Thread: Makes No Sense

Originally Posted by toolarts

1. I can't believe how helpful you folks are. I really appreciate your responses. I'm sure this has been asked before in many ways, yet I got instant responses with no criticism. Wonderful!

We are nice aren't we?

Originally Posted by toolarts

2. Why is this so much fun? My friends think I am nuts trying to learn to hone strop and use a straight razor, but I am having a blast.

You're not nuts, but you're weird. You'll fit in well here.

Originally Posted by toolarts

3. This will improve all my sharpening. Thanks again.

You're welcome.

X

Sorry you got duped by the "shave ready" claim most resellers falsely state. As far as I know there are only 3 new dealers offering shave ready razors, me, Jim at Vintage Blades and Classic Shaving. I only sell pre-honed razors, Jim offers them from stock either Lynn honed or not depending on your wants and Classic gives you the option of having Lynn hone them post sale.

Most other dealers are simply repeating what Dovo claims in their advertising and probably don't know shave ready from not.

As for sharpening I find having a previous sharpening background will either really help you, OR, really hurt you. Many will use too much pressure when first starting out. I certainly did and made plenty a butter knife from a near shave ready razor.

Looks like you are off to a better start now with the help from the guys here.

Take care,
Tony

I would like to add that Joe Chandler sells'em shave-ready, and I'm pretty sure that Robert Williams does too. Synce Lynn's selling the Mastro Livi razors, I'm sure they make amazing shavers. However, those are all customs.

After the other guys comments you probably don't need me to say this but I will anyway. using a 1.2K hone on a new razor and circular honing at that is enough to scare the willies out of any shaver. You undoubtedly destroyed the bevel. On a new razor unless it is really defective I would never recommend anything coarser than 8K and myself would only use 12K. It should only have needed the coticule type stone just to bring it to shave ready status.

My recommendation is to get yourself a few eboy specials and practice with the proper hones. Don't ruin anymore good razors or we will all start crying here.

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

I would like to add that Joe Chandler sells'em shave-ready, and I'm pretty sure that Robert Williams does too. Synce Lynn's selling the Mastro Livi razors, I'm sure they make amazing shavers. However, those are all customs.

Ilija,
Your are right and I forgot to mention the "customs". All of those are hand made and hhoned by their makers/sellers. I was commenting only on the commercially made brands, Dovo and TI.

John Crowley also offers honing on the new/NOS Wacker and Williams Custom razors he sells.

Tony

Okay, this morning I *think* I shaved.

I am still working with my Col. Conk Solingen Best Quality.

I have been honing it and honing it on my 4000 and 8000 grit stones.

The principle I think I was missing was holding the back of the razor hard against the stone at all times and tipping it up a little on the return stroke.

Kind of reminds me of using a willow branch powered lathe.

Anyway, I got to the point where the marks left by the razor on the stone showed me that the surface of the stone had flaws, so I used a 4000 grit stone to flatten the 8000 grit stone. This started showing me where my edge was not straight, so I went back to the 4000 and worked on it.

I also did the stropping correctly, i.e., never lifting the back of the razor from the strop. I did at least 100 strokes without nicking the strop--this is the real thing. It's always about technique.

Then I showered, lathered up with nice hot lather, and shaved. I cleaned it off, and NOTHING. Then I looked and realized I was using the wrong razor, the Dovo I got which I haven't worked on.

So, I re-lathered and took the Conk I have worked on so long, and scraped off all the lather. When I was finished, I definitely can see a difference. I didn't shave against the grain, but I had two days growth, and now it looks more like it did yesterday.

It hurt, and pulled, especially when I tried my chin and mustache, so I didn't push that, but it DID cut. So, I believe I can truly say the edge is better than it was when I bought it--but not quite there yet.

I'll keep working. My hope is to get to a point where scraping off the lather painlessly removes beard without making my face feel like a knee after a bicycle spill.

This kind of sharpening is definitely the next level compared to woodworking planes and chisels.