Honing start

I bought a cheap used razor from eBay to practice honing before touching my shaving razor. However, since my shaving razor was professionally honed, maintaining the edge will be easier than trying to make a neglected razor shave ready. I've seen various comments about maintaining the edge. I've seen people say that they use a polishing stone weekly, to maintaining an edge with paste, to people who get away with just stropping for months at a time. My question is, how do you determine what route to follow? Is there a suggested best practice for beginners? I'm a daily shaver, if that matters.

I realize that it's time to do something when the blade no longer shaves, but I'd imagine that this is a gradual progression and it won't be that one day it will shave just fine and the next it won't cut a hair. This suggests that regular maintenance may be a good idea rather than letting the blade get too dull.

I'm sure that, because of the different practices I cited, that this is an individual thing, and each person has different needs and interests. But I haven't seen anything that suggests where to start and step up to a more frequent or aggressive technique based on any criteria.

Thanks!

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Straight Razor Place - Beginners Tips: November 2014

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

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Straight Razor Place - Beginners Tips: November 2014

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Yes, I read this article already, and it describes stone choice, but doesn't say anything about when or how often.

When or how often you refresh a razor, varies greatly with all the factors involved in the shave itself. I think just about everyone has a different moment in time when they refresh. What you use to refresh your razor with,, will also vary the time the newly refreshed edge lasts.
If your razor starts to feel uncomfortable,,, pulling or you notice after the first pass, more hair is remaining in comparison to past shaves; then maybe a refresh is due.

Choosing a proven method & closely watching your method(it will improve each time you have to refresh a blade) will give you satisfaction in the result.

3 laps 1x week on a finisher.

I think the general consensus (if that is possible) is that less more often gives the best results as going to long before doing a refresh increases the risk of having to drop down in the grit range so it is no longer a simple refresh. I think that is pretty clear on the previous post as a strategy, it does really vary a lot from person to person and it requires a little experimentation to getting it all figured out. Three laps is not much, but it is with great regularity. Others may go longer between refreshes but do more laps.

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

3 laps 1x week on a finisher.

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Oz gives the same advise given to me by Gssixgun, maintaining is easier than refreshing after the fact, I do 3-4 laps on my 12k naniwa, and strop, razor stays shave ready all the time ,, mind you it's only 3-4 ultra light laps , only polishing that edge that's already good,, so go with pastes or get yourself a finisher to start and then work your way backwards. Tc

Thanks for clarifying!

One follow up...in Lynn's honing video, he suggests that even a 12k stone needs to be lapped out of the box, because it's not smooth enough. I got the Naniwa 12k, and I have to say, it feels smooth to me right out of the box. I'll lap it as suggested, and I suppose doing so will answer my question, but how smooth is the right smooth?

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Originally Posted by Moonshae

Thanks for clarifying!

One follow up...in Lynn's honing video, he suggests that even a 12k stone needs to be lapped out of the box, because it's not smooth enough. I got the Naniwa 12k, and I have to say, it feels smooth to me right out of the box. I'll lap it as suggested, and I suppose doing so will answer my question, but how smooth is the right smooth?

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It's about "flat" more than 'smooth'.

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Originally Posted by Moonshae

Thanks for clarifying!

One follow up...in Lynn's honing video, he suggests that even a 12k stone needs to be lapped out of the box, because it's not smooth enough. I got the Naniwa 12k, and I have to say, it feels smooth to me right out of the box. I'll lap it as suggested, and I suppose doing so will answer my question, but how smooth is the right smooth?

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Read about what lapping is & how to do it;

Hone Lapping 101 - Straight Razor Place Library

My methods are as follows if the razor starts pulling:

Strop on leather (daily use) = If I use the strop exclusively it will maintain my razor for about a month with a useable edge if I am not satified with the edge

Crox & Irox Pasted balsa = usually I do this once a week but that is because I like the razor fresh every week if still pulling

Finisher as required = this can replace the balsa above depending on if you are happy to shave straight off the stone.

If still pulling something is up and I need to analise my technique on the above assuming this is a razor that has a set bevel.

I successfully lapped my 12k plate using the pencil grid trick. Nice and flat now. At least I will be able to maintain my edge with a few passes each week.

I also ordered a cheap but decent used SR from eBay and a Norton 4k/8k stone from SRD so I can work on technique without risking my shaving razor. I expect that I'll do more harm than good at first, but that will be the real test, if I can get the technique down to bring the edge back to shave ready.

It’s a lot like car maintenance, if you change the oil, check the tire pressure and do all around maintenance, you can avoid costly repairs, catching small things, before they become big things.

A 12k or a Barber Hone and proper stropping, can keep you shaving well, for a long time. As can a pasted strop… assuming you can strop, which is where most new guys have a problem and cause more issues than they solve.

But, all of this is Normal, and eventually you will learn to strop…properly and many of your issues disappear. The only way to learn to strop, is to strop. Learning with a mentor will improve your edges and be a lot easier on your strop.

Edge maintenance, with good lighted magnification, is a great way to ease into honing. The 12k is a great stone, stay on it as long as you can.