Razor Sharpening.

 I must admit i do not use it as often as i should, but i do use it on the weekend when i have time to just relax and shave with out the nerves of needing to go any where quickly. Straight razors need a bit of care if they are to last for you, and perform for you as well. Many razors are made of stainless steel, and those require less in the way of care. Those razors not of a stainless variety, must be rinsed, made clean, and made completely dry after each use to avoid oxidation which causes rust. There are razors that have a blade that are flat, and then those that are not flat, but concave. We can touch on both for a moment to talk about what it is to sharpen either one.

Flat blades are generally whetted via a suspended strop, and then concave blades that are 1/2 or 1/1 use a hanging strop. Hanging strops are usually made of leather or cow hide, and then at the back there would be a device for hanging it. If needed the side with the leather can have applied to it a paste, it’s called red paste. Then on a different strop, you can apply black paste that assists on the polishing of the blade. This paste is to be worked into the strop using the thumb. The motion of stropping is done at a flat angle, and the rear of the razor is put on to the strop. The blade is pushed in a way that takes it away from the body. It is very important that the blade be pushed in one direction only. Pushing and pulling simply accomplishes nothing. You can only sharpen an edge by pushing in one direction, then lifting the razor, and taking it back to the starting position, to then push it again.

One interesting fact. Once you have sharpened the razor, you should not even try to use it for a day or two. The newly sharpened blade needs time to have it’s sharpened edge regain it’s normal position for optimum shaving success. At a barber shop, you will see the barber push the razor on the strop maybe two or three pushes only. The barber is actually just cleaning the edge for you, and very lightly honing the edge to give you a clean razor, and a good shave. However that barber, when he really sharpens his razors, lets the sit for two days. He would rotate them for use during the work week.

You tube will have a video on this subject i am sure. Watch a video and read a few more posts on other website before you dive into it.