rbscebu
Girls call me Makaluod
Just wondering what percentage of SR shavers here now self-hone all their SRs.
Do you hone your own?
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Just compare my edges to a Feather artist club blade or a proline blade.
I usually get some tugging with artist club blades in areas with tough stubble. My straight razors usually do a little better it the edge is good.
I have two SRs and have recently started honing on a budget. Initially I tested and tried my honed 'edge' during a shave. Keeping a cart' or DE reading in reserve should I have to abandon using my SR because of lack of sharpness to finish the shave
But now after thoughtful experimentation I am winning, and can now hone to an acceptable level to complete a shave.
I've learnt a lot especially from rbscbeu and others on this Forum. My current honing gear is a King1000/6000, Cnat Adaee used with a small Jeweller's Tam O Shanter polishing stick purchaed off ebay to generate an ultra fine slurry (6000-10000 estimated grit). Followed by CrO, 0.25 and O.1 micron diamond pasted balsa strops and a a few laps on hanging leather so as not to round the precious 'edge.'
But now after thoughtful experimentation I am winning, and can now hone to an acceptable level to complete a shave.
I've learnt a lot especially from rbscbeu and others on this Forum. My current honing gear is a King1000/6000, Cnat Adaee used with a small Jeweller's Tam O Shanter polishing stick purchaed off ebay to generate an ultra fine slurry (6000-10000 estimated grit). Followed by CrO, 0.25 and O.1 micron diamond pasted balsa strops and a a few laps on hanging leather so as not to round the precious 'edge.'
Great part of the experience, nice to put steel to stone and then reap the reward of your efforts and get a great shave.
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rbscebu
Girls call me Makaluod
I am the same. I never had the opportunity to be able to buy a shave-ready SR nor have access to someone who could properly hone a SR. I had to teach myself while developing my SR technique. I don't recommend this.
Like @JPO the only comparison I can easily make is with a Feather blade. For me it is a half Feather DE blade in a shavette. Many of my SRs are close to equal and some even exceed the Feather.
I have given up on Feather DE blades in DE razors. They usually fail during the first pass. I need to try them out in a shavette. Maybe the shavette allows better consistent angle control that might help.
Yes, for the most part. I do send some out from time to time.
I've shaved with many other pro honers edges including a half dozen names we all have heard before. Only a couple can give me an edge with the grade of keenness I enjoy. Most people put a bit more comfort or smoothness on their edge. I like keen. And finding that level of keenness and still having smooth takes years to learn. So I hone mine myself. If I was to send my collection out for honing I can see a bill of around $9,000.00 coming my way. So that's out!
I have a coarse beard and very sensitive skin. I have been satisfied with the edges of a few razors when new, but many of them needed rehoning even if they were honed by the vendor. I did find razors produced by Brian Brown of Brown Razor Works and Victor Creazzi of Bluesman Blades to be nice. I can only get a few shaves from any edge before it starts to become either too dull for my beard or too rough for my face. I would have to send razor off for honing every couple of weeks; that is not reasonable. I also like to use hones far finer than used by many honemeisters. Even after finishing on a Suehiro Gokumyo 20K (0.5 micron), I want to polish the edge with pasted strops as fine as 0.1 micron.
To my way of thinking, honing ones straight razors is an integral part of straight shaving.
IMO, sending out razors to be honed by someone else is something for beginners when they want to establish or maintain a reference point to measure their own developing honing skills against.
There is also the logistics to be considered, unlike in the 19th century when a gentleman could send his 7-day set to a nearby barber to be honed, today you’ll have to send razors away and will have to wait a few days for their return.
B.
IMO, sending out razors to be honed by someone else is something for beginners when they want to establish or maintain a reference point to measure their own developing honing skills against.
There is also the logistics to be considered, unlike in the 19th century when a gentleman could send his 7-day set to a nearby barber to be honed, today you’ll have to send razors away and will have to wait a few days for their return.
B.
I have had a couple honed by others, including one by Alfredo so I had some idea of what I should be shooting for. Once I had taken a blade from a bevel set all the way through to a great shave, it is just too damn satisfying to ask someone else to do it for me.
And there is the matter of the pile of rocks in my garage that need to justify their expense...
And there is the matter of the pile of rocks in my garage that need to justify their expense...
My first SR was professionally honed. This gave me an idea of what sharp was, a good guideline to go by. All others have been honed by me, using film.
Yes. I did send one to Alfredo as a reference edge after I'd been honing for a few months. But, I've come to enjoy honing. And I get nervous about a nice razor getting lost in the mail...the beaters aren't worth the expense; may as well figure them out on my own and learn something along the way.
I've never ever sent a razor out for honing. Went full potato from the start. It was a great way to really dig in and learn, because I wanted to keep using the dang things!
You betcha! Like Matt, I have sent multiple razors out to Alfredo.
If you want to play with different hones, it is not practical to keep sending razors out. If, however, you want to set the bevel once and maintain the edge using pasted balsa then sending the razor out does make sense.
If you want to play with different hones, it is not practical to keep sending razors out. If, however, you want to set the bevel once and maintain the edge using pasted balsa then sending the razor out does make sense.
I have shaved with newly acquired razors that were honed by the seller, with mixed results. I’ve never sent one out, though that might happen some day. Mostly self-honed. After 2.5 years I think I can still improve but my own results are pretty satisfactory.
I never send mine out, why should someone else have all the fun?
The gentlemanly/cavemanly art of sharpening metal on a piece of ancient seabed for a morning shave is one of the most satisfying parts of straight razor shaving for me.
It feels like an ancient skill, like making fire.
A brand new home cut edge is a wonderful thing to shave with, better than any DE blade and tailored now to precisely how I like it to suit my face.
The gentlemanly/cavemanly art of sharpening metal on a piece of ancient seabed for a morning shave is one of the most satisfying parts of straight razor shaving for me.
It feels like an ancient skill, like making fire.
A brand new home cut edge is a wonderful thing to shave with, better than any DE blade and tailored now to precisely how I like it to suit my face.
I've shaved with one razor that was honed by a friend. My first razor. It's hard to fairly evaluate it because I was new to shaving. From best I can tell and remember my edges are much better than what that razor was. Of course he was only a year or so in himself. And his highest finisher was a 12k. I bought some arks, amd I have a course synthetic for truly aggressive bevel sets.
I am satisfied with my edges. Count me in the camp of never having a true comparison, except from a razor honed by a relatively new guy given to a brand new guy who was learning to shave. Maybe my edges are phenomenal. Mayne they're just meh. But I definitely felt my progress as I was learning. Upon starting out, I could get a couple of easy razors mostly right. Close to shave ready. Challenging razors felt like they would peel skin. Now, I can get even challenging razors (geometry issues, knicked blades, etc) pretty right.
I do want to compare my best edges to a honemiester though. I have often thought about sending a razor off to Slash or Doc.
I am satisfied with my edges. Count me in the camp of never having a true comparison, except from a razor honed by a relatively new guy given to a brand new guy who was learning to shave. Maybe my edges are phenomenal. Mayne they're just meh. But I definitely felt my progress as I was learning. Upon starting out, I could get a couple of easy razors mostly right. Close to shave ready. Challenging razors felt like they would peel skin. Now, I can get even challenging razors (geometry issues, knicked blades, etc) pretty right.
I do want to compare my best edges to a honemiester though. I have often thought about sending a razor off to Slash or Doc.
Personally, I like to distinguish, in my own usage, between honing/establishing an edge (razor will not shave close or comfortably) and finishing/touching up (the edge shaves but can be improved).
I enjoy trying other's edges, both pro/factory edges and amateur edges from fellow shave hobbyists. But, I don't send out razors I already own for honing or finishing. I tried to send my sole kamisori to @Herrenberg for its first decent edge, but in the end I just couldn't let it out of the house.
I usually shave test, linen/leather only, any razor I receive that is 'shave ready'. Some have never since touched anything other than balsa/diamond, clean fabric, and clean leather. In my parlance, I have never honed them. Others, including new razors, have even needed the bevel set.
I enjoy trying other's edges, both pro/factory edges and amateur edges from fellow shave hobbyists. But, I don't send out razors I already own for honing or finishing. I tried to send my sole kamisori to @Herrenberg for its first decent edge, but in the end I just couldn't let it out of the house.
I usually shave test, linen/leather only, any razor I receive that is 'shave ready'. Some have never since touched anything other than balsa/diamond, clean fabric, and clean leather. In my parlance, I have never honed them. Others, including new razors, have even needed the bevel set.
