Thread: Almost got my straight razor in shave ready condition.

Hey everyone,
After many, many hours of trial and error, and lots of time reading up on honing, today I FINALLY got my vintage straight razor to shave ready... Or pretty close. Not sure which..
So anyway, using my Norton 1k, I finally got the bevel set to where it shaved arm/leg hair very easily when running the blade against the skin as well as cutting the tops off some hair without touching any skin. Then I moved on to my Norton 4K/8k stones using pyramid honing: 20 4K 20 8k, 15 and 15, 10 and 10, 5 and 5, 3 and 3, 1 and 3, 1 and 5.
I then tested it out by shaving with it and yes, it definitely shaved! It did pull/stick a bit in certain parts of my face I guess. (Mainly my chin) so what I'm thinking is maybe it's not quite shave ready... I can't be too sure because this is the first time I've ever shaved with a straight razor with a sharp enough edge, but I would guess that it probably could be a bit of a smoother/sharper shave. (And yes, my technique is okay. 30 degree angle, multiple passes, different strokes, skin stretching, etc)
So my question is: how can I continue to hone without making the edge worse. I've come so far and I really don't wanna screw it up now!
Thanks guys!

Just keep at it! I'd say it takes 30 shaves to get it to feel right. So keep it up and strop gently on a taught, clean leather strop. Just glide it back and forth, slightly across the strop, and with no pressure.

Probably the same number of honings are required to get it right as well. I'm probably just past half-way there.

Okay, cool. So maybe don't even bother taking it back to further the honing? Just keep using it to shave.. Alright, I suppose I will try that. Thanks atchbo, appreciate it.

You will be surprised after you get more experience that the blades that wernt shaving you well will shave pretty good after 100 shaves under your belt( cause the one shave ain't there yet) but it does depend on the blade actually being shave ready, hinge the reason we suggest to get one honed so you will know. Kinda hard to know what an ice cream cone taste like if all you,ve ever had was spinach! Hone on and keep working on your technique and stropping. Tc

Hard to say without picks, but I have a few hairs that catch razors honed by pros. That is unless everything is perfect, mars is in retrograde, Jupiter's moons are aligned and a moose farts during my shave.

Well if it helps, here are some pictures

A very nice Henckels!!
The first few shave are almost impossible to accurately grade, your angle will be off and you don't really know what it's supposed to feel like. The chin will be the spot that will tug even for the most seasoned of us and when I'm honing that will be the place I do a test shave (if it can get through that, it will get through anything!!).

If the razor is cutting hair well but tugging a bit at the chin you are in the ball park, give it 20 more very light laps on the 8k and retest and continue and repeat if necessary. A nice thing to invest in would be a Chromium Oxide pasted paddle, they will usually take an 8k edge and add extra sharpness/smoothness

So which test/tests are you using, to establish the bevel is fully set?

Fully set the bevel, then remove the 1k stria with 4k, then remove the 4k stria, with 8k, without damaging the edge, polishing the bevel to straighten the edge.

You cannot hone a razor with a formula, (a set number of laps). You have to do as many laps as it takes, to set the bevel. Then as many as it takes to remove the 1k and the same for 4k.

But if you are not “absolutely sure” the bevel is fully set on the 1k, you do not have an edge to polish.

If the edge does not feel sharp and smooth, first just look at the edge and make sure the bevel is fully set.

That’s a good looking razor, one of my favorite grinds, widths and styles.

The bevel looks nice and even. If the edge is fully set, it should shave just fine. Then it is just technique. And that will come, that razor is an easy razor to learn on, just watch the pressure and the tip.

Pressure can also be an issue, when honing a very hollow ground razor, too much and you literally, lift the edge off the stone.

@ euclid440, Thanks very much! One other thing- stropping. I have two dovos. Wide double leather. (Smooth lite color and rough black color) which side should I use first (for prep)? And which side second (finish)? Here are a couple photos if it helps..
Thanks!