Thread: Tips for first Japanese Straight Razor (newbie needs a lot of help)

So I was gone for a week. My razor got in, it seems really sharp already but as it still needs to be honed a stropped I'll see where it goes.

I just bought a Spyderco UF and am waiting till tomorrow to buy a Tony Miller Strop. After I get those in I should be good to go as far as all of the hardware goes. I'll try and do some before and after shots of the razor when I have time.

I just got one of these- It is a lot smaller then I imagined as I have only seen it in picutures.
It is sharp but not HHT so I will strop it according to the method suggested here.
What I have not figured out is how to shave using only the concave side against my face. This seems really awkward as it promotes multiple different ways to hold the razor while shaving. Does anyone have a video of doing this or pictures of how to hold it on different sides and places on you face and neck as well as passing it WTG and ATG.
Thanks.
Headdoc

I imagine I will get ripped for saying this, but there is no benefit apparent to me in only shaving with the concave side. I can assure you that I've used two different Japanese SRs and neither was created problems for me using both sides.

Purists will say that the "correct" way to use a Japanese SR is to only use the concave side and I believe it--but if it doesn't hurt the blade or me to use both sides, then I'm willing to be less than a purist!

And I'll note that what's-his-name (let's use the Harry Potter naming convention) over at B&B says that Iwasaki said his razors were intended to be used with both sides--of course, his razors appear to have two concave sides, so that may explain that.

now ducking, Dan

Originally Posted by dcarmell

I imagine I will get ripped for saying this, but there is no benefit apparent to me in only shaving with the concave side. I can assure you that I've used two different Japanese SRs and neither was created problems for me using both sides.

Purists will say that the "correct" way to use a Japanese SR is to only use the concave side and I believe it--but if it doesn't hurt the blade or me to use both sides, then I'm willing to be less than a purist!

And I'll note that what's-his-name (let's use the Harry Potter naming convention) over at B&B says that Iwasaki said his razors were intended to be used with both sides--of course, his razors appear to have two concave sides, so that may explain that.

now ducking, Dan

No need to duck.

My wife would agree with you as a matter of fact. Everytime she uses one of my Wustoff Kitchen Knives to pry something up. So what if it has a slight bend in it it still cuts fine.

This is after all a YMMV type of thing and if you need to use both sides and you don't notice any difference no problem. The only thing to remember is that if you do decide to use both sides you don't have the bragging rights to say you have mastered the razor because you haven't. But if that is unimportant to you...then its unimportant.

As far as any videos the closest thing is a video someone did sometime ago using a Japanese style feather. If you do a search you will probably find it unless someone else knows of it.

because of the way the thing is made there really aren't too many options as far as holding the thing goes. On the iwasaki on the convex side there is a flat area on the heel portion which is a finger rest and one finger is supposed to go there either the thumb or index. I'm not sure which but I use the index. I don't recall if the Tosuke has the same and I'm too lazy to go check. If you shave both sides you don't have that option when you turn the blade around. Well yea you do but its very awkward feeling because you have to keep the finger on the inside which needs to be close to your face.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

My wife would agree with you as a matter of fact. Everytime she uses one of my Wustoff Kitchen Knives to pry something up. So what if it has a slight bend in it it still cuts fine.

I bought a friend a set of Henckels kitchen knives. When next I saw them, they were like your wife's. I wasn't too upset, especially since they were the low-end Henckels made in China, but the next Xmas, I bought her a set of the famous serrated Ginsu knives. And guess what? She likes them much better!

Unlike your wife, though, my use of the Japanese razors doesn't damage them or me, so the analogy breaks down a little. But I promise you I won't be saying I've mastered my Japanese SRs--or anything else I've learned a bit about here--for a long, long time. No question I'm a newbie!

Thanks also for your tips on honing these razors, very helpful!

Dan

We left handed folk find your right handed razors gauche.

-Bob

So I got the strop in as well I tried to hone it with the Spyderco UF and then strop it. Now I don't know if I did it wrong or anything but I definitely can't get it past the HHT. I did try shaving with it just as a trial, it worked ok... but not that great, not what I was expecting.

Being not used to just how sharp an edge is just by sight I'm guessing I need a coarser hone to work the edge and then finish it with the UF. So I bought the Spyderco M and F and it gets here on Tuesday so maybe that will work better...

On a side note I really like the Spyderco hone... it works really well... I've tried some of my kitchen knives on it and they are amazingly sharp with it, I'll probably try sharpening those down to a razor edge just for fun too

Don't start using a coarser hone with the Tosuke. That is not the answer. Be sure you are using considerable downward pressure as you hone. That is the key.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Don't start using a coarser hone with the Tosuke. That is not the answer. Be sure you are using considerable downward pressure as you hone. That is the key.

+1

Also applies to stropping.