How to Sharpen Blades on Shaving Razors
Many men prefer a straight razor to an electric razor or disposable blade. There are no replacement parts to purchase, and straight razor aficionados say that the straight razor offers a closer shave. But a straight razor can only shave closely if it is kept sharp. A straight razor must be sharpened or 'stropped' on a razor strop before every use. And, once every six months, it must be more vigorously sharpened with a straight razor hone. Does this Spark an idea?
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Instructions
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Wipe the blade down with alcohol to clean it.
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Hold one end of the razor strop (a thick leather strap used for sharpening straight razors). Place the straight razor's blade on the strop at a 90 degree angle to the leather strip with the back of the razor facing away from you. Push the razor away from you, down the leather strop. Then flip the razor over so that the back is facing you (the blade should not leave the surface of the strop) and pull the razor toward you. There is no need to push the razor down on the leather strop. Simply hold it firmly and apply only a little more pressure than the weight of the blade. Twenty passes (10 strokes on each side of the blade) are enough to sharpen the blade.
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Sharpen your straight razor on a stone hone once every six months. Lay the straight razor flat on the top of the hone. Then pull it toward you, diagonally down the hone. Then flip the razor along its spine so that the other side of the blade lies on the hone and push it diagonally up the hone. Again, only apply a little more pressure than the weight of the blade. Use short strokes that are just long enough to draw the length of the straight razor's edge across the hone. Ten passes (five on each side of the blade) are enough to sharpen the blade.
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