Hello all. I apologize for my long-windedness; I just want to be thorough.
I haven't visited this website in a couple of years, which makes me feel bad. Nevertheless, I've had a little hang-up that I was hoping you could all help me with. I really hope this thread doesn't get buried!
I've been shaving with straight razors for about four years, but I've always had someone else hone for me. I recently bought a Norton 4K/8K and I'm using it to rehabilitate some nicer vintage razors I've picked up here and there - I've been practicing on a Robeson ShurEdge and a Heljestrand Mk31. Each was in reasonable condition before I began; however, neither had a cutting edge.
I set out sharpening the ShurEdge, which was rather dull. My technique is obviously entirely unpracticed - I must have done a hundred passes on each side or more. After viewing some videos (particularly Lynn's World of SRS DVD) and reading some forums, I settled on the pyramid method - first an aggressive regimen, then a much more relaxed one.
Anyway, the point is that I've gone back to the conservative pyramid about five times, each with a good stropping, and every time the final shave test is uncomfortable.
I keep second-guessing myself: am I working with a wire edge? (Doubtful.) Did I not properly set the bevel? (How could I not have?) I'm at a loss, and there's no one I personally know who could take a look and give me some guidance based on my technique or the bevel quality.
What I'm left with is a razor that's sharp enough to cut off my arm hair, but not consistently on one pass. It's got about 1/8" flattening on the spine, which really bums me out because it's a nice piece. I've never gotten the piece to feel as smooth on the thumb pad as my working Timor (which is soon due for a honing itself), or my disposable blade straight razor that I'm using in the interim. I'm scared to mess up the Heljestrand, which I love.
Can anyone please help me? I'm not sure where to go from here!
I haven't visited this website in a couple of years, which makes me feel bad. Nevertheless, I've had a little hang-up that I was hoping you could all help me with. I really hope this thread doesn't get buried!
I've been shaving with straight razors for about four years, but I've always had someone else hone for me. I recently bought a Norton 4K/8K and I'm using it to rehabilitate some nicer vintage razors I've picked up here and there - I've been practicing on a Robeson ShurEdge and a Heljestrand Mk31. Each was in reasonable condition before I began; however, neither had a cutting edge.
I set out sharpening the ShurEdge, which was rather dull. My technique is obviously entirely unpracticed - I must have done a hundred passes on each side or more. After viewing some videos (particularly Lynn's World of SRS DVD) and reading some forums, I settled on the pyramid method - first an aggressive regimen, then a much more relaxed one.
Anyway, the point is that I've gone back to the conservative pyramid about five times, each with a good stropping, and every time the final shave test is uncomfortable.
I keep second-guessing myself: am I working with a wire edge? (Doubtful.) Did I not properly set the bevel? (How could I not have?) I'm at a loss, and there's no one I personally know who could take a look and give me some guidance based on my technique or the bevel quality.
What I'm left with is a razor that's sharp enough to cut off my arm hair, but not consistently on one pass. It's got about 1/8" flattening on the spine, which really bums me out because it's a nice piece. I've never gotten the piece to feel as smooth on the thumb pad as my working Timor (which is soon due for a honing itself), or my disposable blade straight razor that I'm using in the interim. I'm scared to mess up the Heljestrand, which I love.
Can anyone please help me? I'm not sure where to go from here!