Knife sharpener turned straight razor guy

Hi, I've fallen deep, DEEP down the rabbit hole of Japanese knives and whetstones over the course of the last few years, and it seems to me that straight razors are a logical next step. So, on a whim, I bought an antique Spike razor, refurbished it a bit (there's another thread about that in the Workshop,) got a badger hair brush and some Williams soap, and have been having at it. I've slowly progressed to doing my entire face, other than right around the mouth, and really enjoy the calm of straight razor shaving. Plus, well, it's cool as hell, and gives me more things to sharpen. I'm looking forward to growing in this hobby, and despite having only had a handful of shaves, so far, I'm pretty happy with the closeness of the shave, in some spots anyway. Obviously, there's a lot of learning still to be done.

Hi Gregory,

Sounds very similar to the way I got here. I was researching sharpening stones for knife sharpening an came across straight razor sites. I tell my knife sharpening friends "You know how satisfying it is to experience a fine edge on a knife....well, straight razors are that, times ten, every morning". Shaving with a straight has to be the most intimate connection to your edges as you can have.

Welcome to the forum. There are a lot of us that also really like sharp objects. There is a learning curve for sure. None of it is rocket science, but practice and form are important.

Welcome! The hole is deep and comforting....

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Originally Posted by jfk742

Welcome! The hole is deep and comforting....

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and lined with the fur of many of us who have gone down it before you!

Welcome to SRP. Sure it takes practice to hone but after you get it down it can become another big pit trying other stones. Enjoy the shaves. It is so much more fun than the dredge of scrapping the cartrage razor across the face and going on with life. Enjoy it and take your time is what makes it fun.
Ask questions as we are here to help.

Hi and welcome aboard. Sounds like you are digging your own holes but we will encourage you.

Welcome aboard!

Sharpening a knife and sharpening a razor are two different skills. Some people who are great at knife sharpening, never get the concept of sharpening razors. I was never good at sharpening a knife (which was quite an embarrassment because I worked at a paper mill for many years where sharp knives were the tool of the trade). However, I can put a nice edge on a razor. Others have the skill to do both. If you have a good set of hones, you are ahead of the game.

Welcome. :)

Welcome aboard, from another that has no use for anything dull, in his life.

Welcome to SRP Gregory, have a good look through the library https://shavelibrary.com/
Enjoy your time here, as you've found out in your other thread there are some great chaps here that'll go out of their way to help.

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Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

Welcome to SRP Gregory, have a good look through the library https://shavelibrary.com/
Enjoy your time here, as you've found out in your other thread there are some great chaps here that'll go out of their way to help.

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I've also found out that, APPARENTLY, my ability to sharpen knives, does not translate to me being able to grab an antique razor, refurbish it, and get it perfectly shave ready. Huh... who knew?

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Originally Posted by Gregory27

I've also found out that, APPARENTLY, my ability to sharpen knives, does not translate to me being able to grab an antique razor, refurbish it, and get it perfectly shave ready. Huh... who knew?

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So, did you get it perfectly shave ready the first go?

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

So, did you get it perfectly shave ready the first go?

Bob

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Uh... no. I assume. I have no frame of reference. I have shaved with it. On many occasions now. I SUSPECT that it can be much improved, but, again, I have nothing to compare it to.

There's a teaching method where when you think you have maxed out on 1k bevel set you shave. You then repeat for every hone in your progression. You csn get a decent shave off of the 1k. There's a big difference between shaving and shave ready. Its always good to get one razor pro honed for a benchmark.

That said plenty of use have made it through without and either way you learn more with practice

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Originally Posted by Gregory27

Uh... no. I assume. I have no frame of reference. I have shaved with it. On many occasions now. I SUSPECT that it can be much improved, but, again, I have nothing to compare it to.

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You know, the hardest thing to convince an experienced knife sharper is that it sharping knives is related to honing razors but not the same thing. That is normal and has happened on this forum more than a few times. I'd say the best approach is to look at it as if you know nothing about honing a straight razor and start from square one. I was lucky that I had no real experience sharpening knives so I had no preconceptions to deal with and ignore. It still was not easy though.

The shave is the frame of reference. If you can get a comfortable, close multi pass shave with no irritation, you are close to being on your way with the edge. You have to factor in that you have a good shaving technique and a good lather too. Without those even a shave ready edge can give you problems.

You have gotten sound advice in this thread all you have to do is figure it out and persevere through the learning curve. It is enjoyable in the end.

Bob

frame of reference with a truly shave ready razor is how you will find out if yours are there, but first you need to learn how to shave well with a straight. as to sharpening a knife not so tough, never heard a dead deer or a tomato complaining about the edge being rough. i used to think it was the same but no.. as to just needing something to sharpen, must be a lonely life if thats what your looking forward to. enjoy the hole, some fall into it, some dont, but its a great way to shave,

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Originally Posted by tcrideshd

frame of reference with a truly shave ready razor is how you will find out if yours are there, but first you need to learn how to shave well with a straight. as to sharpening a knife not so tough, never heard a dead deer or a tomato complaining about the edge being rough. i used to think it was the same but no.. as to just needing something to sharpen, must be a lonely life if thats what your looking forward to. enjoy the hole, some fall into it, some dont, but its a great way to shave,

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No, I look forward to sharpening because its therapeutic. It's a moment of Zen simplicity. Honestly, for me, sharpening has a "slow things down and focus" effect, and I'm finding using a straight razor has something similar. Lonely? No. Frankly, if I could kick my two five year olds out of the house more often, I'd appreciate a few moments of loneliness. :)

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Originally Posted by tcrideshd

must be a lonely life if thats what your looking forward to.,

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Hey, I resemble that remark :)

Welcome to the forum.

Hello and welcome to SRP.
Enjoy your time here on the forum and have fun.

Pete <:-}

Hi, and welcome to the Forum, you are going to fit in nicely. Make yourself at home.