Thread: how sharp should it be?

Due to experience I would only ever bring a razor to somebody recognised by this forum for 'honing services'.

I also gave my razor to a "straight razor shaving service/equipment place" - just because somebody sells straight razor shaving equipment online or has a shop does not mean they can hone.

In addition to not being correctly honed I waited 3 weeks to obtain my brand new prima klang with a horrible water like stain mark on the spine(nothing I've tried removes it) and half the blade on either side has 'wave like' striations that are extremely visible - guessing it was stropped on a very abrasive element. I also had two spots of rust EUR160 brand new razor that I paid EUR45 to be trashed...erhhh I mean honed.

There is a vast difference between a "correctly" honed razor and a razor that is said to be honed.

I would think the place I went to would be of good quality.... it is the new york shaving company and everything I have gotten from them has been good thus far. I am probably doing something wrong, but I am heading there today to see where I went wrong. I will keep y'all posted... If for some reason I need to send it somewhere else to get honed where is a good spot, what should I expect to pay, and about how long should it take to get it back?

Originally Posted by georgebsummer

I would think the place I went to would be of good quality.... it is the new york shaving company and everything I have gotten from them has been good thus far. I am probably doing something wrong, but I am heading there today to see where I went wrong. I will keep y'all posted... If for some reason I need to send it somewhere else to get honed where is a good spot, what should I expect to pay, and about how long should it take to get it back?

Check the SRP classifieds under member services, everyone here has a rep to maintain, you will be in good hands.

Originally Posted by georgebsummer

I would think the place I went to would be of good quality.... it is the new york shaving company and everything I have gotten from them has been good thus far. I am probably doing something wrong, but I am heading there today to see where I went wrong. I will keep y'all posted... If for some reason I need to send it somewhere else to get honed where is a good spot, what should I expect to pay, and about how long should it take to get it back?

Many of the shaving shops taking advantage of the recent boom in straight razor shaving have no practical experience in either shaving with or honing a straight razor. Some claim many years of experience when they have only months of experience. Many simply have sales people who are going by what others tell them. It is truly rare to find any AOS staff that have a clue about straight razors in my opinion.

We have seen people come in here and go to school on straight razor shaving, honing and restoration and then remember that they have 20 years of experience.......

One of the strength's of this forum is that you do have the opportunity to get your questions answered by those who actually participate in the art and many with a life time of experience. When the 1st straight razor forum was established 10 years ago, there was virtually no wet shaving information available on the web, let alone straight razor shaving information. This place has the most knowledgeable membership on straight razor shaving in the world.

Have fun!!

Lynn

Originally Posted by Lynn

We have seen people come in here and go to school on straight razor shaving, honing and restoration and then remember that they have 20 years of experience.......

I've seen that too. I honed a few razors for a new guy last year who now has been honing since the sixties.

I joined SRP in September of 2007. Even though I've been using a straight for about 8 years, I figure my experience did not begin until Sept, 2007.

I started straight shaving in the late 70s, all I had for years was brush, soap, blades, strop and a barbers hone. As far as I knew I was the only one on the planet that did this. And then I found SRP and found out that after all those years, I was still a beginner!

Originally Posted by Utopian

I've seen that too. I honed a few razors for a new guy last year who now has been honing since the sixties.

I joined SRP in September of 2007. Even though I've been using a straight for about 8 years, I figure my experience did not begin until Sept, 2007.

Ron, I have been honing since the 40's despite the fact I was born in '59! Dont laugh, it can be done, I am living proof!

I've been hemming and hawing since the 70's. Very similar.

Originally Posted by Utopian

When you go back, ask if the person doing the honing shaves with a straight razor. If not, then walk away. If he can hone, then he would use one. If he doesn't use one, then he can't hone.

+1, although I suppose there is always the chance that he could be dishonest and say that he does just to drum up some credentials...

Thank you all for your input it has been a great help, not to mention a great relief, to find out that even seasoned veterans have gone threw the same experience. The shop I sent my blades to is reworking them... besides the obvious, what should I look for in a "professionally" honed razor?