Thread: Do real straight razors get as sharp as a shavette?

“But sharp is not uncomfortable. A polished edge is a comfortable edge.”

I’m not sure about that…

A properly honed hollow ground razor, finished on 0.3um film and hundred laps on .50 &.125 CBN, will give you a laser straight, super polished and uncomfortable edge.

It is definitely, polished and straight edge…comfortable? No.

And then… there’s longevity.

Hand full of shaves vs…

And that is where a lot of new guy don’t get it.

It’s not about ultimate sharp. It’s about sharp enough to get you from A to B, with comfort and no weapers.

,,,,,,,not if Sharptonn hones it,,,,

Originally Posted by Hirlau

,,,,,,,not if Sharptonn hones it,,,,

Ha!.....................

Gotta do something to stoke the fire under this forum,,,,,,,,,,,,,

His ears are burning about now,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Originally Posted by Wodell0673

Hi all. This is my first post but have been browsing for a long time. Great info. I have been shaving with a shavette on and off for years. Just recently got my hands on a real straight razor seems to be sharp. Honed it on a carborundum 101a barber hone and stropped. Not an uncomfortable shave but not as smooth and as close as my shavette. Was wonder if they are just that different or does my blade still need work. Thanks got any info.

Just wondering what 'straight razor' you have acquired? Pics would be Great!

Also what strop are you using for your straight razor?

'Minor' things like this will help to be able to try to give you some guidance.

Sorry if photos are posted a little screwy its first time posting photos.

Ern's are typically nice shaving razors.

With that said, I believe that while you may have made it 'shaveable' it's potential hasn't been reached.

I'll 'hijack' this thread for just a bit.

Check this link out:

Straight Razor Place - The Saga of a Japanese Straight Razor's Long Journey Home From the Battle Field of Iwo Jima

With some serious stropping I was able to shave off of it!! 60+ years after it was last used and probably honed with the spit of the solider on the hone and stropped on his belt.

Was it a great shave? NO! Was it a decent shave? YES! Now there lies the difference!

I 'believe' that you may be getting 'decent' shaves with what you have to work with. With that said, you could be getting much better ones with that razor with a proper honing.

I have a favorite 'PRO HONER' PM me if you wish to know who he is. With that said, PM me for another option.

Welcome to an older but better way of shaving!

It's a long strange trip! But well worth the journey

Originally Posted by Euclid440

“But sharp is not uncomfortable. A polished edge is a comfortable edge.”

I’m not sure about that…

A properly honed hollow ground razor, finished on 0.3um film and hundred laps on .50 &.125 CBN, will give you a laser straight, super polished and uncomfortable edge.

It is definitely, polished and straight edge…comfortable? No.

Now is anyone suggesting anything that stupid? This must be the new trend here. When I first showed up on this site a few years ago all I heard was that you have to get a pro hones edge so you know what shave ready means. Been there done that and I'm getting those edges now myself. And yet in the last few weeks I've had to hear about how a decent edge is somehow automatically suggesting it to be harsh.

Originally Posted by OCDshaver

I can get an edge quite sharp. But sharp is not uncomfortable. A polished edge is a comfortable edge. An unpolished edge is not. Now I will say this, a very sharp edge is unforgiving to angle and pressure. If I don't watch my technique it could make for a bay rum inferno. But smooth it will be. yMMV.

Well said, just going through this thread, took me awhile getting to learn how to hone a razor for myself and get a nice edge. Glen's (gssixgun) remark that basically after the bevel is successfully set, the rest is just polishing the edge, that really clicked for me.

Your statement that I've bolded makes perfect sense to me now...well said.