Thread: Getting It Razor Sharp??

You also state you are a newcomer to straight razors, I'm going to say your technique maybe as much to blame as your razor, but still as a few of the guys say get the razor professionally honed then you have a definite benchmark so you know for a fact you have a shave ready razor to start with.

My knives all pop arm hair but a shave ready razor edge they are not

I'm new to straight shaving aswell (3 months in and loving it). Without a shadow of a doubt the single best thing I did when I started was buy a quality SHAVE READY razor from a reputable vendor (invisible edge in the UK).

I have grown up making bits of metal sharp and sharpened hundreds of knives in all shapes and sizes BUT the edge on a truly shave ready razor was an eye opener.

I have since honed a few razors myself off ebay and had comfortable shaves off all of them. However without that first pro honed razor as a reference there is no way that would be possible. I may well have been able to get a shave from them but I highly doubt it would have been a pleasant experience and more than likely would have been the end of straight razor shaving for me without ever knowing what it should feel like.

Honestly get a quality blade and have it honed by a pro. Your perception of sharp is not shave ready sharp. If it's the only time you ever get a pro to do an edge then fine but you need to know what it is you are trying to achieve Personally I doubt I will ever send a razor out again, I enjoy honing and I'm happy with the results I'm getting but it wouldn't be possible without that first razor as a reference.

I could shave my arms with my kitchen knife using no pressure. That is just a set bevel on a razor and shave ready is a whole lot more than that. Send the razor out to a pro and you will have a benchmark to compare to in the future and have eliminated the razor as a variable. Good luck

If the razor is almost there I would pick up a barbers hone from eBay and touch the edge up, this is what they were designed for. After that strop it and give it a whirl.
I have a double duck barbers hone and this is exactly what I use it for.