Thread: Info on using a Japanese Razors

Hi,
I am new to SRP but have been lurking about for some time. I am hoping that there is someone here who can help me? However, I do have a small suspition I may be asking the impossible.

I am looking into buying a Japanese Razor and was wandering if anyone had seen any illustrations of someone actually having a shave with one. I would very much like to see a demonstration on video or even in book form for that matter. I say this as I am interested to see how an expert would use one.

I have read that you can use both sides of the blade but the concave side is more comfortable than the convex. If that is so, I would like to see how the blade is held to get all around the face.

Many Thanks

William

Using the Japanese razor the proper way is something that you really have to figure out for yourself. There are no manuals like the ones we see in using a western style razor. I'm sure there are some in Japanese but you would need to be fluent to find it and read it. It will depend on how comfortable you are using two hands and how ambidextrous you are. There are some moves that are quite challenging. I've been using one for a while now and still have problems doing a N-S motion on the right side of my neck,I'm left handed.

These razors are actually sharper than western razors because they are asymmetrical so if you use the convex side you are using a side that is less sharp. You can compensate by honing them equally but it still will never be the same. As I've said before if your going to learn to use one you should do it the correct way. To me its the same as someone learning to use a straight but never figuring out how to shave his neck so he finishes with a DE and does that forever.

so what is the correct way to hone the japanese styel razor? Should I have the edge and spine both in contact with the stone (like a western style razor) but concentrate on sharpening the 1 side? Also, Do I use a western style strop on this or is there a japanese style strop out there?

use a back and forth motion for 3 full strokes on the concave side, flip it over and use the same motion but for only 2 strokes
keep that ratio. it can be stropped normally but if using a pasted strop you'll need to use that ratio again. i think it's advisable to use a 12k stone though not necesarry if you have other stones to substiute like the coticules etc.

The only other thing I would add is to use considerable pressure on the razor as you hone and use two hands on the razor. A 12 K is the recommended medium but a Norton 8K/4K can be used as can a coticule or anything else for that matter just adjust your pressure and total number of strokes with the grit size. There is no special strop. Any will do. If you are honing an Iwasaki as opposed to a Tosuke you will find the iwasaki very challenging to hone as opposed to the Tosuke which hones up very quickly and easily. A Diamond pasted strop will hasten the Iwasaki.

so would you say a 12k kitayama would be a good investment sometime down the road?

FWIW the kitayama is actually 8000 grit but the action of breaking down the slurry provides results similar to a 12k stone. either way i don't think it would be a bad investment. i think it's what bigspendur uses.

Quite honestly if you have a coticule or intend on getting one you don't really need the Kitayama because they both do the same job though I think the coticule is superior with the proviso that if your talking using Japanese razors I think they prefer the Kitayama to the coticule but for western razors its the other way around in general. Of course if you just like stones its just another to add to your arsenal.

Originally Posted by edk442

use a back and forth motion for 3 full strokes on the concave side, flip it over and use the same motion but for only 2 strokes
keep that ratio. it can be stropped normally but if using a pasted strop you'll need to use that ratio again. i think it's advisable to use a 12k stone though not necesarry if you have other stones to substiute like the coticules etc.

when you say back and forth motion, are you saying:

edge trailing, edge leading x 3 concave
followed by
edge trailing, edge leading x 2 convex side?

that just seems a little bizarre to me so I wanted to check. Also, am I using the X pattern stroke like on a normal straight or am I going straight back and forth on the stone?

I obviously couldn't go edge leading on a pasted strop so I'm guessing

edge trailing x 3 concave
and
edge trailinig x 3 convex?

thats right, except for the pasted strop keeps the ratio (3 to 2). it seems counterintuitive to everything we know as a straight razor user and the brain just keeps telling you "this doesn't feel right". The blade edge is generally pretty short (less than 2") so unless you have a really narrow stone you should be able to use a straight back and forth motion.


FWIW i thought i'd clarify that there in no convex side on these razors. it's always bothered me when ppl say that. There are 2 concave sides with one side being shorter (width wise). ie: where one side might be 5/8 the other might be 4/8