Results 1 to 5 of 5
  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Posts
    2
    Thanked: 0

    Default First hone/shave with new razor

    Hello,
    I just bought my first real straight razor. It is beautiful! I tried to shave with it but it does not seem very sharp. I bought Lynn's DVD and watched it throughout. I attempted to hone and strop the razor to get a nice sharp edge to it. However it did not seem to really make much difference. I went and finished my shave with my Dovo Shavette. I am not sure what I did wrong to not sharpen the blade to a nice edge. I am a little bummed that the new razor did not really get to where I wanted it to be. Could someone please give me a little advice/encouragement on the honing of a new blade.
    Thank you!

  2. #2
    illegitimum non carborundum Utopian's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Rochester, MN
    Posts
    11,544
    Thanked: 3795
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Kudos to you for making the attempt but learning to hone and shave is like learning to re-build a clutch and drive a manual car. You don't know if the fault is your shaving technique or your honing technique. Of course, most likely it's both!

    It would have been easier for you if you had started with a shave ready razor. You could still send it to someone to hone it for you, but if you are set on honing it yourself, then you will need to provide more information.

    Please describe both your razor and your hone(s). We can't really give much advice without more information.

    Welcome to SRP!

  3. #3
    Senior Member blabbermouth hi_bud_gl's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2005
    Posts
    4,521
    Thanked: 1636

    Default

    Sorry about your situation.
    i am against your idea to hone your good razors. Specially this is your first blade and you mean to use it. Lets say this. have you ever used straight razor? do you know properly edge how should shave etc?
    From where or whom you bought this blade?
    what is the name of the razor?
    was it sold shave ready?
    if yes then contact the person first.
    if not
    then please ship it out .
    This will help you so much. you will learn at first how properly honed blade should shave.
    you can check the edge with loop and see how it look like.
    then go head buy couple bay junks and learn how to hone.
    hope this helps.
    gl

  4. #4
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Nov 2010
    Posts
    2
    Thanked: 0

    Default

    Thank you Utopian.
    I have a Zwilling J.A. Henckels "Friodur" I am also using a Norton 4000/8000 wetstone.

  5. #5
    Still learning markevens's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2010
    Posts
    1,043
    Thanked: 240

    Default

    Ditto with the above guys. The smartest decision I made when I was learning was to start with a razor that was sharpened by a pro. Look at the member services in the classifieds to find a honemeister near you and send it off to get sharpened properly.

    Straight razors demand much more technique than other razors, so your shaves will be sub par while you build up your technique. Once you get it down, however, you will be getting amazingly close shaves. Just be patient. Send the razor off to be honed, and when you get it back and it still doesn't feel sharp understand that it is your technique that is lacking.

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •