How to Hone a Straight Razor: Step 1 Prep

[@davidpackkard3354]

Eric sure knows his stuff. Well done. Thanks for the vlog.

[@johnfbrown7724]

Great to see a Meticulous preparation for an excellent result with this remarkable and educational video , I use a similar method of 1200's wet or dry paper for my 8000 grit stone , laid on a back face of polished granite kitchen slab to ensure my wet stone is micron flat , Every day's a learning day ! and this is a welcome addition to the technique !

[@dappershaves]

well said, every day is a learning day., regards dapper shaves

[@thefeatheredfrontiersman8135]

This video has helped quite a bit more than most of the others I've been watching. I had no idea that you would use the slury to polish the patterns. I'm just trying to understand the angle. Tape the spine to keep it from scratching? Lay it completely flat? It's gotta be flatter than a pocket or kitchen knife. I've never laid a knife down that flat before. What difference does jumping up in grits past 3,000 do? I'm still new to straight razors but I've definitely got some experience with knives. I thought it would be just like sharpening a little knife. Thanks for your time!!!

[@RazorEmporium]

Angle is created by the spine. Straight razors need to be sharper than any knife or scapel if they are to be comfortable to use.

[@obirato]

thanks a lot!!!

[@I_Might_B_Wrong]

You mention having to fix angles for razors with excessive spine wear by stacking tape. This makes sense, but taping razors that don't have excessive wear is going to progressively cause the opposite problem with the bevel angle getting too wide. Far better to set a proper bevel, accept a little wear, and keep the same consistent angle by just honing on a finisher from time to time. Do you guys hone without tape when requested?

[@MrGodofwar666]

he definitely knows what to do and explain it properly, very nice video

[@losmoore3358]

What grit is the Japanese natural stone?

[@elgigante650]

I am a barber. I bought a Portland Razor Co. I stropped it between each client, within 4 months there were chips in the edge. I watched your videos, I got the stones, I honed it to a better edge than it came with. Within 3 months there are chips in the edge again. Is there a defect in the metal? They won’t return a call or email. Thank you for the video.

[@RazorEmporium]

Yes that doesn't sound right at all. Maybe their heat treatment was bad.

[@elgigante650]

Thanks for the reply. I have a case and a double duck that an retiring barber gave me. I got them to a good edge, but the barbercide is harsh on them. I would like to find another Stainless Steel razor that the scales can be fully submerged in barbercide between each client, but hopefully would hold an edge better. I do about 35-50 neck shaves a week and 1 full face shave and a head shave a month. What razor would you recommend?

[@dappershaves]

you shave many customers and chips will form over time, maybe have a routine to refresh edge once a month. regards dapper shaves

[@losmoore3358]

What is the grit on that Japanese natural stone ?

[@RazorEmporium]

Natural stones don't really have a grit equivalent but some say (based on slurry load) anywhere from 8000 to 12000

[@losmoore3358]

@@RazorEmporium thank u

[@itsjustjohnntoday]

Thanks for the video!

[@thatguy5392]

Do brand new stones need to be trued before using them? I've had my Dovo blade for maybe 3 years and it's starting to get a little grabby so I bought some stones and such to sharpen it. Been doing a lot of research before I start anything. For honing I figured I wouldn't need more than a 12000 as the blade is in great shape....it just needs a minor honing. The stone is a Naniwa Specialty/Super Stone 1200. For truing I got a Knifewear 220 grit truing stone and a Nagura 600 grit finishing stone. ...I plan on keeping this blade for a very long time. :)

[@dappershaves]

thanks for sharing, how is you honing going? any changes or new stones? regards dapper shaves

[@scottphillips5901]

@@dappershaves Lol, well that was about a year ago. No problems. Got the blade nice and sharp. Haven't felt the need to resharpen it since then. But then I only shave about once or twice a week. Been working from home most of the time since 2020, so meh, haven't had the need to be super clean shaven. :) Wish I had started with a straight razor way back when I started shaving. Would have saved a ton of money. Those cartridges are way over priced....although they are faster and safer. But in any case, a straight razor is definitely good to have these days.

[@dappershaves]

@@scottphillips5901 i appreciate your feedback

[@abdullahmenevse]

Mükemmel muhtesem görünüyor çok güzel olmuş eline sağlık üstadım tebrikler

[@ShavingInTheLyonsDen]

Can you use the sandpaper method on a synthetic

[@dappershaves]

i believe you can. regards dapper shaves

[@IHWKR]

I'm confused, on the galvanic corrosion chart nothing in more corrosive to metal than graphite. Why use that instead of an alternative? Excluding acids of course

[@luispino2311]

Great videos, one question: is it extreamly necessary to use the 12k wet stone after the 8k wet stone???

[@dappershaves]

you want to finish on a stone of at least 10k or more. regards dapper shaves

[@luispino2311]

@@dappershaves thanks a lot, I did purchased the 12k and you can feel the diference!!!!

[@mathewfromthemountains7157]

brand of the loup?

[@lgabe-x]

what micron count lap plate would you use to do your 12k stone then?

[@BerserkeR_031]

Would I need to create a new edge if I use tape on the spine on a new razor? It changes the angle right?

[@michaelmcdermott6340]

Hey! Great video, just to make sure people get the right search result any sharpening stone is a WHETstone, not super important just thought I'd let you know.

[@RazorEmporium]

Correct, thank you!

[@jeffreymeeks4051]

Hi RazorEmporium I've been wetshaving for the last 6 years with a safety razor but I'm finally wanting to make the move to a proper straight razor. Can you recommend a razor for a beginner in terms of width or hollow? And also a stone for honing?

[@RazorEmporium]

Gold Dollar or dovo best. stone- either get a finishing stone 12-20K grit or get some strop compounds to maintain the edge. thx Matt

[@Sproutt]

is the Green stone a King stone? or naniwa?

[@nikospap8470]

What grit sandpaper do you use to lap your 12k or you do it other way?

[@dappershaves]

i prefer 800, but as with most things its a preference thing. anything from 400 to 2k should do fine. regards dapper shaves

[@flipmode916]

Preference of natural vs synthetic?

[@dappershaves]

nothing beast a natural edge! regards dapper shaves

[@MrJlhdez]

Where can i get the exact same stones and plate?

[@lionjedi]

what grit sand paper? i have an old natural stone with a soft and a hard side...

[@SumoRabbitOfDoom]

I'm just going to try the one he suggested in the video.

[@ItsMuffy]

Please help me I bought a straight razor and a 4k/8k stone and I watched all the videos and tried everything and I just CANNOT get.it sharp. Please some one help me

[@mediopocillo]

Does a 12k stone is enough as a last step?

[@wilhelm682]

Is that wet sand paper?

[@sagvjc2525]

I have a question that no one has been able to answer. Hopefully razor emporium or some honemeister on here can help me. I use a 12k shapton kuromako to touch up my razor when the strop isn't enough. How do I lap this stone? Ive seen people use the dmt but its too much money. Is the 400 grit sandpaper lapping method safe for the shapton stone I use? Thank you.

[@sagvjc2525]

I forgot to add, is the norton lapping stone safe for the 12k shapton kuromako stone? Thank you

[@somethingtrulyhorrifying]

@@sagvjc2525 I would lap it the same way I lap my other stones, on the concrete curb, Murray Carter style. I've watched him sharpen a spoon and then comfortably shave his whole face with it.

[@claytonhickey4591]

Should I be looking to do this myself? A local merchant who sells straight razors & strops insists that stropping alone is enough & that amateurs like myself should NEVER try to hone a straight razor.

[@RazorEmporium]

If the blade is properly set up, and you use strop compounds, in theory you may be able to go years without honing on stones.

[@claytonhickey4591]

@@RazorEmporium Strip compounds? And how do I use those?

[@RazorEmporium]

Strop. Damn autocorrect. One of our recent videos covers them in detail.

[@matthewhoover6154]

ya, i'll just send mine in to get honed when needed. thanks.

[@Iznoful]

I'm trying to accuire a basic skill in honing... Why would you use an abbreviation as "DMT-stone" in an instructional video?

[@RazorEmporium]

Hi Rocketboy, DMT is a brand. Thanks for watching!

[@skateboardist1686]

yea these guys do this so much that in explaining they can forget to tell you a lot of stuff because its second nature to them. He's talking about a lapping plate thats made by DMT. I have one, its the DMT 95 "95 grit". you can buy the small one for 100 and something and the large one is almost 200 but its very necessary. I used sandpaper and find it to be very hard to use and i still don't trust it. he's talking about getting a finer grit than 120 but thats about the finest they got with the dmg lapping plates

[@boozoochavis7506]

Looks like he has been holding a razor close enough to his head but missed a few spots on the front of his face ... his sideburns grew kind of long? Kidding .... of course, thanks for posting this video!

[@richcollins3490]

Bad idea using sand paper when that 400 grit particles break off they will embed in your 3000 to 10000 grit finishing stones. Spend the extra money on a diamond plate you won't be sorry like l was.

[@Yokatosh]

the diamonds in coated stones also tear off

[@zzzcocopepe]

But I mean is all this really necessary? Couldn't you just Use your razor on a single Whetstone and call it a day?

[@ryangatien6615]

You could get a 400 or 1000 and finish it off with an 8000 I'm sure. If your razor just needs a touch up then just use the 8000. Honing is a process, not a one and done type of deal.

[@CononBarrett]

Thanks for the video. 🤙