Thread: Question from new straight shaver honing a "new" Wapi

Hello all,

I am a new straight shaver who recently purchased a Wapienica straight razor from ********. I shaved a couple of times with it, and it was fairly sharp, as I eventually got a decent shave, but it pulled a lot and seemed to take a lot of strokes to remove hair. It also pulled especially around the chin/neck area. It seemed I had to put my own pressure on the blade, which I know is not good to do.

I then noticed that the bevel didn't seem to be even across the blade, and was a great deal larger towards the center of the blade and smaller near the edges.

I thought that I would take a stab at honing it myself, and purchased a Norton 1000/4000 grit waterstone. I did 20 strokes across across the 4000 grit, but it doesn't seem to shave any better. In fact, it seems to be pulling more to me at this point. After I honed it, I stropped it about 25 times, first on the linen side, then on the leather side.

My question is, was I right that the razor needed to be honed in the first place, or would stropping some more eliminated the pulling?

Also, is it necessary that the bevel be even all across, and would the 4000 grit be best for achieving this? Or should I be using the 1000 grit side to set an even bevel and then move to the 4000 grit?

Lastly, is it absolutely necessary that I hone on an 8000 grit once I've finished with the 4000 (I currently don't own an 8K), or can I just strop on the linen side and call it a day?

Any help would be truly appreciated!

Let me also add that it did not pass the hanging hair test when I first received it either...

Welcome to SRP. A razor won't necessarily have an evenly sized bevel from end to end or from one side to the other. This is not an issue if the blade is honed properly. Honing is a craft with some and an art with other, more advanced practitioners. To get a smooth and close shave you would need to go to the 8k IMO.

Whether a beginner has the skill to do this depends on the individual. You might be better served to go to the SRP classifieds 'member services' and send the razor out for pro honing. This would give you a sharp razor to shave with and a benchmark to judge your own efforts in honing with other razors. If you're going to continue on your own take a look at the SRP Wiki on honing razors.

As Jimmy suggested: it would be best to get the razor honed by a professional, so you know what a properly honed razor feels like.

Remember, even if a razor is sharper than any knife you've ever held, it still doesn't mean it's shave-ready.


It may be a good idea to get another razor to practice honing with, so you can compare it to the professionally honed one.

Oh! and 4000 grit is too coarse for finishing a razor. People here talk about using 20,000-30,000 grit!! Anything over 12,000 grit is probably fine, but that's the range we're talking about.

What Jimmy said and I think you should have contacted ****** first. Most vendors are willing to help in these situations.

Originally Posted by csempowski

I then noticed that the bevel didn't seem to be even across the blade, and was a great deal larger towards the center of the blade and smaller near the edges.

Welcome to SRP.

If what you describe is only on one side the spine may be warped making it a challenge to hone for a first timer but yes you would need an 8k to approach shave ready comfort.

csempowski,

Two of my three Wapis had bevels as you describe; they all however shave beautifully !

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Originally Posted by csempowski

Hello all,

I shaved a couple of times with it, and it was fairly sharp, as I eventually got a decent shave, but it pulled a lot and seemed to take a lot of strokes to remove hair. It also pulled especially around the chin/neck area. It seemed I had to put my own pressure on the blade, which I know is not good to do.

I then noticed that the bevel didn't seem to be even across the blade, and was a great deal larger towards the center of the blade and smaller near the edges.

I thought that I would take a stab at honing it myself, and purchased a Norton 1000/4000 grit waterstone. I did 20 strokes across across the 4000 grit, but it doesn't seem to shave any better. In fact, it seems to be pulling more to me at this point. After I honed it, I stropped it about 25 times, first on the linen side, then on the leather side.

I have the same problem with mine... I tried to bevel on 800 grit wet/dry paper then worked my way up to a Norton 4/8... I have "attempted" to hone the razor over and over the past three weeks.

I have one small spot towards the heal that shows no hone wear...

When I get home It's getting sent out... I feel your pain...

I just visited the site, looks like they are rescaling the razors... Mine has Stainless scales... $30.00.

I think I will send it off to get honed professionally, and then buy one that I can work on honing myself after I purchase an 8K hone.

I was excited to get shaving so I waited with anticipation for the razor to arrive... so I hate to have to send it off again

Oh well... patience.

Thanks to all who chimed in... I look forward to benefitting from the experience of you guys more in the future.

A 4K hone, especially a norton, is going to feel a little harsh on your face when you're shaving with it. If you test the edge on your leg or arm, depending on your hair type in those areas, the way the edge shaves there should show you how it may feel on your face.

If it's gripping on the hairs on your arm or leg then it's going to grip on your face.

I would recommend getting the Norton 4/8K, it's a great hone to learn on.