Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 11
Like Tree6Likes

Thread: How often should I sharpen/hone my razor

  1. #1
    Junior Member Novinaj1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Northwest Indiana
    Posts
    8
    Thanked: 0

    Default How often should I sharpen/hone my razor

    I am extremely green to shaving with a straight razor. I just ordered my first razor and am waiting for it to show up on my doorstep. Besides stropping prior to every shave how often will I be needing to sharpen/hone the blade. Also if I decide to sharpen myself What is a decent stone/stones to use?

  2. #2
    Senior Member souschefdude's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Berks County PA
    Posts
    1,214
    Thanked: 180
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Welcome to SRP. I could answer here, but you will find a plethora of info here: Straight Razor Place Wiki - Straight Razor Place Wiki
    Check it out. Let me know if I can clear anything up.
    Last edited by souschefdude; 01-19-2014 at 01:38 AM.
    WadePatton likes this.

  3. The Following User Says Thank You to souschefdude For This Useful Post:

    Novinaj1 (01-19-2014)

  4. #3
    Senior Member blabbermouth 10Pups's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Across the street from Mickey Mouse in Calif.
    Posts
    5,320
    Thanked: 1184

    Default

    Hopefully your blade is coming shave ready ? If it is a good blade and shave ready you have a lot of time to decide many things. 1 How many razors will you own etc. If just a couple, think barbers hone. Be careful with that stropping and you should be able to go 6 months or more before even needing a touch up. Of course this all depends on you the razor and your stropping skills.
    Good judgment comes from experience, and experience....well that comes from poor judgment.

  5. The Following User Says Thank You to 10Pups For This Useful Post:

    Novinaj1 (01-19-2014)

  6. #4
    Senior Member souschefdude's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Berks County PA
    Posts
    1,214
    Thanked: 180
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    For choice of stones you will get a variety of answers. For touchups a Barbers hone as 10 Pups said. Personally I use an Edlis and a Swaty.

  7. The Following User Says Thank You to souschefdude For This Useful Post:

    Novinaj1 (01-19-2014)

  8. #5
    Junior Member Novinaj1's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2014
    Location
    Northwest Indiana
    Posts
    8
    Thanked: 0

    Default

    After emailing back and forth with Lynn from straight razor design, i purchased a Ralf Aust from him. Yes it come shave ready. I'm trying to get all my ducks in a row for maintaining my blade in good condition.

  9. #6
    Senior Member blabbermouth 10Pups's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2012
    Location
    Across the street from Mickey Mouse in Calif.
    Posts
    5,320
    Thanked: 1184

    Default

    Well, if your on the phone with Lynn than just listen and remember :<0)
    Good judgment comes from experience, and experience....well that comes from poor judgment.

  10. #7
    Senior Member souschefdude's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Berks County PA
    Posts
    1,214
    Thanked: 180
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Hopefully it will be awhile before your blade needs a touchup.
    Strop not only before a shave, but also after a shave as well. This helps keep the edge as dry as possible.
    Don't keep your razor in the bathroom, or any other high-humidity environment.
    Keep your strop taut and your strokes on it light.
    Always flip on the spine when stropping.
    I hear CrOx on a balsa strop helps refresh an edge, though I havent used one.

  11. #8
    'with that said' cudarunner's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2010
    Location
    Walla Walla in WA State USA
    Posts
    11,151
    Thanked: 4230

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Novinaj1 View Post
    I am extremely green to shaving with a straight razor. I just ordered my first razor and am waiting for it to show up on my doorstep. Besides stropping prior to every shave how often will I be needing to sharpen/hone the blade. Also if I decide to sharpen myself What is a decent stone/stones to use?
    Welcome to the most Informative, Helpful and Friendly site on the web!

    First and foremost, using a straight has a Huge Learning Curve! Before even thinking about honing, you will find that learning how to 'properly' strop, shave and make lather will be enough for now! Honing will come soon enough!

    Now to your question: "How often will I be needing to sharpen/hone the blade".

    That question's answer will depend on how well you've learned the basics that I've pointed out! You could ruin an edge off of a Professional Honing the first time you attempt to strop! There again, if you are careful that edge may last quite awhile!

    I started out before I'd found this wonderful site, so I had to teach myself Everything! I'd sent my uncles Genco out for honing from another site and when I got it back I received no instructions and no information about how it was honed!

    I had been given a leather strop from a good friend and it had been his fathers, I was careful and I guess I got lucky as that edge and razor did well for me for about 3 months. I'd since found SRP and started buying beginners razors in the $25-$35 range instead of investing in honing. I also started sending my razors out for a professional hone. And I'm Damn Glad that I did as when I finally started honing I had a 'reference' as to how I was doing!

    My counsel is to learn the basics and at least semi master them, then think about honing!

    It's a long road but the trip is worth it!
    gssixgun, onimaru55 and Hirlau like this.
    Our house is as Neil left it- an Aladdin’s cave of 'stuff'.

    Kim X

  12. The Following User Says Thank You to cudarunner For This Useful Post:

    Novinaj1 (01-19-2014)

  13. #9
    Senior Member blabbermouth RezDog's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2013
    Location
    Haida Gwaii, British Columbia, Canada
    Posts
    14,384
    Thanked: 4820

    Default

    There isn't much else to say. Welcome
    It's not what you know, it's who you take fishing!

  14. #10
    Not with my razor 🚫 SirStropalot's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2011
    Posts
    1,859
    Thanked: 568

    Default

    As often as necessary, and as little as possible. It all comes down to the razor, your ability to strop....your prep, technique, etc. etc. etc. and most of all personal preference.

    It varies by individual. Some take off and just seem to be born to it. Others work and work and finally it clicks and they're off. Others get discouraged and quit.

    I know you're looking for general guidelines, but....it just depends on too many variables to really give an answer.

    You'll see as you get started and read here on the forum that almost everything is to personal preference, and boy, can we be all over the place on that.

    Razors edge... I like crisp, I like buttery smooth, I like, I like.

    I guess what I'm saying is you'll find that answer to your question on your journey to shaving Nervana.

    In general. Some will touch up on a hone, hones or maybe a barbers hone every 6 to 8 or 10 days. Others will go a month, 2 months or more and some claim years.

    In the above posts are some good options, including a barber's hone which if used correctly can extend the life of an edge to almost indefinitely given good technique, prep and not damaging the edge on the faucet or dropping the razor.

    For future reference and what you may want in the future, here's a good link.
    What hone(s), paste(s), or spray(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Wiki

    Welcome to the forum, and hope you have a long and fun experience here at SRP!!

    Hope this helps some, but it's a hard question to answer with specificity!!

    Best Regards,

    Howard
    gssixgun likes this.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

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