Thread: Japanese Razors

Originally Posted by prhomme

OOPS -- I meant to learn the proper way to hone it while shaving, not honing.

While I wouldn't hone the razor while shaving...I see what you mean

As far as grips...experiment. Sometimes I hold it like I would a pencil, sometimes other ways with the blade off either side. Pretty much any way you can think to hold it securely should be ok.

It would seem to me the real reason you should shave with the concave side towards your face is that the grind on these razors is more like the tip of a chisel. One side is flatter than the other.


Now then, if you have ever used a chisel, you will know that there is a definite difference in which side you use. if you have the angled side towards the workpiece, and the flat side away from it, the chisel glides along and removes a thin section of wood. If you flip it over, the geometry causes the chisel to no longer glide along the workpiece, but rather to dig into it, unless you can reduce the angle to very flat to the work surface.

So, I think this is why it is recommended to keep the concave side towards your face.