Close razors have been around for centuries. Previously, these cutting products looked quite primitive. Since the 18th century, they have improved the design, which is familiar to the modern consumer. At that time, according to experts, "fear", as it is also called, is the only and extremely effective shaving tool. In the 20th century, safety machines and electric shavers appeared, and therefore the “fears” faded into the background. However, they have not completely disappeared and today are used by many connoisseurs of the classics. Judging by the numerous reviews, recently the “fears” have been returning from hairdressing practice, where they have taken root especially, to the sphere of domestic use. Shaving them has become fashionable. Many brutal men choose this option. This explains why many are interested in how to sharpen a straight razor at home? How to do this, you will learn from this article.
What is the procedure?
During frequent use, the “fear” may become dull. There are cases when it, having fallen on a hard surface, is bent. As a result, you will have to edit its cutting edge. This process does not consist in its sharpening, but only in the alignment of the metal edges and the elimination of minor defects. If they are significant, then you will have to use grindstones. For those who do not know how often to sharpen a straight razor, experts recommend sharpening it every time before use.
About aiming straps
Before sharpening a straight razor on a belt, you should acquire the appropriate tool. In specialized stores, suspension belts and with wooden handles are sold. In addition, these products can have different widths. It is chosen taking into account the length of the blade. This is necessary for uniform processing of the entire surface of the “fear”.
Also belts are leather and fabric. Abrasive composition for these products is not provided. Some samples are specially coated at the factory. Such belts are no longer intended for aiming, but for sharpening. Similar products are used in cases where the usual editing did not work.
Belt preparation
You need to work on a clean and smooth leather (no paste) or fabric belt with minimal graininess. If stains are found on the surface, they should be cleaned. All other defects are polished. Before proceeding, the surface is carefully rubbed with the palm of your hand to make it perfectly smooth.
About storage rules
Beltspaste coated should be stored separately from clean ones. It is undesirable that an abrasive gets on a clean canvas or pastes with different grain sizes are mixed. In addition, these products can be deformed, and therefore they cannot be twisted and folded. Otherwise, wrinkles and folds form on their surface, which will be impossible to eliminate in the future. Belts should also be protected from dust. Just for this purpose, special covers are provided. Based on numerous customer reviews, straightening straps should not be kept indoors with high levels of humidity.
How to dress the cutting edge?
The procedure for straightening a straight razor with a strap is as follows:
- "Opaska" is taken by the "shin" and held with fingers from the back side.
- The belt is securely fastened and kept taut. It should be parallel to the floor.
- The cutting part is laid flat and pulled along the belt with a “comb”. Do not apply too much pressure, otherwise the blade will bend and the end of the razor edge will not contact the belt.
- When you get to the very edge, then carefully turn the "fear". You need to do this from the side of the butt. If you flip over the point, you will simply cut the belt or bend the edge. As a result, your razor will be damaged. It is not necessary to stop the tool at the edges. If it is necessary to turn the blade, then tear it off the surface, and then again begin to touch the belt during wiring.
- To aim your razor you will have to make an average of 30 passes. Subsequent editing is not advisable,because the quality of the cut will remain the same.
If you are not satisfied with the achieved sharpness, use a special paste. With it, editing on the belt is limited to ten passes. It also happens that the quality of the cutting edge after processing on a pasty coating leaves much to be desired. In this case, you will have to use stones. How to sharpen a straight razor on a stone? More on this later.
Stone selection
Before sharpening a straight razor at home, you need to purchase a stone with a uniform fine-grained surface 4000/8000. There should be no dense lumps in the product. Preference should be given to those stones that retain their shape and do not release suspension. According to experts, blade razors are delivered to the shelves with ready-made factory sharpening. The owner only needs to regularly edit it, namely, grind it from burrs and correct minor irregularities. For this procedure, belts are quite suitable. If it is required to remove part of the metal from the canvas, then grinding stones are needed for this purpose.
How are stones checked?
In addition to the question of how to sharpen a straight razor, many beginners are interested in what kind of tool is needed in a particular case. Experts recommend doing this with a stone. To have an idea of how to sharpen a straight razor, you should familiarize yourself with its geometric parameters. For this, the "fear" is placed on a flatsurfaces together with the backing and supply. Next, these places are checked for gaps. If the razor does not fit snugly to the surface, then you will have to use a coarse abrasive.
Progress of work
If you don't know how to properly sharpen a straight razor, you need to do the following. First wet the stone with water. Next, the edge of the blade and the comb of the “fear” are pressed against the bar with the help of the index and thumb fingers. To avoid scratching the comb, experts recommend sealing it with electrical tape. You should not press hard. The main thing is that the plane of the cutting product is in constant contact with the surface of the grindstone and at a constant angle. Only in this way will it be possible to sharpen the razor evenly.
Approaching the edge, the product is turned over to the other side through the comb. Further, the other side performs the passage in the opposite direction. The procedure is repeated until the desired effect is achieved.
What do experts advise?
Judging by the reviews, the question of how to sharpen a straight razor is not the only one that interests many modern consumers. Often, beginners do not know how to properly use and store "fear". According to experts, the metal of the razor is subject to oxidation and corrosion.
Therefore, the product after use must be washed in soapy water and wiped dry with a cloth. If you become the owner of a used razor, then wipe it with a soft cloth thatpre-moistened with alcohol. Sharp temperature drops for "fears" are not desirable. It is impossible to disinfect products using boiling water and acids. It is best to store your razor in a dry, well-ventilated area. If you are not going to use the “fear” in the near future, then treat it with paraffin or oil. The operational resource of the razor directly depends on the conditions of its storage and careful attitude to the product. It is important to avoid dropping the razor on hard surfaces, as well as contact of the cutting edge with other objects. Otherwise, defects will appear on the blade, which will adversely affect the quality of shaving. Use a straight razor only for its intended purpose.
In closing
For those who are interested in how to sharpen a straight razor, but do not feel confident in their abilities, it is better to take the cutting product to a specialized workshop. The fact is that sharpening with stones is quite effective, but at the same time a complicated procedure. If you, despite the lack of experience, intend to manage on your own, then it’s better for you to get not one bar, but several at once, just in case.
