Results 1 to 8 of 8
  1. #1
    Housebound Bum ! ianp1966's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Chesterfield UK
    Posts
    413
    Thanked: 104

    Default Getting better at it now i think !

    Well i've been straight razor shaving for the best part of this year, to the best of my recollection, during this time i've beeen attempting to hone my own razors too.
    Well finally today i think i've managed to get a comfortable head and beard shave without any problems what so ever
    My weapon of choice was a John C Co-ckhill Celebrated Sheffield 6/8 1/2 hollow (i'd guess its not quite a wedge).
    I have tried over and over again to get this razor sharp from heal to toe, and it wasn't until i kept using a marker pen to keep track of my stroke, that i finally got it somewhere near sharp.
    The next step in further honing the edge was the use of my home made paddle strop using 4mm hide treated with neatsfoot oil with quite a bit of draw to it , my chrome oxide and 1/4 micron diamond felt strops helped no end too.

    I've no doubt got quite some way to go before i can get consistent results but i'm really quite pleased with the improvements i've made these past few weeks

    thanks

    ian

  2. #2
    They call me Mr Bear. Stubear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Alton, UK
    Posts
    5,715
    Thanked: 1683
    Blog Entries
    3

    Default

    Congrats!

    Glad you're enjoying it..!

  3. #3
    Housebound Bum ! ianp1966's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Chesterfield UK
    Posts
    413
    Thanked: 104

    Default

    Cheers Stu

    It took quite some time before i found a method that worked well for me.
    I also stand up and hold the stone, 8k and 12k, whilst finishing i just cannot hone one handed sat down my hand shakes too much.

    ian

  4. #4
    They call me Mr Bear. Stubear's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2009
    Location
    Alton, UK
    Posts
    5,715
    Thanked: 1683
    Blog Entries
    3

    Default

    I hone holding the stones, it just seems to work best for me. I tried having the stone on a table, but I didnt like it as much. YMMV of course...!

  5. #5
    < Banned User >
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Posts
    206
    Thanked: 23

    Default

    Well done and keep at it. Despite the impression you might get from reading some of the posts here and on other sites, shaving with and honing a straight razor are really just mechanical skills that anyone with normal levels of coordination and manual dexterity can master. Don't be intimidated by all the talk, just go with what seems natural and works for you.

  6. #6
    Housebound Bum ! ianp1966's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2010
    Location
    Chesterfield UK
    Posts
    413
    Thanked: 104

    Default

    Thanks ! it seems that some people just pick up the hones, get on with it, and in no time at all have honed their first razor. Well for me i thought that many times before that i had managed to get a shave ready razor but was no where near.
    My razor doesn't pass the HHT but i still got a single pass shave with no irritation, and i didn't get that with my other razors all the time, shaving my head is getting easier and i think that now i could do it with my eyes shut, which is good, because you can't see the back of your own head that easily



    ian

  7. #7
    < Banned User >
    Join Date
    Apr 2010
    Posts
    206
    Thanked: 23

    Default

    The HHT is a perfect example of what I am talking about. It's a neat parlor trick and can be very effective at impressing your neighbors and party guests. It really says nothing about how well the razor will shave, however. In fact, I can pretty much make any reasonably sharp tool either pass or fail this test at will (I told you it was a trick). I can also bend spoons with my mind (or at least make the gullible think that's what I did).

  8. #8
    Predictably Unpredictiable Mvcrash's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jan 2010
    Location
    Northern NJ
    Posts
    3,588
    Thanked: 1487

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by MasterRolf View Post
    The HHT is a perfect example of what I am talking about. It's a neat parlor trick and can be very effective at impressing your neighbors and party guests. It really says nothing about how well the razor will shave, however. In fact, I can pretty much make any reasonably sharp tool either pass or fail this test at will (I told you it was a trick). I can also bend spoons with my mind (or at least make the gullible think that's what I did).
    A true Jedi Master can shave without touching the razor!!
    “Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I'm not sure about the universe.”
    Albert Einstein

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •