Thread: Question about Japanese razors

I posted this earlier at B&B.

I've started using my Feather AC-DX with better results each day.

Now, my SRAD is pushing me in the direction of traditional Japanese straights.

My concerns are all maintenance based. Please excuse my newbie questions if they are dumb:

1. Are there any honemeisters here (easily accessible through the forum) that are familiar with sharpening these blades traditionally?

2. Anyone here who could restore a vintage Japanese razor?

3. What is the daily maintenance necessary, and how does it differ from western razors?

Thanks,

I wonder if thebigspendur will copy paste his post from B&B...

I do think what he said over there is probably the best advice.

+1 to bigspendurs advice.

You can start your journey into the world of jstr8s, just enter japanese straight razor into the SRP search engine and you will get a weeks worth of reading. When you get though it all, you will be able to answer these questions for yourself. You are off to a better start than me though, I purchased my first Jstr8, then started to ask questions, I found out that I had wasted my money on it. It was a frankenrazor with tons of hone wear, it was no longer an asymetrical grind but a normal wedge. Thebigspendur, Kevint, JimR, Old_School, and Sired8 are some of the members that if you search for posts by them you will learn what you need to know. Good luck.

Deja vu.

As I said do your research and decide if you want to invest the time to learn how to use one. There are a few guys here who do use them all the time. Most use them on and off. To purchase a new one will be an expensive purchase especially if you wind up rarely using it. To buy a used one needing resoration work? I know in the flea markets in Tokyo on weekends you can pick them up but most are in abysmal shape and restoration can be difficult for the uninitiated.

Right now I have a pass around going on for one I restored if your interested PM me or go the the thread on want to try a Kamisori.

Thank you everyone for the input.
I will wait for the traveling kamisori and try it out.
I'm pretty sure I'll love it, which will be unfortunate for my AD.