Thread: Need Honing Assistance

Ryan, I would recommend you send it out to be re-honed professionally. Maybe there is someone close to your area. You see honing can be rather difficult, and if you do not have a shave ready straight to compare to, your skills may not become as good as they can. Learning everything at once is a large obstacle to overcome, take it a bit at a time.

I understand your feelings of the first shave, it is really disheartening but I bet maybe 90% of this community experienced a dreadful first shave, especially if their beards are coarse.
I imagine one of your problems may have been angles, or perhaps even a rolled edge. The angles of a real straight vs a feather are completely different so thats why I think that may have been one of your problems. Also you need a slight bit more pressure with a real straight than you do with a feather, and this too can make the razor pull, I only figured that out recently.

Take your time in learning, start with your cheeks, then work your way to the harder parts.

And remember. Slow, smooth. Smooth is fast.

Good luck and keep us updated

I am promoting Chris L and AF Davis to master status in my straight razor shaving world. I did approx. 40 passes on the 8K side in two separate sets with about 50 strokes of the strop in between. After my final run on the 8K hone, I did about 30-40 minutes worth of stropping. I'll be shaving with it a bit later this afternoon, but from the hair test, I'm VERY hopeful now. I think this nut is cracked, so thanks for the advice!!!

Stropping saves lives!

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

I imagine one of your problems may have been angles, or perhaps even a rolled edge. The angles of a real straight vs a feather are completely different so thats why I think that may have been one of your problems. Also you need a slight bit more pressure with a real straight than you do with a feather, and this too can make the razor pull, I only figured that out recently.

I think you're right... the feather razor is heavier, which I'm pretty sure translates to the razor doing more of the work for you, i.e. less pressure. Also, the angle I used with it was about 25-ish degrees, rather shallow, I believe, by regular straight razor standards. So, I think you're correct re: angles too.

What angle do you use with your straight razor? For some reason, 30 is sticking out in my head, perhaps from the DVD??

Ryan

IIRC the general accepted standard is 30 degree. Now that I think about it, I haven't really concentrated on what degree I use. I had to experiment a lot before getting it right, but TBH I think my angle is less than 30.

Sorry I can't help you further. You may just need to experiment too, but do it with a shave ready straight first.

Originally Posted by R. O'Loughlin

I think you're right... the feather razor is heavier, which I'm pretty sure translates to the razor doing more of the work for you, i.e. less pressure. Also, the angle I used with it was about 25-ish degrees, rather shallow, I believe, by regular straight razor standards. So, I think you're correct re: angles too.

What angle do you use with your straight razor? For some reason, 30 is sticking out in my head, perhaps from the DVD??

Ryan