New to the forum!

[SRNewb]

Most of us use a finishing stone at 8k+ grit, I can't tell what the bigger stone is from the picture, but if it is really smooth, try very light pressure (weight of the razor or less) and see if you can get a better edge. Otherwise you probably need a finer grit finishing hone. A Norton 4k/8k combo is a very good place to start

Thanks, but there's nothing wrong with the edge I got. This razor cuts so smoothly that I cannot even feel it. Best shave of my entire life, actually. And I think it's going to get even better once I learn my face better. As to your advice on using very light pressure, you're dead on; that's how I got the edge I did.

[rodb]

Great!! I missed that part in the original post. The correct honing pressure is really hard to teach/explain and it sounds like you already have it.

Thanks, but there's nothing wrong with the edge I got. This razor cuts so smoothly that I cannot even feel it. Best shave of my entire life, actually. And I think it's going to get even better once I learn my face better. As to your advice on using very light pressure, you're dead on; that's how I got the edge I did.

[SRNewb]

Great!! I missed that part in the original post. The correct honing pressure is really hard to teach/explain and it sounds like you already have it.

I agree. Sharpening is something that you really have to get as much info as you can, but in the end, you just have to do it often enough to get a feel for it. I'm by no means an expert, but I have been sharpening my knives, and more recently my hand tools, all my life. But I did find that sharpening this straight razor taught me more about the process. There is no such thing as an edge that is "good enough". I really had to go way beyond what I understood to be sharp. I like it when i learn!

[mwnc252]

Welcome to SRP,
Before I joined this site, I used to dread shaving every day. Now with everyones help here on this site ,I now cannot wait to shave and look forward to shaving daily. All I have is a King 1k and a Norton 4/8k and an old Pike barber hone with a well worn Russian Imperial # 827 strop! Now I added a MdC shave cream and am loving my smooth shaves!
MHW

[silverloaf]

Welcome! I think the user name will fit just about all of us compared to the life some of our razors have lived! When our oldest razors push 150-200 years old or more all of us are newbs in comparison to what they've been through. the boker will serve you well and as one who started off as a woodworker I mirror your sentiments. I thought my edges were good when I was passing sub-thou shavings through the mouth of my vintage millers falls and sargent planes but honing razors definitely teaches a lot and is very humbling! ive gotten to a point where my curiosity went beyond the trusted hones I was used to and quickly turned into HAD so be forewarned! you may be happy with those stones.....if only for now