Probably at least one dumb question:

Greetings all,
I have two straight razors currently: one cheap-o off ebay which is a Union City, Dixie blue steel. And the other is a Korn, Little Valley (purchased from Lynn). Needless to say, the Korn is the sharpest thing I've ever seen. However, the Dixie looks sharp, but doesn't shave worth a darn. I've honed it using the techniques in the relevant literature on the subject and stropped it with the linen and leather strop and the razor still doesn't shave worth a darn, though it is sharp (but not in comparison w/ the Korn). Now, my questions is this: is it possible that this razor just won't get sharp enough to shave well, or am I in dire need of more practice (subquestion: if I need more practice, how can I tell if I'm doing a good job?)? Of course, the easy answer is just that I'm new and lack technique, but how does one tell if one's technique is improving? Any and all input will be greatly appreciated :)
Best,
Mark

Your in dire need of more practice. A razor from Lynn will be very sharp. You shouldn't worry about getting it that sharp, he's pretty good at what he does. So whats all this about your Dixie Blue Steel razor being sharp? It looks sharp? How does that look? What equipment do you have? A Dixie Blue Steel may be a bad razor (never heard of that one) or it may have a bad spine, but I"m curious about this look it has that is somehow sharp????? How does it react to the hanging hair test and how does it shave. Have you looked at it under a microscope yet?

Subanswer: if the razor gets sharp your doing a good job...I think that may be the only feedback you get, which is why it is so hard to learn to hone. I think a lot of honing is knowing what to do and then just being patient and letting the razor slowly get honed as you do it, but obviously some technique is involved. I find with a microscope there are some great visual cues that can help you. I also find that the razor has some important feel "points" that it gets to as you hone. It should look nick free under magnification. It should push water off the hone at some point. It should feel suctiony onto the hone at some point. If you fail to reach any of these points your not getting very far. Do a search on "thumb" test, Joe Learch uses that technique, that may help you some as well.

I find that I just have to know what to do and do it, trust that the Norton 4,000 will do its job, and hone on it. Trust that the 8,000 grit will do its job, and hone on it. Trust that the .5 paste will do its job, then clean and strop, and trust that the strop will do it's job...then shave and start all over again cuz nothing worked. But eventually you'll get it. This is kinda the "Pyramid" honing technique and you can search on that too.

Ultimately I think if you really want to know if its a bad razor (which it probably isn't but who knows) you have to send it to Lynn and get him to hone it. Only way your going to compare a razor honed by a Master against another razor.

Some one else may chime in and simply tell you its a bad razor, I'm not that familiar with that brand.

Mark,

I also will tell you I am not sure if its a bad razor or not. Let me say this if you are comparing it to one honed by Lynn, well it is going to come up short. I think Lynn could get a tire iron to pass the hanging hair test :D . Keep working on it, if you get it to pass the hanging hair test it will probably shave fine.

Hone a couple of thousand "tire irons" a year and you can get your razors as sharp as Lynn too!!
Lee

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Originally Posted by marciaga

Now, my questions is this: is it possible that this razor just won't get sharp enough to shave well, or am I in dire need of more practice (subquestion: if I need more practice, how can I tell if I'm doing a good job?)? Of course, the easy answer is just that I'm new and lack technique, but how does one tell if one's technique is improving? Any and all input will be greatly appreciated :)
Best,
Mark

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Welcome, Mark.

I've been honing away the last half of the summer on a few razors and there are some which are still just stubborn. I think these are good for a new honer to work on, like a spirited stallion which will not break. I might suggest getting one or two more of a difference to see what works with each. My Dubl Duck demanded the softest touch, but one of my Henckels just WOULDN'T shave until I used a firmer touch. Practice, practice, practice.

X

The Union City razor is just fine. I have a couple of them.

If you bought it off Ebay then it probably has an old edge. All of mine have been that way. Oxidized and small nick's.

Perform the thumbnail test and see if you feel any catches or bumps. If you do then you have nicks. Also on that test see if the razor bites into your nail or just glides across it, or a combination of the two. I will bet that is does most of the above.

What you want is for the razor to slightly dig into the nail, uniformly, without any catches or bumps.

Use a 800 or 1000 grit (or a 4000 if thats what you have)to wear off the nicks and oxidation. This will also establish a new bevel. stay on that stone until it passes the thumbnail test. Then move on to the 4000/8000 using the pyramid method, its in the help files.

The amount of pressure to use is 1-2 lbs while you are establishinga new edge. After that lighten up to using just the amount of pressure necessary to keep the razor flat on the hone.

Hope this helps, :)

To the excellent advice already given here I would only add that each razor is an individual and though people will talk about this system or that formula which are good starting points when it comes down to it you have to adapt to the razor your working on. As an example I just got an Eboy special it is a Cmon HF which looks brand new never used and is a georgous razor and giving it the usual treatment routine I use really didn't work. I basically had it sharp but not shave ready I had to go back to the 8K and hone initally using a fair amount of pressure for about 20 strokes and then no pressure for about 50 more strokes. That did the trick. So keep at it and you will develop the skill.

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Originally Posted by pikappa167

Hone a couple of thousand "tire irons" a year and you can get your razors as sharp as Lynn too!!
Lee

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Have you managed to get a decent shave with your Ittosai shiro-ko honyaki gyuto yet?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ouch

Have you managed to get a decent shave with your Ittosai shiro-ko honyaki gyuto yet?

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Oh hey, that's none other than Louisianacook. I had no idea. Cooool!
Hey Lee!

And who might your kf alter-ego be Ouch?