This video makes my life easier when I run into geometry issues on many different razors. I’m currently slowly trying to fix a “Comfort” razor made in Germany in the 50s that’s got a very faint smile to it as well. I practiced fixing the geometry on a GD first. These videos are so helpful. Thank you DrMatt357!
as an experienced straight razor honer, this is how you set a bevel the right way. well done Doc, as usual easy common sense, no Voodoo or magical mideivl spells :) I agree with you, 100% Matt. thanks for making it easier for the new users to hone. have a great day
Thanks Mate. Appreciate the nice words. I would suggest anyone reading these to check out aljuwaiedak's channel. Great honing videos on all kinds of stones. They're very cool and different. Unlike my vids, he's not constantly running his mouth. They are very soothing and relaxing but educational too.
Thank you for your videos, I've learned from them. In this video at about 3:50, you say the heel is being a little stubborn, but I see the reason clearly. With your technique, you pull the heel off the stone almost immediately, and it doesn't get any abrasion compared to the toe. Food for thought perhaps.
Excellent information. I’ve only been wet shaving for a few months, but have sharpened my own knives for close to 40 years. 1 thing I notice too many people do improperly is stropping. They don’t take into account the sinking which happens in leather & end up dulling due to rolling the edge.
Yes, the blade does sink into the leather contributing to the formation of a micro convexity. This actually helps the edge and adds comfort. Rolling the edge is from lifting the spine off the leather while honing.
Yep. Probably less of an issue with a straight since the profile requires a much lower angle, but I always go lower on leather than on stone if possible and never ever higher. Also, I took your advice and ordered a jar of A&E Khalifa
The video really helped show me how to get an edge back on a blade that I purchased off eBay. Just a slight wobble but wouldn't take an edge. After running it over a dmt several times, it sharpened right up. Thanks for making the information available.
Honestly, I've had my straight razor for a couple months and it works great/good/well (enough), but your videos are so clear and helpful. Just the simple things to check that seem obvious but get overlooked and end up being the thing you couldn't figure out for the life of you. I've been sharpening my knives on a stone for a while now, and the razor should be easier right? Well.. yes.. but no.. because why cant I get to the level of sharpness I expect? Geometry! Ill take that silky smooth functional "Toblerone" edge with some wear on the spine over a constant battle for performance, because I have no intention to resell or otherwise part with it. Thank you Doctor, I'm amazed your videos aren't 100x (plus) more popular than they are. They are more helpful than most of the other content I've found anywhere else.
Once again, THANKS DR MATT for your Svientific approach!!! Well, I am just starting in all this. I bought one blade, it had a rough shave, bought a second one, it wss worst. Spend big dollar on Dovos. That worked great, nice shave. After watching these video series, I checked and I saw that both razors had excess material towards the area closer to the scales. When dharpening, I had a dark area on the stone, then nothing then normal. So I took my 150 stone snd grinded that area away. Now I have even strokes on the stone. I shaved snd, WHAT A DIFFERENCE. Smooth shave. Is not identical to the Dovo but close.
Great video!...I did this myself after I watched the 5 essentials from the Razor Bevel Setting video... I´m a true believer after that...this really works!!
Fantastic video series. I appreciate your approach and you sharing this knowledge and experience. I see some complain about hone marks and original degrees geometry modification. I don't know if they realize it, but what you are doing is actually bringing a useless tool back to life! I love learning new things, your videos are awesome!
Adventures In Wet Shaving Yes thank you. I have not seen any videos on the subject. I've heard it talked about but nothing on how to identify, fix and verify the correction has been done.
Thanks for all the videos! I'm just learning to hone and have purchased Norton 250/1k, 4/8k and Naniwa 12k. Been working on a Wostenholm IXL concave and could not get it right. Did the wobble test and it is off on one side. Going to try and correct that and give it another go. Thanks you!
Thanks so much for the two videos. Sooooo helpful! Personally, I feel the razor is a tool to a fantastic shave. That’s my goal. Never cared much for the looks. It’s the feel of my shave that matters to me. Keep up the great work!
hey Doc, I just got a cheaper Damascus looking razor (50 bux) and it came dull as a stick, so I did a 1k 2k 5k Luxor green paste (should be 3 micron) and clean leather. it didn't even shave armhair! I will try this little trick to try and fix it on the 240
lSairexl ...and it never will Sir. Those are know as RSOs or razor shaped objects. If you'd like an inexpensive razor that can shave well, try a Gold Dollar or. ZY 430.
2 reasons. One is to knock down any toothiness that may be left from lower grit stones and two, and mainly this, is to know that the final edge you created is YOUR edge and not a residual edge from previous work.
love your videos man. thanks for sharing! i did this thing without knowing that this technique existed a couple of months ago after seeing you video if tap and wovle test... carl herder razor... nightmare to hone... now it does hone eeeeeeasy! so absolutelly agree and welcome this great video!!
Thanks for removing a lot of the mystery of this. I sharpen knives to a mirror polish and hair popping sharp. I know enough to know a razor is not a knife. I have an old Galvanic that needs work. I may try myself. New subscriber and not currently a SR shaver. I’m using vintage DE and SE razors. Thanks.
Matt, after you do this method and correct the geometry, if someone was to use tape afterwards to lessen the wear from subsequent honings, hypothetically wouldn't it still hold it's geometry just the obvious slight angle change from the additional tape?
Sean Land Good question Sean. It's not uncommon that I will do just that. For example, a heavy grind razor. If I do any correction on the spine, I will then use a layer of tape on it to sharpen the edge. Or, if I need to increase the bevel angle, I will tape the spine. If you tape the spine just for preservation, eventually the bevel angle will start to increase from subsequent sharpenings.
Thanks Matt, it sounded correct in my head but I wanted to get another opinion to solidify that notion. Great series of videos right there, and I agree with you, hone wear is just something we have to combat, a razor is a tool after all.
You have to knock down the high spots. You'll notice more hone wear on the heel/toe on one side and in the center on the other. Those are actually pretty simple to do.
Why do you go through the steps and then kill the edge? I’m a noob I don’t understand! I thought the reason for going through the grits was to make the edge gradually finer and wouldn’t blunting it mean starting again?
Yes, it blunts the edge. The reason is that if you start from lower grits like a 1K or even the diamond plate, it can leave some toothiness to the edge. When you drag it across the stone, it smooths it out and when you bring it back at the upper grit like an 8K, you end up with a smoother edge. Now this is debatable. There are people who say you don't have to do it. I've seen the tooth under my microscope too many times so I do it.
DrMatt357 Thanks for the reply and the knowledge! I’m about to attempt my first honing of my razor so have been watching a bunch of videos including a couple of your own in an attempt to learn how to and which equipment to buy. Thanks again.
If it cant shave it ain’t a razor. Ironic that resale value is more if it is without hone wear and without ability to make hairs shorter. Great vid Doc
@@drmatt357 just a matter of time i suppose. Considered going to something as aggressive as my microfiles but I've been using disposable straight razors for the last 10 years so another shave or two won't hurt
I have several old razors that are in really good condition that I would really like to have this done to some of them so I can enjoy shaving with them. How much do you charge and what is the process for maybe working on mine.
Thaks for the interest. For most razors it's $25. Here's a video on how to ship and full details in the description (click Show More) th-cam.com/video/qiM1i5Z9n0M/w-d-xo.html
drmatt357 ok thanks and one more thing if you dont mind about nanocloth and cbn. first i bought a nano strop and 0.1 cbn and, now i bought another for 0.5 cbn but, on this one i noticed cbn was floating off as dust pretty bad but my first one dont. after some thinking i found this is because the first naturally built up a tiny bit of oil from the film of oil i put on my razor just enough to make the particles stick. is this why you recomended a spray of water on these strops? if so im guessing my accidental method is ok for the same effect? as long as i dont get the nano cloth more oily than needed to hold particles.
Jake A The water will help the CBN from dusting off the strop or plate which is good for your lungs but I mainly recommend a spritz of water because the edge under magnification came out looking better. I'm sure oil will accomplish the same thing but just be careful it doesn't build up.
![Every Straight Razor Honing "Honemeister" [gssixgun etc.] Hones WRONG According to Long-Dead Experts](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/MZR0QGOBvDA/mqdefault.jpg)
Love your videos. I've been binge watching today! :-) Explain why exactly do you kill the edge before the 8000 stone?
This video makes my life easier when I run into geometry issues on many different razors. I’m currently slowly trying to fix a “Comfort” razor made in Germany in the 50s that’s got a very faint smile to it as well. I practiced fixing the geometry on a GD first. These videos are so helpful. Thank you DrMatt357!
as an experienced straight razor honer, this is how you set a bevel the right way.
well done Doc, as usual easy common sense, no Voodoo or magical mideivl spells :)
I agree with you, 100% Matt.
thanks for making it easier for the new users to hone.
have a great day
Thanks Mate. Appreciate the nice words.
I would suggest anyone reading these to check out aljuwaiedak's channel. Great honing videos on all kinds of stones. They're very cool and different. Unlike my vids, he's not constantly running his mouth. They are very soothing and relaxing but educational too.
I have watched a lot of his videos, very good also!
Thank you for your videos, I've learned from them. In this video at about 3:50, you say the heel is being a little stubborn, but I see the reason clearly. With your technique, you pull the heel off the stone almost immediately, and it doesn't get any abrasion compared to the toe. Food for thought perhaps.
Mark Reich - I watched from 3 to and don’t see what part you’re talking about🤔
Excellent information. I’ve only been wet shaving for a few months, but have sharpened my own knives for close to 40 years. 1 thing I notice too many people do improperly is stropping. They don’t take into account the sinking which happens in leather & end up dulling due to rolling the edge.
Yes, the blade does sink into the leather contributing to the formation of a micro convexity. This actually helps the edge and adds comfort. Rolling the edge is from lifting the spine off the leather while honing.
Yep. Probably less of an issue with a straight since the profile requires a much lower angle, but I always go lower on leather than on stone if possible and never ever higher. Also, I took your advice and ordered a jar of A&E Khalifa
The video really helped show me how to get an edge back on a blade that I purchased off eBay. Just a slight wobble but wouldn't take an edge. After running it over a dmt several times, it sharpened right up. Thanks for making the information available.
OMG! Thanks for sharing your knowledge. People he's done a few of mine and they came back providing close and comforting shaves. Thanks Dr. Matt.
Honestly, I've had my straight razor for a couple months and it works great/good/well (enough), but your videos are so clear and helpful. Just the simple things to check that seem obvious but get overlooked and end up being the thing you couldn't figure out for the life of you. I've been sharpening my knives on a stone for a while now, and the razor should be easier right? Well.. yes.. but no.. because why cant I get to the level of sharpness I expect? Geometry! Ill take that silky smooth functional "Toblerone" edge with some wear on the spine over a constant battle for performance, because I have no intention to resell or otherwise part with it. Thank you Doctor, I'm amazed your videos aren't 100x (plus) more popular than they are. They are more helpful than most of the other content I've found anywhere else.
Once again, THANKS DR MATT for your Svientific approach!!! Well, I am just starting in all this. I bought one blade, it had a rough shave, bought a second one, it wss worst. Spend big dollar on Dovos. That worked great, nice shave. After watching these video series, I checked and I saw that both razors had excess material towards the area closer to the scales. When dharpening, I had a dark area on the stone, then nothing then normal. So I took my 150 stone snd grinded that area away. Now I have even strokes on the stone. I shaved snd, WHAT A DIFFERENCE. Smooth shave. Is not identical to the Dovo but close.
Great video!...I did this myself after I watched the 5 essentials from the Razor Bevel Setting video... I´m a true believer after that...this really works!!
Fantastic video series. I appreciate your approach and you sharing this knowledge and experience. I see some complain about hone marks and original degrees geometry modification. I don't know if they realize it, but what you are doing is actually bringing a useless tool back to life! I love learning new things, your videos are awesome!
Really enjoy your instructional videos! This is information I do not see anywhere else, thanks again! :)
Adventures In Wet Shaving Yes thank you. I have not seen any videos on the subject. I've heard it talked about but nothing on how to identify, fix and verify the correction has been done.
I will be using this method in the future, thanks again!
Thanks for all the videos! I'm just learning to hone and have purchased Norton 250/1k, 4/8k and Naniwa 12k. Been working on a Wostenholm IXL concave and could not get it right. Did the wobble test and it is off on one side. Going to try and correct that and give it another go. Thanks you!
You're welcome Channing and let us know how it goes.
Hello. With this video you saved my razor.thank you and greetings from Roumania!
Thanks so much for the two videos. Sooooo helpful! Personally, I feel the razor is a tool to a fantastic shave. That’s my goal. Never cared much for the looks. It’s the feel of my shave that matters to me. Keep up the great work!
One of the Best videos on honing a straight razor I've ever seen, Thank You Dr. Matt!
David Loss - Thanks Buddy!
You are very welcome my friend!
hey Doc, I just got a cheaper Damascus looking razor (50 bux) and it came dull as a stick, so I did a 1k 2k 5k Luxor green paste (should be 3 micron) and clean leather. it didn't even shave armhair! I will try this little trick to try and fix it on the 240
lSairexl ...and it never will Sir. Those are know as RSOs or razor shaped objects. If you'd like an inexpensive razor that can shave well, try a Gold Dollar or. ZY 430.
oh bummer... thanks for breaking the news for me :) i'll check out my options. and maybe buy a shavette? hm
2 reasons. One is to knock down any toothiness that may be left from lower grit stones and two, and mainly this, is to know that the final edge you created is YOUR edge and not a residual edge from previous work.
love your videos man. thanks for sharing! i did this thing without knowing that this technique existed a couple of months ago after seeing you video if tap and wovle test... carl herder razor... nightmare to hone... now it does hone eeeeeeasy! so absolutelly agree and welcome this great video!!
Thanks for removing a lot of the mystery of this. I sharpen knives to a mirror polish and hair popping sharp. I know enough to know a razor is not a knife. I have an old Galvanic that needs work. I may try myself. New subscriber and not currently a SR shaver. I’m using vintage DE and SE razors. Thanks.
Matt, after you do this method and correct the geometry, if someone was to use tape afterwards to lessen the wear from subsequent honings, hypothetically wouldn't it still hold it's geometry just the obvious slight angle change from the additional tape?
Sean Land Good question Sean. It's not uncommon that I will do just that. For example, a heavy grind razor. If I do any correction on the spine, I will then use a layer of tape on it to sharpen the edge. Or, if I need to increase the bevel angle, I will tape the spine. If you tape the spine just for preservation, eventually the bevel angle will start to increase from subsequent sharpenings.
Thanks Matt, it sounded correct in my head but I wanted to get another opinion to solidify that notion. Great series of videos right there, and I agree with you, hone wear is just something we have to combat, a razor is a tool after all.
I'm back in straight razor school with you Dr. Matt;)
ShaveNontheDarkside Hey Chad, great to have you in class!
Dr Matt your a real pro at sharpening. It was down to you buddy that I got really good with a coticule. Now it's perfect.really appreciate your videos
Mark Grevatt - Thanks Mark. I appreciate your comments. 😁
What do you charge to sharpen? Thanks for a great video!
Something to learn in every one of your videos. Thank you!
That's what I'm shooting for Craig! Thanks for tuning in.
Stunning job! Many thanks for video
pete hotoff - You’re welcome Pete and thanks for stopping by. 😁
Hey Dr.Matt great video I have a question not having a flattening stone can I use sandpaper with a block but which grit?
Richard Torres - a square of granite from Depot for $5 and 400 grit W/D sandpaper.
@@drmatt357 Sir you are the man officially as far as I'm concerned you are my mentor thanks for the quick response.
What to choose between an good looking razor and a best performance for shaving razor? I think the answer it's easy...
You’d be surprised!😏
Hey Matt, one side is super flat and the other is wobbly, do I just do the wobbly side only or do both?
Only the side that needs it!
@@drmatt357 thank you for all your help and replies Matt, you’re the best out there.
Hi, quick question:- do you soak shapton water stones or just wet wen honing. mni thnx
Lyon Rowe - Good question. Shaptons are splash and go. Thanks for stopping by!😁
How do you deal with a blade that has a concave/convex warp? The middle third of one of my blades doesn't even touch the hone on one side
You have to knock down the high spots. You'll notice more hone wear on the heel/toe on one side and in the center on the other. Those are actually pretty simple to do.
I was hoping there was something better than that, which is what I have done. Thanks!
Why do you go through the steps and then kill the edge? I’m a noob I don’t understand! I thought the reason for going through the grits was to make the edge gradually finer and wouldn’t blunting it mean starting again?
Yes, it blunts the edge. The reason is that if you start from lower grits like a 1K or even the diamond plate, it can leave some toothiness to the edge. When you drag it across the stone, it smooths it out and when you bring it back at the upper grit like an 8K, you end up with a smoother edge.
Now this is debatable. There are people who say you don't have to do it. I've seen the tooth under my microscope too many times so I do it.
DrMatt357 Thanks for the reply and the knowledge! I’m about to attempt my first honing of my razor so have been watching a bunch of videos including a couple of your own in an attempt to learn how to and which equipment to buy. Thanks again.
Awesome video doc I've done the same. If you want a pretty razor use your wife's hone wear is natural keep up the great vids ty
Johnny Boydianno Thanks Johnny. I know you've been a fan for a long time and I appreciate it. 😃
If it cant shave it ain’t a razor. Ironic that resale value is more if it is without hone wear and without ability to make hairs shorter. Great vid Doc
That’s smart killing it once you get to the 8k
Just bought a razor and it had an edge like a kitchen knife -_- it has been a frustrating process getting it right
Kodey Graeff - so did you get it to shave?
@@drmatt357 not yet. I can't seem to get the factory edge to disappear
@@drmatt357 just a matter of time i suppose. Considered going to something as aggressive as my microfiles but I've been using disposable straight razors for the last 10 years so another shave or two won't hurt
Kodey Graeff - put a pice of tape on the spine and try it that way.
Excellent, iam a novice but your video makes perfect sense ! 👍.
Glad to hear that!
I have several old razors that are in really good condition that I would really like to have this done to some of them so I can enjoy shaving with them. How much do you charge and what is the process for maybe working on mine.
Thaks for the interest. For most razors it's $25. Here's a video on how to ship and full details in the description (click Show More)
th-cam.com/video/qiM1i5Z9n0M/w-d-xo.html
do you think going from a norton 8k to 0.5 micron cbn on nanocloth is an ok jump its all i can do at the moment?
Jake A That would be fine Jake. The old traditional way was 8K to a strop with chromium oxide which is rumored to be in the .5 micron range.
drmatt357 ok thanks and one more thing if you dont mind about nanocloth and cbn. first i bought a nano strop and 0.1 cbn and, now i bought another for 0.5 cbn but, on this one i noticed cbn was floating off as dust pretty bad but my first one dont. after some thinking i found this is because the first naturally built up a tiny bit of oil from the film of oil i put on my razor just enough to make the particles stick. is this why you recomended a spray of water on these strops? if so im guessing my accidental method is ok for the same effect? as long as i dont get the nano cloth more oily than needed to hold particles.
Jake A The water will help the CBN from dusting off the strop or plate which is good for your lungs but I mainly recommend a spritz of water because the edge under magnification came out looking better. I'm sure oil will accomplish the same thing but just be careful it doesn't build up.
Nice shirt, . . . Doc.
lingcod91 - It’s only Rock’n Roll... but I like it!😏
U R a razor god.
UR awesome