Thread: Giving up on honing and straight razor shaving...

I'm living in Wrocław and would be happy to hone your razor for you if you want.
Send me a PM if you are interested.

I've gotten pretty good at honing my seven blades and I haven't passed the HHT once. So don't let that bother you. I have passed the thumb nail test but I always rehone after that because I think it kills the honing I just did. I like the thumb pad test because I can tell if it's sharp without killing the edge. But as has been said, there is only one test that matters - shaving.

That looks like a really nice razor so keep at it if it doesn't drive you crazy. this is a lot of fun, but I think honing is the hardes skill to learn.

Don't give up on straight razor shaving just yet.. For starters, get a better tool. While it's possible to hone up a blade with a 12k stone, it takes forever and a half. Others gave you good honing advice, but if I were you, I'd get another razor, have it professionally honed and have something for reference. While I'm not a honemeister, I can still get an edge shave-ready and would be happy to hone one for you.

I've just found someone who can sell honing stone 6000 grit. It's not cheap - about $70 (made in Belgium).
I think it will be much better than 12000 grit that i currently have. If honing fails again i will send it to someone who can do it well.

Kekon,

I don't think you are listening.

To use a straight razor is one thing.

To hone a straight razor is another.

To keep a sharp razor sharp is a third.

If I were you, I would stop wasting money.

First take up the free offer of having your razor sharpened. When you get it back, don't play with it but shave with it. I hope you are listening.

Second, study this forum to understand how to keep the razor sharp and do it.

Thirdly study this forum and learn about hones before wasting money by trial and error.

Ask before you buy.

In this way you will learn slowly and succeed.

If you rush at it, I will guarantee that within a month you will give up.

You need to be patient, it isn't all that easy and you have to learn as you go.

As said before, it's an art.

Good luck with it and I'm sure with patience you will enjoy straight razor shaving quite soon.

English is right.
It takes some shaving experience to learn how to hone. (you need to be able to evaluate your results)
I takes a razor, sharp without any suspicion, to learn how to shave. (you need to be sure any problem is caused by your shaving technique instead of by a blunt razor)

Combine the learning of both skills, and you'll most likely end up very frustrated.

I really advice you to take Nickyspaghetti's offer to hone your razor for you.
There's plenty of time to learn honing later, when you learned the basics of straight razor shaving.
Right now, you need to focus on shaving and stropping. That really is a big task as it is.

Best of luck,
Bart.

First take up the free offer of having your razor sharpened.

I've just decided to do so.