Honing in the Philadelphia area

[grouch0jr]

I recently just purchased my first straight razor. I contacted the vendor and asked if it was shave ready, and they claimed it was. After shaving the first time, it was pretty clear to me that the edge needs to be honed (no big deal). The problem I'm having is that I don't know where to take it. I asked the local Art of Shaving, and they recommended I take it to a place that sharpens kitchen cutlery, but I didn't really like the sound of that.

Anybody know where I can get my razor honed in the Philadelphia area?

 

[Wid]

How long have you been using a straight razor? If it is a respectable vendor and they said it was shave ready, chances are it is.

What razor is it?

 

[grouch0jr]

I just started with a straight razor, but I've been using a DE for years, so I know how to tell the blade is dull. It's a TI.

Here is a quote from the vendor: "The Thiers-Issard razors are sharpened at their factory. In the last two years T-I has changed how they do factory honing. We have found them to be keen enough to shave with right out of the box. Some will still prefer to have their razors professionally honed as those razors get inspected and the edge can be a little smoother."

I decided to try it first without getting it honed, but it needs it.

 

[rickboone1]

There's plenty of people that are members here that can hone it for you.

 

[Wid]

Well, many, many times a person new to using a straight razor will think the razor is dull but in fact it is not. I've had a new TI and the edge was in fact a good edge. Send it back to the vendor to be professionally honed if you not satisfied with it.

 

[grouch0jr]

There's plenty of people that are members here that can hone it for you.

I'm trying to find something in my area, I'd prefer to hand carry it.

Well, many, many times a person new to using a straight razor will think the razor is dull but in fact it is not. I've had a new TI and the edge was in fact a good edge. Send it back to the vendor to be professionally honed if you not satisfied with it.

I'd rather take it somewhere myself rather then deal with that hassle. Then, I'll have somewhere to go back to in the future.

 

[Kentos]

I don't think you will find many places that will hone a straight for you. It is a niche of a niche "hobby", but you might get lucky.

And with all due respect, DE shaving is a bit different than straight shaving, and that TI will likely never get as sharp as a DE blade, although some of us think we can get one pretty close-delusional or not .

 

[Doc226]

I'm trying to find something in my area, I'd prefer to hand carry it.

Good luck

I'd rather take it somewhere myself rather then deal with that hassle. Then, I'll have somewhere to go back to in the future.

Seems like more of a hassle, post office is easier.

 

[tomjr]

i will hone it 4 u if u like, u pay postage both ways. tom

 

[danjared]

I personally don't think there's anything sharper about a DE blade, only a thinner and more flexible piece of steel that's easier to use because of the design of the blade holder. Shaving with a straight razor is certainly a way of shaving without training wheels on compared to shaving with a safety razor. Learning how to use one correctly takes time and effort.

Let's put it this way. I was once living with a guy who expressed interest in shaving with a straight razor. Because I had been given for free a (rather nice) straight razor by someone else months before and had promised to pass it on to a n, I decided to give it to the housemate. A couple days later, I asked him how it was working for him, and he complained about it being dull. I asked him if I could check it out. He brought it back from upstairs, and I checked if it'd cut arm hair. With the razor hovering above my skin, it easily severed some hairs above skin level with a nice ping sound. It was apparently not so dull after all, even though he shaved with it and I had not stropped it again yet...

 

[Poodle Head Mikey]

Not for nothing here but wouldn't it be better to do it yourself?

PHM
------

I recently just purchased my first straight razor. I contacted the vendor and asked if it was shave ready, and they claimed it was. After shaving the first time, it was pretty clear to me that the edge needs to be honed (no big deal). The problem I'm having is that I don't know where to take it. I asked the local Art of Shaving, and they recommended I take it to a place that sharpens kitchen cutlery, but I didn't really like the sound of that.

Anybody know where I can get my razor honed in the Philadelphia area?

 

[grouch0jr]

Not for nothing here but wouldn't it be better to do it yourself?

PHM
------

Eventually, haha. I want to buy a crappy blade to practice on.