Thread: Ruined my first razor.

I have found that both honing and restoring razors is a continual learning experience. We learn from our mistakes and are better for it. Taking an old unloved razor and giving it new life is very rewarding. This is a wonderful hobby for sure. Remember, there is always someone here happy to pass on their knowledge and experience when needed. Have fun.

Originally Posted by Tathra11

I have found that both honing and restoring razors is a continual learning experience. We learn from our mistakes and are better for it. Taking an old unloved razor and giving it new life is very rewarding. This is a wonderful hobby for sure. Remember, there is always someone here happy to pass on their knowledge and experience when needed. Have fun.

Thanks very much!

If you have any antique stores around you, that's a good place to look for razors every so often.

Leave your name and number with someone at the counter, with what your interested in. If something comes in, they'll contact you.

I've bought hundreds of razors for $20 or less. Flea market's are other good places for hunting, too. Don't forget to ask the guy selling the cheap, Chinese knives. He might have a few under his table. Even found a seven day set at a yard sale, once.

All kinds of avenue's for collecting on the cheap, for the purpose of learning to restore and build your collection.

Then you'll have to come up with a storage solution for all your razors.

Sometimes ya gotta mess around to find out ya know. I think getting a few cheap 5/8's razors with good steel would be a real good option for learning to hone. I didn't have the patience to read through every comment this morning, but you really shouldn't ever need a stone coarser than 600/800. As you've found out it's real easy to remove a lot of metal quickly without really realizing it. So I'd recommend finding a few razors that don't need so much work and go from there.

Originally Posted by yondermountain91

Sometimes ya gotta mess around to find out ya know. I think getting a few cheap 5/8's razors with good steel would be a real good option for learning to hone. I didn't have the patience to read through every comment this morning, but you really shouldn't ever need a stone coarser than 600/800. As you've found out it's real easy to remove a lot of metal quickly without really realizing it. So I'd recommend finding a few razors that don't need so much work and go from there.

Totally agree. In fact, the lowest grit stone I own is a 320 Atoma diamond that I use as a nagura and to reshape badly chipped blades and any that require stabilizer adjustment. For setting a bevel, I seldom go below my Sharpton 1500.

I have a 1k Chosera and if i want a bit more muscle than even the brown slurry beast, I find my 1K Norton to be about all i need for now.

As you can see CleanShaven a 220/320 grit really isn't necessary at all. My progression is Atoma 600, Shapton 1500, 5000, 8000. Then to a finisher, most likely a Jnat in my case. It should be noted that for my everyday razors that are maintained, I seldom go below my 5k stone, as I feel It does any correction needed at that level. However it could be debated that going lower to your bevel setter is beneficial, instead of 5k. The point I'm trying to make here is that in very rare cases do I go below 1.5k for razors.
-Laramie-

One thing not mentioned so far is if you are honing or trying to hone dont spend more than an hour on the same blade. Put it down and try again another day. Spending excessive time on one razor can make you do things you shouldn't. So pick up a different razor if you want to keep honing. It will help you keep your head and thoughts in a better place.

Originally Posted by yondermountain91

Sometimes ya gotta mess around to find out ya know. I think getting a few cheap 5/8's razors with good steel would be a real good option for learning to hone. I didn't have the patience to read through every comment this morning, but you really shouldn't ever need a stone coarser than 600/800. As you've found out it's real easy to remove a lot of metal quickly without really realizing it. So I'd recommend finding a few razors that don't need so much work and go from there.

Upon introspective reflection I remembered this and will take your advice and just get a 600 grit. Just felt like I needed a 220 because the geometry was so heel heavy on this razor I wished I had something that would just eat up what metal needed to be taken off without much work. At the rate I was going the 1000 grit was still going to take many hours. Did not help it required even more work than originally needed because the gentleman or previous owners who "restored" or "sharpened" it grinded the toe of the spine on that same side right where it need the metal/thickness of the spine the most to be more geometrically symmetrical.

Originally Posted by Gasman

One thing not mentioned so far is if you are honing or trying to hone dont spend more than an hour on the same blade. Put it down and try again another day. Spending excessive time on one razor can make you do things you shouldn't. So pick up a different razor if you want to keep honing. It will help you keep your head and thoughts in a better place.

YUP 100% lol