Thread: New to SR shaving with honing question

HELLO,

I AM KNEW TO STRAIGHT RAZOR SHAVING AND WOULD LIKE TO FRESHEN UP A NEWLY DINGED THIERS ISSARD RAZOR. CAN I DO THIS BY PURCHASING STONES OF MY OWN AROUND THE 8000/12000 GRIT RANGE OR SHOULD I SEND IT OUT TO HAVE IT TOUCHED UP? ITS ONLY VISIBLE IF YOU REALLY LOOK FOR IT.

THANKS ERNIE

Ernie, I would highly recommend having it sent off and professionally rehoned. even if you can barely see the ding you're wanting it to be corrected with something much closer to the 1k grit level than the 8-12k. and especially if you're a novice, just save yourself the frustration (and time) and send it to a reputable honer. He may charge you a little more since it'll be some more work, but you'll be glad in the end.

Welcome to SRP Ernie. Your best path is to send it out to be honed. If you have had no experience in honing a straight razor you would likely ruin the razor. Even if you have knowledge of sharpening knives the difference is like comparing apples and oranges. Learing to shave properly (and stropping also) should be your first concern. Do read the in the library for complete first knowledge of shaving.

Do a member search in your area also. There are some guys around you Tc

I'll do that.thanks

Yep, What everyone is saying is best. Its so easy to damage the edge on a stone if you dont know what your doing. This is why it is recommended to start your honing learning with a junk razor or two. Something that you dont care and cost next to nothing. With a properly honed edge you will learn to shave much better and knnow that all issues you may have will not be the razor.

Buying stones is an option, a more expensive one with a learning curve for sure (and a possible large rabbit hole as you may end up wanting more stones) as mentioned send it out to get done properly, as it sounds like you have a nice razor, much cheaper and quicker to send out than wait for a stone and then hope you can hone it without any issues.
I hope you get it back quickly.

Buying stones as stated is an option but as stated also its best to send it off, having a ding(s) in the edge can be tricky and more than likely will require going lower than 8K

Yes sir, I'm going that route but there is only one person in San Antonio that does it and I'm waiting for him to schedule me to go by.

Welcome to the forum.

I did the same thing with my first razor. I sent it out to a pro to be fixed.

Since then I have bought a 12K Naniwa stone. I use it just to refresh the edge on a dull razor. Now I see what that stone will do I am so glad that I sent the razor out. I would have had to buy several more stones at a much higher price than the repair job.

The only problem was that I bought a second razor to use whilst the first one was being repaired. That was the first step on the slippery slope to razor acquisition disorder.

Sorry to hear about the ding and I wish you all the best in getting it sorted out.