Thread: Lansky System

Recently saw an article on ehow on how to sharpen a straight razor using the Lansky system. Anyone ever try this?

I think it is pointless and errorprone.

A razors edge is extremely fragile. If you upset the bevel angle from the natural spine - edge angle, you are going to ruin the bevels. It also seems hard to make 100% sure you have the same bevel angle on both sides. The razor will be less sharp because of the bigger honing angle. And I doubt the stones you get with it are fine enough for a razors edge.

In other words, I think it is completely pointless because a razor already HAS the means to insure a proper honing angle (the spine ) and you're just going to destroy a perfectly good razor.

I have the lansky diamond system and it's worthless for a straight. It's way too coarse.

Well, I have the basic Lansky 4 rod turnbox... (costs 15 bucks or so), and I say otherwise. It works for me. I had an inexpensive straight razor, that was shave ready... but it got a bit dull after using it for a while.

So... why not try something. (stupid?)

Out came the Lansky 4 rod turnbox, popped in the metal rod & ceramic rod. (one each)... and I used very light controlled strokes. First on the dark rod, then a few strokes on the white one. I tried to keep the rods a bit wet. As you may know this particular system has two angles for normal knife sharpening... 20 and 25 degrees. That doesn't matter for this purpose. It only mattered that the rods were being held by the block. I wished I had one of those clamp thingies (don't know the name) to hold it perfectly vertical. Alas I don't.

I placed first the spine against the top of the rod, then carefully lowering the blade flush onto the rod. Just like normal honing with the spine flat as fixed angle guidance. Then I used even, very light pressure... stroking down, like you would sharpening a knife on this Lansky system. But as said, nothing to do with the 20 % / 25 % angle... just keep the spine on the rod. Rinse and Repeat, on alternative sides of the blade.

While doing so, I monitor the sharpness... (armhair) till satisfied. Then... some final very light strokes on a simple natural honing stone... some stropping and done. It works for me. I know, I know.. now I will get all kinds of comments that this is a stupid thing to do, it probably is... but then again. It works.

For me.

Its very simple, inexpensive and fast to do. (its not for bevel setting) Use at your own risk, and don't waste an expensive razor messing things up. I am not saying it will be ultra, fancy pansy sharp... but sharp enough to have a comfortable shave.

Just from what I read you could have skipped the system thingy and went right to the finisher ?

I tried that, but couldn't get it that sharp if I skipped the system thingy. Basically I felt, for me, that it was easier to get it sharp by using the rods (especially the dark one) and then finalizing it on the stone with a few, light strokes.

Originally Posted by Kalecommando

Well, I have the basic Lansky 4 rod turnbox... (costs 15 bucks or so), and I say otherwise. It works for me. I had an inexpensive straight razor, that was shave ready... but it got a bit dull after using it for a while.

So... why not try something. (stupid?)

Out came the Lansky 4 rod turnbox, popped in the metal rod & ceramic rod. (one each)... and I used very light controlled strokes. First on the dark rod, then a few strokes on the white one. I tried to keep the rods a bit wet. As you may know this particular system has two angles for normal knife sharpening... 20 and 25 degrees. That doesn't matter for this purpose. It only mattered that the rods were being held by the block. I wished I had one of those clamp thingies (don't know the name) to hold it perfectly vertical. Alas I don't.

Then, I placed first the spine against the top of the rod, then carefully lowering the blade flush onto the rod. Just like normal honing with the spine flat as fixed angle guidance. Then I used even, very light pressure... stroking down, like you would sharpening a knife on this Lansky system. But as said, nothing to do with the 20 % / 25 % angle... just keep the spine on the rod. Rinse and Repeat, on alternative sides of the blade.

While doing so, I monitor the sharpness... (armhair) till satisfied. Then... some final very light strokes on a simple natural honing stone... and done. It works for me. I know, I know.. now I will get all kinds of comments that this is a stupid thing to do, it probably is... but then again. It works. Its very simple, inexpensive and fast to do. But use at your own risk, and don't waste an expensive razor messing things up.

Originally Posted by Kalecommando

I tried that, but couldn't get it that sharp if I skipped the system thingy. Basically I felt, for me, that it was easier to get it sharp by using the rods (especially the dark one), and then finalizing it on the stone. Then on the stone alone.

Originally Posted by Kalecommando

I bought a 3000/8000 combo and one rougher stone for bevel setting.

I followed the videos (lynn etc)... seems I can not get it sharp when honing with the spine (one layer of tape) flat on the stone.

However, I am able to get it sharp at bit higher angle (lifting the spine higher), so that there is a nice metallic snapping sound when I shave some hair of my arm.

Is there a way to move from the higher angle (which I guess is 18 degrees) to the flat angle? So that I can hone it with the spine flat, and getting it sharp? I tried to set a bevel when holding it flat. But no such luck. Only at the approx. 18 degrees angle it will get sharp.

Maybe the spine is simply not high enough?

As you can see, I am a newbie. Any help is appreciated. Thanks.

Originally Posted by Kalecommando

I am new to straight razor shaving. Previously I shaved with Mach 3... then I bought a Parker Shavette... after that the Edwin Jagger DE89. Last week I bought an unknown (new) Taiwanese straight razor, that was shave ready. (at least I could shave with it as well as my shavette with a new Derby blade) so I guess it was a good, affordable, buy. Out of my limited experience so far... lots of people look down upon products made in the Far East... and for good reasons. (in MOST cases) But to think most, if not all, Asian made razors are crap... is just shortsighted

Reading your posts from the last week or so, you are all over the place..

You started with a non-proved razor that cost you more then a Shave Ready proven Dovo, you say it is a great shaver yet you are having to hone it a few times already, you are using all different honing techniques...

This is exactly why we recommend certain systems and certain proved razors to newbs once you have everything nailed down you can expand into experimentation to see what happens....


I quoted many of your posts from many different threads so perhaps if they were all in one spot it would be easier to see what I am talking about and perhaps it will help you out

Thanks for the last reply, the post starting with "I bought a 3000/8000 combo and one rougher stone for bevel setting.
I followed the videos (lynn etc)... seems I can not get it sharp when honing with the spine (one layer of tape) flat on the stone."

... was related to a very crappy, not shave ready razor... that didn't have (most likely) a proper bevel set, and was just plain worthless 'razor'. Nomatter what I tried, it didn't get sharp. I read that really crappy razors will not get sharp nomatter what.

The last post in this tread was related to newer razor, that came shave ready. But, I always get an itchy feeling and have to mess with things, to experiment... so after a while I tried to get it sharper (perhaps I imagined it was not sharp enough) and this latest method I tried worked. (for me)

I have used the Lansky system, and made a shave ready razor from it. two things I did that I think made the difference was 1) built a holder from a 3/8 bolt and block of wood. 2) when you set the razor you have to block the blade so that the razor is level to the stone(the stone rides against the spine and the edge.) It worked for me, and was the easiest way for the blade I was sharpening. I think it can be done, you just have to tinker with it a little.

Originally Posted by Kalecommando

Thanks for the last reply, the post starting with "I bought a 3000/8000 combo and one rougher stone for bevel setting.
I followed the videos (lynn etc)... seems I can not get it sharp when honing with the spine (one layer of tape) flat on the stone."

... was related to a very crappy, not shave ready razor... that didn't have (most likely) a proper bevel set, and was just plain worthless 'razor'. Nomatter what I tried, it didn't get sharp. I read that really crappy razors will not get sharp nomatter what.

The last post in this tread was related to newer razor, that came shave ready. But, I always get an itchy feeling and have to mess with things, to experiment... so after a while I tried to get it sharper (perhaps I imagined it was not sharp enough) and this latest method I tried worked. (for me)

Just a question..but in your admittal to being a newb, have you ever had a razor that was honed by someone who knows what shave ready truly is? If not, then I'd truly question your reasons for trying to improve something that you originally think is shave ready just because you have an "itchy feeling"