Considering st8s...questions....

[tob1303]

I recently found out my great grandfather (and my namesake) still has a straight razor left over somewhere...and I will acqire it soon. Now, I could just let this sit and be a nice showcase piece and a nice connection to my great grandfather (who's pocketwatch I own). Or, I could learn to use it, keep it in great shape and have a special connection....gliding the very razor my great grandfather did against his face, against mine....seems like a great idea.

However, I don't know much about caring for it and don't wish to endure too much work, or too much expense...so I have questions.

I have read the tutorials above and understand the physical aspects of what to do with the hone, lapping the hone, stops and stropping...etc (wonderful explanations btw). However, I think I'm missing some of the things considered too obvious or so well known they were not required in the tutorials (or I just missed them)...so please, cure my incredible ignorance.

1- If not damaged (and assuming maybe once a week use, or someone could say how many uses needed before a new honing is required), how often does a razor need to be honed?
2- If not damaged, how often does a hone need to be lapped/flattened (lets assume a norton 4000/8000)?
3- How often must a razor be stropped (I figure before each shave, but just to be sure)?
4- If not damaged, how often does a hone need to be replaced (most important question)?
5- How often must a strop be cared for? and how?
6- How often does a strop need to be replaced?

Thank you in advance.

 

[Chimensch]

I bought my first razor new in 1980. It was not shave ready and ripped up my face. I bought a Swaty barbers hone, which solved the problem. That razor was never "honed" again for 29 years.

So, have your razor professionally honed the first time and then get a barbers hone or a coticule and that is all you will probably ever need unless something catastrophic happens.

You need to strop before every shave. A strop will last a lifetime. I am still using the first strop I bought in 1980.

 

[tob1303]

Wait, you had your razor honed one time in 30 years?

anybody else got answers?

 

[mark3d]

If you get a strop that has sharpening paste on the back, such as Kenrup's Filly Strop, you can do 10 laps on that to bring the edge back. I've done that maybe 3 times in about 40 shaves with my main razor. I don't know when (or if) I will need a hone..!

don't let the prospect of having to hone slow you down in starting straights, that's what I'm trying to say

.

 

[Chimensch]

Wait, you had your razor honed one time in 30 years?

anybody else got answers?

If you touch up your razor frequently, at least every couple of weeks, it shouldn't ever need to go to lower grit hones again. Unfortunately, there is a sort of honing "machismo" (more on the other forum than here) that tries to make honing sound difficult and complicated. Those of us "from the day" know differently.

 

[Luc]

The barber hone is perfect to maintain an edge. I have one, didn't use it much as my straights aren't getting dull quickly.

However, I did hone one straight and the edge is now as sharp as it was.

The strop is a must. If I can't bring back the edge, I would consider having a honemeister fixing it for me.

Depending on the condition of the razor, you might want to do that so it's ready and you start learning with something truely shave ready.

If you can't wait, get a cheap shave ready straight on BST and a strop!

 

[tob1303]

I appreciate the answers guys...the impression I'm getting is honing is something that only happens every so often, possibly anywhere from 2-3 times a year to once every couple of years....seem right?

Stropping seems easy, and can be done each time.

I don't know what it means to have a strop with a sharpening paste on one side....I don't quite understand how that's possible? I don't really know anything about it.

Is a hone a forever thing as long as it's not damaged?

Please, all the questions in the original post are important...if somebody could answer the rest that would be very helpful.

Thank you again.

 

[mdunn]

1- If not damaged (and assuming maybe once a week use, or someone could say how many uses needed before a new honing is required), how often does a razor need to be honed?

It will want a touchup every few months, with regular use (though thats only a couple of laps on a high grit hone, not full honing like you see people do)

2- If not damaged, how often does a hone need to be lapped/flattened (lets assume a norton 4000/8000)?

I would lap it after each use, that way its only a little bit of work each time, and you know its nice and flat for next time you want it

3- How often must a razor be stropped (I figure before each shave, but just to be sure)?

yep, before each shave (I do 20 on linen, then 60 on leather)

4- If not damaged, how often does a hone need to be replaced (most important question)?

never (unless you lap right though it, which would be insane)

5- How often must a strop be cared for? and how?

strops (over many years) can dry out, but a little bit of neatsfoot oil can bring them back. Generally though, just leave them hanging around and theyre fine

6- How often does a strop need to be replaced?

if its not damages - never

 

[Chimensch]

I appreciate the answers guys...the impression I'm getting is honing is something that only happens every so often, possibly anywhere from 2-3 times a year to once every couple of years....seem right?

Stropping seems easy, and can be done each time.

I don't know what it means to have a strop with a sharpening paste on one side....I don't quite understand how that's possible? I don't really know anything about it.

Is a hone a forever thing as long as it's not damaged?

Please, all the questions in the original post are important...if somebody could answer the rest that would be very helpful.

Thank you again.

It's a little mind-boggling at first, but straight razors, strops and hones last almost forever. If you take care of them, they can easily last several generations. My Swaty barbers hone, for example, is as good as the day it was bought, except that I dropped it a couple of times, so it's a little chipped.

There are different kinds of abrasive pastes available, chromium oxide, diamond, etc., that get rubbed on the back of a strop or a piece of balsa. Using pastes rounds the bevel and causes you to need to hone more often. That's why I don't use them. If you adopt straight shaving as your hobby, you may find yourself embarking on a quest for the "perfect edge" and a 10-12 hour BBS. Then, you may want to get involved in all the other exotic stuff. But if your goal is to have a great shave in the morning, 1 razor, a barbers hone or coticule and strop is all you will ever need, forever.

From your answer, it's obvious that you think I'm exagerating when I tell you how easy it is. That's unfortunate.

 

[Frowzy]

Hey tob. Do it. It's so fun. The history aspect is awesome. The products last forever and the selection isn't as complicated as you think. The learning curve also isn't, in my experience, as steep as many make it out to be. I was getting DFS in a week.

Ymmv.

If you're thinking about it it's already too late anyway.

 

[Go West Young Man]

Don't even worry about honing at this point, just have it professionally done before you start using the razor, and every few months after that until you get a good feel for straight shaving.

Best tip anyone can give here is to start learning proper face prep and how to use a brush and proper cream/soap to create a lather right now. It's not hard, but there's a learning curve involved and you'd rather not be experimenting with that AND with the straight at the same time. Bonus is that your shaves right now will improve immensely, no matter what kind of blade or cartidge you're using.

 

[tob1303]

Thanks for your answers fellas.

I think I'll wait for my grandpa's razor, honemeister it, and see if I like the process.