Revive Your Razor: Expert Tips for Sharpening a Straight Razor
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A well-maintained straight razor delivers a shave that no cartridge or safety razor can match. Learning to sharpen one correctly is the key to getting the best from your blade.
Understanding the Edge
A straight razor edge is a single long bevel on each side, meeting at an extremely acute angle — typically 15 to 17 degrees per side. Maintaining this angle consistently is the most important aspect of sharpening.
Honing on a Whetstone
Use a combination whetstone — 1000 grit for reprofiling a damaged edge, 4000 to 8000 grit for finishing. Lay the razor flat on the stone with the spine touching the surface. Draw the blade spine-first across the stone, then flip and repeat on the other side. This maintains the original spine-to-edge geometry of the razor.
Stropping
After honing, strop on a quality leather strop — 30 to 50 passes per side. The strop realigns the edge and removes any burr left by the stone. Regular stropping between full honing sessions keeps the edge performing between sharpenings.
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