Thread: Beginer

Hello All,

Im a beginner in southern California. I look forward within this group can help and show me how to sharpen straight razors and knives.

Still at the same point you were in 2014?

https://sharprazorpalace.com/member-...ml#post1401977

Bob

I got some amazing straight razors because of this forum good dudes on here. IM trying to learn how to sharpen now. I got a stone that on one side is 1000 on the other its 6000. just need help in learning and techniques.

Welcome.

Welcome back. Look for the 1K challenge threads.

Originally Posted by sergiov909

I got some amazing straight razors because of this forum good dudes on here. IM trying to learn how to sharpen now. I got a stone that on one side is 1000 on the other its 6000. just need help in learning and techniques.

So have you been shaving with straight razors for the past 6 years?

First things first.

Step one. Buy a no BS shave ready razor and a decent strop. Don't buy from just anyone who says their razor is shave ready, on ebay or other online sales and auction sites. The majority don't have a clue because they do not shave with a straight razor. Stay within the community and you will get the real thing. Develop your shaving skills first. Why? So you know a shave ready edge when you get one. and know when you don't have one. There are several sharpness tests, but the most important is the shave test. But you can't evaluate the edge by shaving with it until you are reasonably competent at shaving. That includes stropping, too. You will be stropping before every shave. You will likely destroy your first strop, so get an expendable one. Figure on spending probably $30 to $50 for your learner strop. There are cheaper strops and "strop shaped objects", but the majority are pretty much useless. Upgrade to a nicer one later, after you have made your newbie mistakes on your sacrificial learner strop.

Step two. Buy a second shave ready razor. You will need it during the next step.

Step three. Attempt to refresh the edge on the first one, when it gets dull through normal use. It may take you a while, so you want that second razor to shave with. All you need is a finisher for refreshing the edge, and a chosen guru or teacher or mentor or popular and effective style of honing to follow to the letter. Typically a finisher is a synthetic 12k stone like the Naniwa SuperStone or 1u (one micron) lapping film. Your King combo won't do, for that. I won't write a book here on honing... you will have to study for a few months reading all the threads. When you can refresh your edge, you can keep your razors going without sending them away for honing.

Step four. Learn to set the bevel and run a full progression to the finisher. Touching up the edge is your gateway drug to honing from scratch. Learn that first, then learn all the rest. When you can do edge repair and set the bevel and run a progression, you should be able to pick up average ebay beaters and make them shave.

Step five. Go deeper into it. Learn about naturals, and about pasted balsa. Learn to hone wedges. Learn to do light regrinding. Get more experience. Try different techniques. Pass on your edges for others to critique or enjoy. Teach others what you know.

Honing can't be explained in a single post. You will have to do your homework. Read on this forum, and others, and watch youtube videos. Pick a style of honing and FOLLOW IT. Don't try to lead off in your own direction until you have a clue. Pick a path and do not stray from it. Do not freestyle or mix and match techniques or leave out stuff or change stuff. Don't try for a second to be smarter than the guys who have been doing it successfully for years and years. Pick one style, and get all the things that you need to hone in that style. FOLLOW DIRECTIONS, if you can find any that are given. If you try to do your own thing, you will fail. Stay on a well traveled path for quickest and easiest, maybe cheapest, success. If you cannot follow instructions then nobody here can really help you.

hello all

My great grandfather collected razors that have been stored in a plastic bin for the last 20 to 30years. I just stared to tackling this project of 1) cleaning 2) categorizing all the makers 3) selling a good portion of the razors.
My grandfather collected over 400 razors all in varies conditions and the vast majority of the razors are 120 to 200 years old just with the brief research that I did. so I can't wait for all the help that I will need in learning the world of Straight Razor life

Crossfitboy...
It wod be best if you started your own thread. This being a forum and all.

Would be happy to see your collection. Go to the beginners section and say hello. Welcome BTW.

thank you and can't wait to show what i have.

Welcome back. There's an excellent thread I believe is called first try at honing that would be very helpful for you. I also recommend checking out Gssixgun on YouTube for easy to follow honing videos. Getting a decent loupe to be able to see the edge is also a great idea