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Honing a straight razor gives it a sharp edge. Even new straight razor blades need honing before use. Lay the blade flat against a sharpening stone and slide it across the stone.This is a gentle action that doesn't require a lot of pressure; too much can ruin the shape of the blade. The motion across a hone and back is considered to be one stroke.
Your first 10 strokes should be against a grit water stone (for actually removing metal), then move to a finer-grit stone and do 20 strokes. Switch to a finishing stone (for polishing) for 20 strokes. Do 15 strokes on a hone with white lapping paste and 25 strokes on a hone with chromium oxide paste. Strop the blade on a strop--a flat, leather strap about 3 inches wide--treated with chromium oxide paste. Finally, finish off the honing with 50 strokes on a plain strop.
If you are trying to rid the blade of a major chip, add a strip or two of electrical tape along the spine or back of the blade. This prevents the spine from getting scraped while you hone the blade on the coarser water stone. - Do 15 strokes on a hone with white lapping paste and 25 strokes on a hone with chromium oxide paste. Remove the electrical tape (see honing) and strop the blade on a strop treated with chromium oxide paste. Finally, finish off the honing with 50 strokes on a plain strop.
- Stropping a straight razor fine-tunes the edge on an already sharp blade. Stropping a razor before using it will improve its edge for weeks. To strop a blade, hold the razor in one hand and the strop in the other. Pull the strop tight and lay the blade (pointed toward the top of the strop) flat against the strop. With little pressure applied against the blade, pull it toward you. Quickly rotate your wrist to turn the blade over and push it back up the strop away from you. This motion prevents damage to or dulling of the edge you are trying to sharpen. Repeat about three dozen times, keeping the back edge of the blade in contact with the strop on each stroke.
