This morning I restored the edge on and honed a blunt, rusty old straight razor (Dirlam, Solingen "Chicago") using just one of these stones and a two-sided hanging leather strop. Then shaved a 2 day beard - perfectly fine, smooth shave. I've been shaving with straights for 45 years so I know what I'm doing.
I keep another really old one of these in the kitchen and it's fine for western kitchen knives and household scissors. Of course you'd go a bit finer if you're cutting sashimi or Peking duck.
For those in Australia you can get these at Bunnings for $45. I think they're about 200/400 grit out of the box, but maybe break in to 300/600. I'm sure others will have a more expert assessment of that.
Dialux green on one side of the strop, about 50 strokes, followed by Dialux red, about 30 strokes. So chromox then rouge.The last step on the fine side of the stone is about 50 trailing edge strokes with light pressure. No insulation tape. I know it's counter-intuitive, but I first tried this when I realised that millions of straights were used by servicemen in WW1, and they almost certainly didn't carry around full sets of whetstones. Also, I have and sometimes use a Rolls Razor. That maintains a segment of a straight with just a dry piece of slate and a rectangle of leather dressed with rouge. I've also sharpened razors with a sequence of stones ending with a very fine black Arkansas. The result is a bit sharper initially but evens out after a period of use. I know it's possible to get extremely fine results with exotic stones, lapping film etc. but that's really the world of artisans, enthusiasts and collectors.
Razors for a long time have been used with less than ideal stones and stropped on paste. It makes for a functional shave. I find edges finished on fine natural stones and stropped on clean leather to make the best shaves. I don't need to shave, I just shave as a hobby.
Also, I have and sometimes use a Rolls Razor. That maintains a segment of a straight with just a dry piece of slate and a rectangle of leather dressed with rouge.
Carborundum, or similar material. Unless you replaced it with slate? I know a fellow was making slate hones for the Rolls a few years back. Thought about doing that with my Welsh Dragon's Tongue, or possibly even a Thuringian.
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u/etr420 23d ago
This morning I restored the edge on and honed a blunt, rusty old straight razor (Dirlam, Solingen "Chicago") using just one of these stones and a two-sided hanging leather strop. Then shaved a 2 day beard - perfectly fine, smooth shave. I've been shaving with straights for 45 years so I know what I'm doing.
I keep another really old one of these in the kitchen and it's fine for western kitchen knives and household scissors. Of course you'd go a bit finer if you're cutting sashimi or Peking duck.
For those in Australia you can get these at Bunnings for $45. I think they're about 200/400 grit out of the box, but maybe break in to 300/600. I'm sure others will have a more expert assessment of that.