Thread: Dudes..

Hi! My name is Matt and i am a recent SR(edit) shaving addict.

I got a razor this year for xmas. After about 1 week of obsessive research i have an entire barbershop worth of supplies coming to the house.

I really just wanted to say thanks. This site is a great go to for tips.

I've been sharpening my own knives for a few years so I'm really interested in the honing process. Got a 4k/8k and a Gold Dollar i can beat on.

I'm sure ill be looking for advice on the near future so thanks in advance!

Welcome to the SR club MW76! Focus first on good stropping and good shaving techniques and then when you master them, worry about honing.

The 4k/8K is a good set up and the best advice I can give you is pick a honemeister, I recommend Lynn or Glen (gssixgun) and watch their videos. Pick the one you like and follow one honing regimen. With all the different varieties of ways to hone a razor, you'll save yourself headache by learning one "protocol" and then later on learning another. Good luck to you and happy new year.

Welcome. Those acquisition disorders ADs will get you. Guessing you mean SR straight razor rather than SE single edge safety razor. All the best

Originally Posted by TheFiveO

Welcome to the SR club MW76! Focus first on good stropping and good shaving techniques and then when you master them, worry about honing.

The 4k/8K is a good set up and the best advice I can give you is pick a honemeister, I recommend Lynn or Glen (gssixgun) and watch their videos. Pick the one you like and follow one honing regimen. With all the different varieties of ways to hone a razor, you'll save yourself headache by learning one "protocol" and then later on learning another. Good luck to you and happy new year.

Thanks for the advice! I was looking for a single source of info on honing. I usually prefer a couple books for reference but it seems like most of the information regarding honing is to be found online. Ill take a look at the vids and see what works for me.

Originally Posted by dmnc

Welcome. Those acquisition disorders ADs will get you. Guessing you mean SR straight razor rather than SE single edge safety razor. All the best

Maybe ill just type stuff out for the time being. I most definitely mean straight razor

Welcome. You are on the right track. I would only suggest holding off on honeing right now. First get the shave and strop down. Honing a razor is much different from a knife.
I came from your area. About 30 miles south west. A little town called Medusa. My son still lives in Albany.
Again welcome and good luck.

Originally Posted by bouschie

Welcome. You are on the right track. I would only suggest holding off on honeing right now. First get the shave and strop down. Honing a razor is much different from a knife.
I came from your area. About 30 miles south west. A little town called Medusa. My son still lives in Albany.
Again welcome and good luck.

I know Medusa.. There are some great Motorcycling roads out that way and i ride through there a few times every summer.

I'm getting some warnings about not learning to Hone and shave concurrently. If it means anything, i am regarding the two processes as completely separate from each other even though they are a means to a similar end.

As i have read, the correct stropping process is whats important with a shave ready razor. I have a professionally sharpened vintage razor on the way that i will be using for shaving, and will be working on perfecting the honing process on a Gold Dollar razor.

Honing is just a further progression of my love of all things sharp, but i know i will not have the skills to make a shave ready blade until after much practice. For now anything that is going near my face will be sharpened by a pro.

Welcome. There are certainly a lot of threads about honing here. I hope you spend time focusing on your shaving before you get to far into the honing rabbit hole. I have no idea why people buy Gold Dollars to learn with other than the fact that they are cheap. They do no have a good reputation for having proper geometry. There are sound $50 razors that come up in the classified with some regularity. They would be a much better candidate for learning to hone, because you will not have to consider wether or not the geometry is messing you up or if it is your stroke. A loupe is an important tool when honing and there are a couple of threads here with great pictures of what to look for. Enjoy the journey.

Originally Posted by RezDog

Welcome. There are certainly a lot of threads about honing here. I hope you spend time focusing on your shaving before you get to far into the honing rabbit hole. I have no idea why people buy Gold Dollars to learn with other than the fact that they are cheap. They do no have a good reputation for having proper geometry. There are sound $50 razors that come up in the classified with some regularity. They would be a much better candidate for learning to hone, because you will not have to consider wether or not the geometry is messing you up or if it is your stroke. A loupe is an important tool when honing and there are a couple of threads here with great pictures of what to look for. Enjoy the journey.

Yeah my GF fell for the 'its a good beginners razor' line while shopping for a christmas present for me. After opening I immediately wanted to know everything about it and once i read up on it came to the conclusion that i wanted something a little more refined to use on my face.

Also the site she purchased it from comes up in a few no-buy lists that i found.

I have a few better ones on the way.

Originally Posted by MW76

I know Medusa.. There are some great Motorcycling roads out that way and i ride through there a few times every summer.

I'm getting some warnings about not learning to Hone and shave concurrently. If it means anything, i am regarding the two processes as completely separate from each other even though they are a means to a similar end.

As i have read, the correct stropping process is whats important with a shave ready razor. I have a professionally sharpened vintage razor on the way that i will be using for shaving, and will be working on perfecting the honing process on a Gold Dollar razor.

Honing is just a further progression of my love of all things sharp, but i know i will not have the skills to make a shave ready blade until after much practice. For now anything that is going near my face will be sharpened by a pro.

The reason to take your time honing is, at least for me, it was hard to understand what I was honing towards, what my goal was, when I didn't yet understand or know what a "shave ready" edge feels like. After about 50-100 shaves, you should understand what a good edge feels like, and what doesn't; hence, when you start honing, you'll know what "crossing the finish line" feels like and looks like.

Originally Posted by Phrank

The reason to take your time honing is, at least for me, it was hard to understand what I was honing towards, what my goal was, when I didn't yet understand or know what a "shave ready" edge feels like. After about 50-100 shaves, you should understand what a good edge feels like, and what doesn't; hence, when you start honing, you'll know what "crossing the finish line" feels like and looks like.

You know i was just replying to another thread and i kind of realized exactly what you're saying. I was getting slightly distressed by the 'hold off on the honing' responses i was getting but it makes sense. Its like ordering a bunch of wood to build a house.. but having no blueprints. Whats the house gonna look like? Good luck with that pile of wood buddy..

I'll take my time with the honing, and wait till i can get a good shave so i actually know what a correctly sharpened razor feels like. I ordered a loupe, and figured i could teach myself what a good edge looks like, but im sensing it has a lot to do with feel as well as looks.