Thread: Its not getting sharp

Thanks for all the feedback guys! The blade is a Gotta 120.

Earcutter, that's the exact stone that I tried to use!

Originally Posted by kriyavan

Thanks for all the feedback guys! The blade is a Gotta 120.

Earcutter, that's the exact stone that I tried to use!

Never owned a Gotta but they get good press. That's awesome! And hey - welcome to SRP!.

I can't really speak to the hone as I have never tried to use it as a finisher. Good luck!!

Originally Posted by gcbryan

How does using a strop help fix a blade that he has used a 220 type hone on?

Hi gcbryan,

That's a good question; thank you for asking. In short, because after "setting the bevel" I hone the razor on my canvas and leather strop until the edge is keen and smooth. (That takes about two minutes.) Notice that I used the word, "hone." Used effectively, the strops hone the edge.

I haven't tried it, but I believe that if necessary, a very dull razor could be honed with nothing more than canvas and leather. That's why it puzzles me when I read of people taking a perfectly good, brand-new razor and go grind it on a stone. To me, that's just plain silly.

The Ace Hardware stone that I used has a coarse and a fine side. The coarse side is somewhere around 300 grit but the fine is about 600. I find that 600 grit is plenty fine enough for a razor when followed by canvas and leather. My go-to sharpener for everything is an Eze-Lap Model M diamond-coated rod that I have used for 30 years.

It is not necessary to have mad honing skills and hundreds of dollars of stones and pastes and whatnot to hone a razor. It just requires basic tools, a little care and attention.

Best Regards,
Jeff

I would suggest contacting one of the members here in the BST ads, and look for a $30 barbers hone once you get the razor re-honed. That way you can do about 5-8 laps on it, strop, and shave. One of the cheapest routes you can go. That's why they were so popular back in the day.

Originally Posted by tiddle

I would suggest contacting one of the members here in the BST ads, and look for a $30 barbers hone once you get the razor re-honed. That way you can do about 5-8 laps on it, strop, and shave. One of the cheapest routes you can go. That's why they were so popular back in the day.

Ebay is a great resource as well for barber hones.

Originally Posted by JeffR

It is not necessary to have mad honing skills and hundreds of dollars of stones and pastes and whatnot to hone a razor. It just requires basic tools, a little care and attention.

Best Regards,
Jeff

A decent set of either Nortons, Shaptons, Naniwas and etc, or any combination thereof are not that expensive, most honers will start a razor at 1000 grit and finish off at 10,000 or more. Its not that is it silly, it is the quality of the shave that is paramount. After all isnt that why we are here? I have had adequate shaves in the past, any razor will do that, but I would prefer better.

Originally Posted by JeffR

I haven't tried it, but I believe that if necessary, a very dull razor could be honed with nothing more than canvas and leather. That's why it puzzles me when I read of people taking a perfectly good, brand-new razor and go grind it on a stone. To me, that's just plain silly.

Not silly at all to set a bevel on a new razor. They are rarely "perfectly good" .