Thread: Hi. I'm new to this

Hi TC. Thanks for your advice, but help me here, how does sending my razor away to be honed help me to learn how to hone? Maybe I'm missing something or didn't grasp your reply.

Iv'e been shaving straights for about 6 months so I realise my technique is improving day by day - I shave every day. I have 4 straights to choose from, so I practise honing on the A and N

the idea is that you cannot learn both at the same time, because if you don't know what shave ready feels like , you don't have anything to gage against when honing what the razor should feel like, also , when you get the newly honed razor back and shave with it, you would then know what a shave should feel like unless you killed your edge stropping.

Originally Posted by StuBru

Hi TC. Thanks for your advice, but help me here, how does sending my razor away to be honed help me to learn how to hone? Maybe I'm missing something or didn't grasp your reply.

Iv'e been shaving straights for about 6 months so I realise my technique is improving day by day - I shave every day. I have 4 straights to choose from, so I practise honing on the A and N

If your razor comes back shave ready you should not strop it, it is shave ready.

If your edge is shave ready all you are learning is shaving, one less variable.
Once your shaving technique is good, you learn to hone again less variables.

There are quite a few members here and many have tried both and found a very long learning curve.
There is good advice here often, all you have to do is accept it.

Listen to what these guys are telling you. It really does make a difference if you know what a keen edge feels like. It was not until I shaved with a truly "shave-ready" blade that I understood what was being discussed. Then, when you look at it under the loupe and see what it is supposed to look like, the process will be easier for you to understand and reproduce.

I managed a shave ready blade the first time I tried to sharpen a blade because I knew what to look for in terms of what the bevel should look like. Once I got to that point, the rest was straight forward. But trying to finish an edge without the bevel is like skating with your guards still on. You can do it, but it isn't going to be pretty.

Originally Posted by RezDog

There is good advice here often, all you have to do is accept it.

I get that, and I really do appreciate the advice. BUT, there is no harm in trying to understand why some one says something, rather than simply taking it on face value. Wouldn't you agree?

In any case, as I said originally, my Wedge and DOVO, incidentally,were professionally honed, so I know what shave ready feels like. I followed the "blade flexing" advice last night, went back to the 1k and finished on a pyramid 3k/8k and the A and N now shaves comparable to the Wedge so all is good.

Thanks for all of the comments and advice.

never said anything about it helping your honing skills, which if that's what you in this for ,, just asked if you even know how to shave yet, do you want to shave or hone ,, or both , but if you don't need advise that's cool , but learning to hone before you can even maintain with a strop ,, well that's all I asked , tc

Hi TC, don't get me wrong. I VALUE your advice and indeed, welcome it. I am learning shave technique and I'm much improved. I also have an old razor that I love the look of and want it to be as good to shave with as the professionally honed razors that I use. Therefore I also need to learn how to hone. I think learning new skills is some thing to be valued so any help I can get along the way is much appreciated. Sometimes though my inquisitive nature wont allow me to accept advice on face value, no matter how good or well meant it is. This does not, of course , devalue the advice or the manner in which it is freely given. So, once again, a big "thank you" to you and the other learned members who have freely offered their advice. I appreciate it.

stubru,
1- can you maintain a straight with a strop ?
if yes,
2- Are you trying to hone , shave , or both
if both ,
the answer to question 1 should be yes, if not than you need to learn that first
if the answer to question 1 is yes, than Do you know how to shave with a straight? if the answer is no , than you should learn that before trying to hone one.
if the answer is yes, than continue on to learning how to hone.
I have reiterated the process and general guidelines on shaving and honing
it's greate that you want to learn it, just realize that trying to learn it all at once is not the best way to do it, it will take way to long.

whoever
1. yes
2. Hone
3 lost count. lol
I can shave 3 pass, BBM smooth. No cuts. No razor burn.
All Im trying to do is get an old razor a sharp as my professionally honed blades, which I achieved last night. Thanks to the advice from forum members.