Thread: Getting It Razor Sharp??

Hi guys

As some of you know I'm new to straight razors and Im having a few problems getting my razor sharp enough to shave with.


When I bought my razor it was already very sharp but not quite sharp enough to shave the hair on my arm ( no funny jokes i was only shaving my arm to test the razor...lol), so I gave it a good stropping (why does that always sound dirty) and it was a lot better but it still wasn't quite there, so I bought some DOVO red paste and stropped with that first and then on a plain stop and it now cleanly shaves the hairs on my arm but it pulls like mad if I try shave my face with it.


The strop I have is in two pieces, one piece is smooth leather on the outside (the side I've been doing my normal strop on) and raw leather on the other side, and the other piece is a sort of faux leather (i think) on the outside and a sort of thin fleece material on the other side (the side I've been applying the paste).

I'm thinking of buying one of those cheap woven canvas strops to see if it makes any difference with the paste.


Is there anything else I can do to get it razor sharp?

Buy a hone,,,,,,,,then use your paste & strop to maintain,,,,,JMO

Better still, have someone hone it for you unless you want to start out madly frustrated. I doubt your razor has much more than a bevel if at all. Strop ping won't help.

Send it out for professional honing so that the bevel is set right. Then you can maintain the edge easily with a Norton 4/8K stone and a strop. Also, practice stropping because newbies always dull their first razor learning to strop (I did too). Go slow across the stone and slow across the strop until you learn it. Have fun!

If the Dovo red paste improved the edge (it sounds like it did), you could keep using it, hoping to get the edge sharper.

. . . You'll know it's "shave-ready" when you can hold the edge 1/8" _above the skin_, and it'll catch and cut hair.

Or follow previous suggestions.

. Charles

Well I have to ask, what kind of razor is it. There is no point in sending it out f it isn't a quality razor. If it is a descent brand then sending out for a pro honing is the best next step.

Shaving arm hair is a ways off from shaving hair on you face. You may cut some hair but not without significant tugging pulling and the unpleasant discomfort of using a 10 day old schick. Send it out or get ready to learn to hone on stones.

Good luck

I agree with Hirlau and RezDog. You are going to have to either hone the razor yourself or get a professional to do it. However, a cheaply made razor will never take as good and edge, hold the edge, or feel smooth to shave with. When you get a really sharp razor you use almost no pressure and your razor will not pull you face. I sent an 7/8" Otto Busch "Worldmaster" to Maggard Razors for a rescale, polish and hone. Now, it is cuts through stubble like a knife through hot butter. No pull at all, I would describe it like putting a drop or two of olive oil on your finger and running it on a wet granite counter top.

Even if you want to hone you own razors (as I do), send one to a reputable professional so you get a good baseline to go by. Even factory Dovo's, Boker's, etc. are not as sharp as a pro gets them. I can get a razor plenty good for shaving, but a true master honor takes it to a different level. Have a blessed day.

Originally Posted by Inked666

Hi guys

As some of you know I'm new to straight razors and Im having a few problems getting my razor sharp enough to shave with.


When I bought my razor it was already very sharp but not quite sharp enough to shave the hair on my arm ( no funny jokes i was only shaving my arm to test the razor...lol), so I gave it a good stropping (why does that always sound dirty) and it was a lot better but it still wasn't quite there, so I bought some DOVO red paste and stropped with that first and then on a plain stop and it now cleanly shaves the hairs on my arm but it pulls like mad if I try shave my face with it.


The strop I have is in two pieces, one piece is smooth leather on the outside (the side I've been doing my normal strop on) and raw leather on the other side, and the other piece is a sort of faux leather (i think) on the outside and a sort of thin fleece material on the other side (the side I've been applying the paste).

I'm thinking of buying one of those cheap woven canvas strops to see if it makes any difference with the paste.


Is there anything else I can do to get it razor sharp?

It is equally possible that the razor was in fact adequately sharp but that the shaving technique was inadequate. I don't mention this as a put down but it is a common occurence for new shavers to blame their blades only to discover the shaves got better simply with practice rather than honing.

Originally Posted by Utopian

It is equally possible that the razor was in fact adequately sharp but that the shaving technique was inadequate.

This combined with less than adequate stropping skills