Thread: Straight razor sharpening and my Edge Pro - Pic intensive

Wasn't sure what forum to put this in. Hopefully this is the correct one.

Just a brief reader’s digest history... I have been collecting knives and sharpening them with an Edge Pro Apex for a while (120 grit - 6k grit). I have read the Edge Pro posts on this site and in no way do I want to start a "flame war". I wanted to see if I could use the Edge Pro because I have invested time in money in this system with my knives.

First off, I am very new to wet shaving and using a straight razor. I started using a Parker SR1 and could not resist the urge to buy a real straight razor. After visiting a local antique shop (and reading the beginners wiki) page I bought 2 razors: Bingham Quality and Giensen Forsthoff razor. I could have bought another 2 razors but I decided to stop myself.



















After looking at the edges with a 10x eye loupe I deemed them serviceable. By serviceable, I did not see any chipping or damage. I ran the blade on my thumbnail to check to any edge issues as well as running a cotton ball perpendicular to the edge to feel for issues on the edges. I started cleaning the Giesen Forsthoff with some polishing paste and a rag and some brasso. This was a first pass cleaning as I do not currently have any wet sanding paper.

Here is my EP setup.



To be cont...

EP table setup

Understanding that the razor is a very thin edge blade, I thought about how to set the EP up so that the razor did not get bent/distorted and came up with the plastic card shim. The shim allows for a small section of the blade to hang off the EP platform. The second card is to provide a stop for the razor's edge so it can be placed on the EP consistently.







EP arm setup

Ben Dale from Edge Pro suggested I keep the EP arm as close to the cutting edge of the razor as well as the spine without touching the spine. From the videos I have watched, the spine acts as a guide when drawing the razor across a strop or stone. To remedy this, I placed some painters tape on the spine of the razor and then placed the arm in a position where the cutting edge and the spine were in contact.



After the arm was set I removed the tape and went to the sharpening. As previously mentioned in other posts, I use the sharpie method. I cover the cutting edge with sharpie and then slide the stone/polish tape over the edge to see if the media is cutting the edge properly.





I verified that the spine was not getting touched by the tape by marking the spine and cutting edge again with sharpie.



Sharpening procedure

I first thougt of starting at my 1k stone but decided to start using my 2k polishing tape. I first tested the razor with the arm shave test to see how it performed. The blade was sharp but did not shave. Now the fun begins...

I sectioned the blade in two when I started drawing the tape over the edge. From the point to the middle of the blade and from the shoulder to the middle of the blade. After that I would pas the tape over the middle section. The tape would be lubricated with a water and dish soap mix between passes.

Here are the tape progressions Pass pattern 20, 15, 10, 5:

2k tape: 20 passes (front to back stroke = 1 stroke) - point to middle
20 passes - shoulder to middle
20 passes -middle area
Flip razor and repeat

15 passes - point to midle
15 passes - shoulder to middle
15 passes - middle area
Flip razor and repeat

All the way down to 5 passes.
3k tape: Same as above
6k tape: Stopped at 20 passes.

I stopped at 20 because I had to run some errands and I had to test the blade on my face.

All that I did for face prep was a splash of water and some Target shaving gel that I had left over (no time to make lather as I was running late). I wiped the blade down with some isobroply alcohol and shaved my cheek. I was very happy with the results. The blade cut smoothly and easily. I do need to make a point about what my interpretation of smooth is. My sample size of straight razor shaves is all of 6. I have been using a shavette with Shark blades. So the experience I have may be on the lower end of the shave scale due to my initial setup. I am going to run the 6k tape through the full progression before I shave with it again.

I also plan on buying wet sanding paper to clean up the blade itself.. As for a strop, I am not sure as of yet, not enough data against or for the EP...yet.

*Update*

I finished the blade with the 6k tape progression. Now to shave with it…

*Update*

After shaving with this razor, I was amazed how differently a real straight razor feels vs. a shavette. I enjoyed hearing the blade cut the whiskers. It was very satisfying. And yes, I did cut myself 3 times. The cutting surface on this razor is almost 3 times longer than the Parker SR1 I started with. Time to buy a pencil.

Mario-

Moving this to the honing forum. Don't know if it is my eyes, the lighting in the photos, or what but ...... looks to me like a slight frown in that blade. Might have to do with the method ? Anyway, good luck with it.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

...... looks to me like a slight frown in that blade. Might have to do with the method ? Anyway, good luck with it.

Thanks for pointing out the frown. I looked at the blade and then put it against the the counter top and sure enough there ws a small frown. I did a newb move when I got the razor. I did not check the geometry of the blade and went straight to sharpening.

m-

Mario,
It sounds like you are good at sharpening knives, but I have to say razors different.

I like your set-up by the way, I've been entertaining a set-up like that for my knives!

You say your razor shaves well, but what is your experience? Please understand that I am not trying to discourage at all, but you need to have a veteran shaver shave with that razor and ask their opinion or have a razor around that was honed by a veteran honer to compare to. I would hate to see you get frustrated with our sport before you really got off the ground.

Originally Posted by Mario

Thanks for pointing out the frown. I looked at the blade and then put it against the the counter top and sure enough there ws a small frown. I did a newb move when I got the razor. I did not check the geometry of the blade and went straight to sharpening.

m-

Look up at the before pics,,,,

Read Shooters post again, he is trying to help you out..

There is a You tube video of IIRC the guy that invented the EP or one of those types using it for a Straight Razor, it looked as though he had a fairly smooth rhythm going sharpening both sides at the same time..

I've been buying quite a few eBay specials just to try honing on different blades. Almost all of them have been in the 10$ range.
I have a bunch of different stones that I use in combination and strops with various pastes.
I've, to no ones surprise, have found that no one combination works well on all blades. I find the possibility of a One Shot Does All System intriguing and find these reviews very worth while. Even knowing deep down in my heart that there's just not going to be a Coupe de Ville at the bottom of that Cracker Jack box!

I can sharpen an 8 inch chefs knife (Henkles) with DMT hones D8EC, C, F, EF, and EEF in a few minutes usually. Depending in the edge condition, I will omit one or more of the coarser hones.

I have a great deal of experience with the edge pro. I prefer hand honed edges for every sort if knife. The harder the knives get used the less I like the edge pro.

Reason bring, with hand honing I do NOT hold a perfect consistent angle. In fact, for harder use knives I intentionally add more variation thus imparting more convex nature to the edge.

Simply put, Convex edges will stand up to more abuse. I have proven this to myself with everything from pocket knives to competition blades (all of which are sharpened to pass HHT).

The ONLY blade I actually want a V edge on is a straight razor...but the razor itself comes with all the guide I need to accomplish a keen V.

YMMV but if you like straight shaving and the tradition associated with it, my guess is you will prefer sharpening kitchen knives free hand. Only you can really tell though.

I intend to play with convex edges at a later time with paper wheels. However, this is not a knife forum and I will continue to use my EP to get the edges that work for me.

As for the "tradition" associated with straight razors, I appreciate how men of yesteryear have shaved and understand what it entailed. A minimalist approach for the sake of shaving. In this case, for me, I want to approach it as a hobby and experiment which will take me wherever I decide to go.