinvisibleedge.co.uk/49-razor-sharpening

Enjoy the journey

Thanks for all the response, will post a picture later and check the guides out, will probably also invest in some much finer stones. I have been sharpening knives with waterstones since I was about 14 so no stranger to the technique, just mastering a new edge so to speak, thanks!

Originally Posted by crooksey

Thanks for all the response, will post a picture later and check the guides out, will probably also invest in some much finer stones. I have been sharpening knives with waterstones since I was about 14 so no stranger to the technique, just mastering a new edge so to speak, thanks!

Welcome to the forum. It might be best to approach honing a razor as something completely new and not directly related to sharpening a knife. There have been quite a few people post on here that said they have lots of experience sharpening a knife and can't understand why they can't get a shaving edge on a straight razor.

The bevel set is the key to progressing to a shave ready edge. If the bevel is not set going up the progression of ever fine grit stones will not produce a shave ready edge. You will get a nicely polished bevel that won't shave worth a damn.

Bob

You just need to send it out to get a shaving edge for now, that will give you an idea and a benchmark to shoot for. Forget all that "I know how to sharpen a knife" anyone can do that, cause you don't shave with your knives. I unless all you want to do is have a bad shaving experience.

You can hone a razor , it's not rocket science, but you must have a baseline, and trust me knowing how to shave and strop( which there is a great chance you don't) will make your honing experience better. And it takes a while to learn, so help yourself by sending it out( if it's a decent razor) and meet up with one f the fine guys over in your neighbor, and have a good time. Tc

Yup, start by reading the first 3 post, in the honing forum.

Your stones are fine, just pick up a diamond plate, to lap them flat, knives can tear up a stone.

Then pick up an 8k and possibly a 12k synthetic. Norton and Naniwa are both fine inexpensive stones, as are the Kings.

As said the key to honing razors, is a fully set bevel, some good magnification at least 60X will help you greatly. More than likely, your bevel is not fully set.

Here is a good thread of a new guy honing a razor with some excellent Micrographs of what you are seeing and what to look for. “Second Try at Honing”.

PCM has a series of several good post with great photos, search PCM in the advanced search feature, for the rest of them

Honing a razor is not just about sharp, comfort is what you are after. Sharp is easy, comfort….

Originally Posted by BobH

Welcome to the forum. It might be best to approach honing a razor as something completely new and not directly related to sharpening a knife. There have been quite a few people post on here that said they have lots of experience sharpening a knife and can't understand why they can't get a shaving edge on a straight razor.

The bevel set is the key to progressing to a shave ready edge. If the bevel is not set going up the progression of ever fine grit stones will not produce a shave ready edge. You will get a nicely polished bevel that won't shave worth a damn.

Bob

Yep, I was one of those people. I thought the only difference between a sharp knife and a shaving razor was the finishing stone. I Dont think i couldve been more wrong.

A knife just has to be "good enough." A razor has to be perfect, or damn close to. It doesn't take much of an imperfecton to make it tug and pull. Micro chips, itty bitty dings, the bevel just being a few microns from meeting, foiled edges, things you really need a micro scope or jewelers loupe to see, and a light touch to avoid creating by accident.

Similar in theory, but in practice there's a world of difference.