Thread: Straight Razors Dull Despite Little Use

Originally Posted by CrescentCityRazors

I will caution you, however, to NOT mix and match honing styles. You have a guru now. Follow him. Don't rely on your own understanding of what works with what. If your guru recommends raising a burr, raise a burr. If your guru recommends not, then don't. If you want to hone my way, hone my way, all the way. Random technique gives random results. mixed up technique gives confused results. Stick with your Sensei's way until you are consistently getting at least a professional grade edge on your razors, before you try another approach. The well trodden path is the easiest and will get you to yoru destination the quickest and cheapest. If he gets great edges, and you want his results, use his way, all the way, no excuses or second guessing. There is no reason why, with a willing teacher and room in your budget for the necessary tools, you can't be getting excellent edges within a week or two. This does NOT have to take months or years. I have had many students get better than professional quality edges by their second attempt, a few on the first attempt, equalling my own usual edge quality. It's all about staying on a well marked path, and not straying until you master it.

With one specific honing style under your belt, trying another way is pretty easy. I have had guys learn my way, and get bored with it, because they thrive on challenge, so they jump into Jnats, Coticules, slates, Arkies, whatever. Just go at it with your credit card at the high ready, will still frustrate, but not as much as it would otherwise, after first mastering ONE style of honing.

These are my sentiments exactly. For the most part, my default answer at this point would be to ask your knife guy teacher. I want it to be clear though that I'm not abandoning giving you advice but I also don't want to muddy the water. This is both for your sake and for your teacher's sake. I do echo what CCR has said about sticking with your teacher. If I tell you something contradictory to what he says then I'm not helping either one of you. If it is only for the sake of education then it can wait. It should not take you forever, again as CCR has said, to learn the method that he's teaching you. If it were me taking my time to help you learn this and you came back to me asking, "what about this method, what about that method?" It would be frustrating to me and my response would be, "Listen, if you want me to take my time to teach you, then learn it as I'm showing it to you because I think that's the best route for you to go. Once you have demonstrated that you know how to do it the way I'm showing you, then we can talk about other methods." Having said that, and to the extent that I don't feel as though it conflicts with what he is saying. My answer to your question about going back in the progression would be try the pasted strop first. That chromoxide paste is aggressive enough that it should bring that edge back up.If the pasted canvas doesn't quite get you there then try the finisher. Just bear in mind that the razor I sent you was honed with one layer of electrical tape. It may even be that a flax linen strop (the one I sent you is not linen. It is cotton canvas) would do enough, and possibly even leather depending on what type. Boarhide, for instance, is more aggressive than cowhide which is more aggressive than goat hide. Still, I think it is in everyone's best interest, mainly yours, to ask your teacher. He is in the position to be of the most help to you since he can give you hands-on in person training and show you why that's right. I'm still sending you the love (philos) not casting you away. That is why I'm telling you to ask your teacher