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19 April 2018 at 2:50 am #529099
I used a 1×10 as well. Only planed out the mill marks. Not everything has to be exact to what Paul recommends…that’s what makes it yours.
3 May 2017 at 12:48 am #311639I use straight razors from time to time – it took me a couple weeks of work for about an hour a day before I could product satisfactory results. Lots of youtube videos are available. I also received a lot of help from Badger & Blade forums. I wouldn’t use your woodworking sharpening paraphernalia for your razors. I have dedicated water stones (mostly Norton) going up to an 8000 grit, a Natural stone approx 12,000 grit and I use a balsa wood strop loaded with a Chromium Oxide paste of around 60k grit. I finish with a 3″ wide leather strop hanging in the wash room. I won’t even put the blade to my face until I can cut the hairs off my arm without touching the blade to my skin. Even then, I sometimes feel the blade is too harsh and I might go to the natural stone or my finest Norton, all depends on feel. I have several Wade & Butcher’s that I’ve restored or had restored: I like them best. I also have a modern made Dovo. They are currently made in Solingen, Germany – very good blade. Don’t spend a fortune: The lower end Dovo’s use the same steel as the higher end. You’re paying for the scales. I bought a wood handled (can’t remember the species) for less than $100 US dollars. I’ve heard nothing but good about French-made Thiers Issard as well. Any blade you purchase will need a sharpening prior to use – just like your wood tools. They will be honed, not sharpened. Most online marketers will add a sharpening service for a nominal fee with the purchase of a new razor. USE IT!
I see you have some Merkur safety razors. Honestly, if you get on ebay and find a nice Gillette adjustable, you can dial in the setting you like and I personally prefer that to my straight razors at this point. It gives me the option of a more aggressive shave, or a more gentle shave, instantly and consistently, all with less maintenance/hassle. Knowing what I know now, I personally would have preferred to have the safety razor and nothing more. That being said, I’ve invested too much time learning the intricacies of sharpening straights, spent too much time restoring them, and they are all together lovely pieces of history I enjoy using from time to time and will probably never part with them.
Just food for thought! Good luck.
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