Thread: My first traditional straight razor

I'm with you BeJay.
And a violin is just a box with strings on it.

Originally Posted by GeoID

I might get flak for this...

You just have to practice. I mean, hone that sucker. Try it on your face. Learn what a tug feels like. Learn what a cut feels like. Put it back on the stones, give it more attention, then try again. Sounds like you watch a lot of tutorials— thats great. Soon enough, your hone job will give a smooth shave.

Sure, it might be worth having a honemeister tune it for you first, just so you “know what it feels like.” But most of us aren’t honemeisters and don’t want to send razors across the country every week. You have to be capable and satisfied with your hones if you plan on getting into this hobby as a collector.

For me, a shave is a shave. I use 400, 800, and 1500 grit sandpaper, stripped, mounted, and loaded with steel to simulate higher grits. My razors pop hair and shave close. But they won’t split a hanging hair— becuase they don’t need to. The time isnt worth it to me. Most razors are high enough quality to hone and shave. You will find a plethora of members who have honed and shaved with the chinese gold dollar and pakistani blades (me included). There is a big margin between shaveable and what honemeisters achieve.

There are two classes of SR collectors— those who chase the “perfect shave,” and those who are in it for the history. Both have smooth faces.

Don’t let anyone make you take this too seriously. It should be fun, and -anyone- can hone.


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Your sandpaper idea sounds intriguing to say the least, tell me more.
Anyone can hone, it is true. Some pick it up fast, some don't.

Part of the problem is choice of razor, and I have seen a bunch of new members buy first and ask questions later. They get discouraged and are only here for a short time.

The trouble with the likes of these cheap razors on ebay and similar sites is the majority of them won't take or keep an edge. The reviews for that razor on Amazon are on average not bad, a bit hit and miss. Much like a gold dollar. That is why I suggested trying it on the cheek.

$20 is a cheap razor,but not if it won't shave you. All of a sudden it is an expensive letter opener. There are often good beginner razors in the classifieds here between $20 and $50 that are shave ready.

"There are two classes of SR collectors— those who chase the “perfect shave,” and those who are in it for the history. Both have smooth faces.".........

If anyone is sending their razor across the country every week to be honed, there is obviously a problem with their stropping technique.

I just finished shaving today. On my cheeks on the first pass I used my new razor. For the rest of the first, and entirety of second and third passes I used a safety razor. No blood was spilled and my cheeks are BBS. Here’s a picture.

Looks like you are off to a good start then. Keep going and see where you wind up.

Bob

Originally Posted by Grazor

Your sandpaper idea sounds intriguing to say the least, tell me more.
Anyone can hone, it is true. Some pick it up fast, some don't.

Part of the problem is choice of razor, and I have seen a bunch of new members buy first and ask questions later. They get discouraged and are only here for a short time.

The trouble with the likes of these cheap razors on ebay and similar sites is the majority of them won't take or keep an edge. The reviews for that razor on Amazon are on average not bad, a bit hit and miss. Much like a gold dollar. That is why I suggested trying it on the cheek.

$20 is a cheap razor,but not if it won't shave you. All of a sudden it is an expensive letter opener. There are often good beginner razors in the classifieds here between $20 and $50 that are shave ready.

"There are two classes of SR collectors— those who chase the “perfect shave,” and those who are in it for the history. Both have smooth faces.".........

If anyone is sending their razor across the country every week to be honed, there is obviously a problem with their stropping technique.

I can understand what you mean with the cheap amazon deal— it will be easier with a good quality used one from the forum. If he had more than one, this cheapo will still be great to practice honing strokes and such. If he can get this one sharp he can get anything sharp (If it is indeed cruddy).

By shipping across the country every week, I mean that some members have a new razor for the collection every week or two or three that they need honed. Its easier and cheaper to just take care of those yourself. In my opinion

The sandpaper idea is easy.

Depending on how much hone wear you are correcting, pick a grit, cut it out into the shape of a stone (longer, if you’d prefer), tape both ends taut over a piece of flat, hard, wood (edge of paper to edge of the wood), then go to town normally. Spine tape if you’d like. The X, circle, whatever stroke you like. Pressure and pressure balance still matters.

You might think you need to buy an expensive piece of 3000 grit, but 1500 grit will “load” with use. The steel shavings fill in the gritty pores and effectively raise it up to more like 6000 grit (I can see hard glare reflections in the steely paper). Takes 30 minutes max. Good hollows can be 10 min or less, easy.

Gotta find alternatives to ye olde belgian blue stones when in college.

Cheers

B


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Originally Posted by GeoID

I can understand what you mean with the cheap amazon deal— it will be easier with a good quality used one from the forum. If he had more than one, this cheapo will still be great to practice honing strokes and such. If he can get this one sharp he can get anything sharp (If it is indeed cruddy).

By shipping across the country every week, I mean that some members have a new razor for the collection every week or two or three that they need honed. Its easier and cheaper to just take care of those yourself. In my opinion

The sandpaper idea is easy.

Depending on how much hone wear you are correcting, pick a grit, cut it out into the shape of a stone (longer, if you’d prefer), tape both ends taut over a piece of flat, hard, wood (edge of paper to edge of the wood), then go to town normally. Spine tape if you’d like. The X, circle, whatever stroke you like. Pressure and pressure balance still matters.

You might think you need to buy an expensive piece of 3000 grit, but 1500 grit will “load” with use. The steel shavings fill in the gritty pores and effectively raise it up to more like 6000 grit (I can see hard glare reflections in the steely paper). Takes 30 minutes max. Good hollows can be 10 min or less, easy.

Gotta find alternatives to ye olde belgian blue stones when in college.

Cheers

B


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Well, you could splash out and get some lapping film. Glorified sandpaper, does a good job. No loading required...

Id be hesitant to use wet n dry sandpaper on my razors, it kicks out a lot of grit which could scratch a bevel.
Ive used wet n dry with kitchen knives and chisels loads of time but im not putting those on my fizzogg.
As grazor said lapping film is cheap and does the job admirably.