Thread: Best Types of Razors to Learn On?

Hi All-I'm learning a lot reading this and other forums on SRP, and I feel I am almost ready to take the leap and learn to hone. So far I have three razors:

1. A Dovo BQ 5/8" I got last Christmas with the free lifetime honing from SRD, which I haven't used yet.

2. A Filarmonica DT 12 I bought from the Classifieds here.

3. An Unexcelled Improved Eagle I also got from our Classifieds.

Since I got my 3-line Swaty from MilkyLee, I have been experimenting with touch-up honing for a few months, usually followed by about 100 laps on colored newsprint, maybe a few on CrOx linen, and a standard 30/50 on untreated linen and latigo on my TM 3" strop. The Dovo clearly responds the best to this treatment, and still shaves nicely after a touch-up. The Filarmonica has been harder to "bring back," and is frankly really irritating me lately. The Eagle falls somewhere in between, and usually needs just a few more strokes on the Swaty to bring back.

My question now is, if I wanted to invest in a set of hones, say a Norton 4/8k, or maybe the Naniwa 3/8k that gets such a great writeup on SRD's site, what sort of EBay specials should I look at to start experimenting on?

In other words, which steel types/grinds/countries of origin would respond the easiest to a newbie's learning efforts? Solingen? Sheffield? American? Thanks in advance for any thoughts. I'd really like to get my first Sheffield, but don't want to experiment yet on any expensive blades. Aaron

FWIW (I'm only a step ahead of you!) --

The condition of the _individual razor_ is more important than where it came from, or who made it, or how it's ground.

_Any_ razor with little or no rusting or chipping on the edge, no warping, and no frowning, will make a good 'practice blade'.

The problem with "imperfect" razors on eBay is that you can't tell whether there's a warp, or a slight frown (you can see serious frowns), or _really know_ how much rust is on the edge. So you might have more work ahead of you, between "as-received" and "shave-ready", than you expect.

OTOH, that's how you'll learn honing technique.

Charles

PS - most razors I got from eBay required a full bevel reset, not "touching-up" with a 4K/8K stone. You might be luckier, or spend more money to get blades with fewer problems.

Thanks for the reply, Cohen!

Any Carbon Steel blade should suffice when learing to hone. Try to get one's with minimal hone wear, and of course, avoid the brands listed here:Brands of Straight Razors to avoid - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Of course, Solingen and Sheffield are known quality, but there's tons of no name razors that hone up just as nice...

P.S. The Naniwa SS hones don't require soaking, The Norton's do....Both are great hones though....

Rich

IMO, you have already started. I think doing touchups is the best way to start - you know about where the razor is when you start, you know what end result you are looking for, and you minimize the number of variables. This is a good way to learn and practice the basic honing strokes. So don't sell yourself short, you are already learning to hone.

Learning to set a bevel is a bit different. The main factor is that you are starting with a razor in unknown condition, so there are a LOT more variables. Frowns, smiles, chips, irregular hone wear are a few. As always, the best thing you can do is minimize the number of variables. Try to get something that has a straight edge, no chips, and light and even hone wear. Of course, a quality brand is implied.

If you don't mind investing the money, a new Dovo can actually be a good route. They will take minimal work on the 1k (you can actually start right on the 4k or 5k), and they have rather straight, even edges. It's a more sizable investment than a vintage razor, but the advantage is a "known" starting point.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

If you don't mind investing the money, a new Dovo can actually be a good route. They will take minimal work on the 1k (you can actually start right on the 4k or 5k), and they have rather straight, even edges. It's a more sizable investment than a vintage razor, but the advantage is a "known" starting point.

Big +1 on this advice! I actually purchased a Dovo Bismark Spike Point just for this purpose as the "antique" razors I was trying to learn were not working out for me. As was already said, just too many variables. Up to now, I only found one good antique razor that I was able to get consistent results with, but sadly, I just let her go.

A new razor will take the guess work out. At least it has for me.

ScoutHikerDad,

++1 on Hollis' advice.

Another good thing about the Dovos for learning, is that they have a parallel sided blade - no smiles or other stuff to complicate the honing.

I also found with my Dovo Best, is the the steel is very much in the sweet spot for a new honer - like Goldilocks found - not too hard, not too soft, just right

An excellent razor to get a good grounding in honing !

Good luck !

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Thanks all-As you guys have noted, my Dovo best seems to be the easiest in response to my touch-up efforts. A Bismarck or Bergischer Lowe are definitely on my wish list. Holli, I may jump on one of your nice razors at some point, but definitely want to try my hand at some vintage razors that I have to start from a bevel. I'll let you know after I get the hones.

And thanks for the encouraging words. It does feel like I am learning the basic stroke as I read up and practice. I can see this honing thing becoming one of the "zen" activities I love so much, like fly-fishing. So much of it is feel. Aaron

Get a rounded edge razor. You don't want to get a spike point to learn on. Trust me, I've been there.

Originally Posted by Skippy

Get a rounded edge razor. You don't want to get a spike point to learn on. Trust me, I've been there.

Did you mean for shaving? We're talking honing.