Thread: please help

. . . And doing it properly and typing "use it properly" are worlds apart.

i would sugesst a 8k hone at least most guys that have practice honing say that you can shave off a 8k hone and be smooth as can be. so an 8k and then a 12k if you like would be a good idea but i would first recommend you send out your razor to be honed by someone with some experiance so you know its sharp while you learn to use it then you can learn to keep it sharp with eather the 12k or a barber's hone.

Forgive me, but I have a real problem with this. The razor you purchased from Ebay is a vintage razor and the only hone that has touched it is a 6k? If thats the case then you have missed step #1. Getting rid of the old oxidized edge and establishing a new bevel. That has to occur at the 1000 grit level before it touches either a 4K or a 6K or 8K.

Send it out to a pro for a professional honing. Look in the SRP Classified Ads under Member Services for guys who are offering this service. Your face will thank you.

When i first received it i did step one, my water stone is a 1000/6000 combination so i honed it with the 1000 before i hit it with the 6k. And to AFDavis11, what i was trying to say is if i got a 12k stone and did not make a mistake in the honing process, would i have the proper equipment to get a good edge on my razor.

A professional honing is a better option, but yes, you'd have all the correct equipment then. Don't let yourself get frustrated though if it doesn't come easy. It takes practice to learn how to hone as well as knowledge.

Originally Posted by AK49

Hi, i am new to straight razors and recently purchased an old westor bros razor. I honed it with a 6000 grit water stone in an x pattern and stropped it with a felt and leather strop. It no doubt cuts hair but when i try the hanging hair test it takes an effort to cut the hair as compared to my dads newer straight razor. My question is am i i doing something wrong or do old razors not get as as sharp as newer razors. Any help would be greatly appreciated.

The cleanest answer is to spend about $20 bucks plus shipping and have someone hone
it for you. Look for honing services in the classified section that you will find
near the top of this page.

This will do a couple things one of which is get you a shave ready razor.
The more critical one is that the bevel will have been set well. With a
well set bevel, maintaining an edge is a lot easier.

Most honemasters lightly oil the razors after they hone them so do not expect it to pass
the HHT when you get it back. You simply lather well, rinse it under hot
tap water and shave (no stropping, that will have been done too).

Note well, the HHT is fickle and unreliable. The only test that maters is
the shave test with your face.

I like my edges honed to 8K and finer. If you have a good 6K hone
it may be sane to pick up a 10K or 12K hone like a Naniwa Super Stone
and if needed something to keep both flat like a largish DMT plate.

And regularjoe said it well: "Sweet! An old razor will get just as sharp as a new razor."

Well my 2 cents, send it off and almost get a baseline. learn to shave decent, that will take a couple few months in itself. send it off again. Shave with it, see what a good edge is like. then learn to hone. You have eliminated shaving skill and a bad edge to compare your honing too.

I literally used a factory edge new dovo for months. Just lately I have gotten really comfy with my shaving technique. And most importantly, my shaves are consistent. Now I have begun to hone. Is my hone job better than the factory? I cant answer that as I didnt know how to shave when it was a pure factory edge. does my edge provide a decent shave? I cant answer that either, my face is steel. I learned with a DE, & canned cream. WTG followed by ATG. Dropped the canned cream. Dropped the WTG pass unless I had some serious buildup. Water at ATG every other day for 15 years, never a bit o burn or discomfort.

Oh, I have not yet managed to pass the HHT. does that say anything, no. I have some super fine & strong hair on my head. from what I have learned my hair may be uncooperative for the HHT. holding it taunt between 4 four fingers and it needs some pressure to cut. Heck the razor cuts my facial hair easier than a hair from my head :/

So reduce your variables, pay for the honing a couple times from the more highly regarded honemeisters here. It will be well worth it when you come to learn to hone.

While I could recommend stones and refer you to all kinds of writeups and instructionals on the Wiki... it's not going to work for you, since you don't really know how to use the razor. When everything is said and done, all the tests in the world won't tell you how the blade will shave; for that you must shave with it.

I'll add my +1 to the kind brothers that suggested $20 for a honing is a far better investment than $200 for new hones. And get a good strop. Still way under $200.

Best of luck.


Marcos

PS: BMX's may just be part porcupine. On the bright side, he may not need a helmet when riding.

finishing with an 8k then 12k sounds like a fix to the problem to me hope you figure it out

Thanks for the help, i will send in my razor to get professionally honed. Then i will get to know how to use and handle a sharp razor. From their i will learn how to hone.