Hi A recent convert to straight razor shaving but am getting better! (still working on the chin area, haha) Also began sharpening knives recently and will be honing my own straights too...
Welcome, from Texas. Head over to the Straight Razor(The Dark Side)section, and show off your Straights.
Welcome to TSD @Malthus101! Glad you signed up. Plenty of straight shavers around should you have questions. Me, too. Recently started using a Japanese kamisori style shavette ( I haven't gotten around to learning to hone). Cheeks, neck, under jaw skills coming along. Shaving around my chin is where most nicks happen.
Hi Edison Well I'm new to sharpening and am only sharpening kitchen knives so far. I did a short course with a forge here in London who make knives and run mini courses... it was good! Method pretty simple - if the knife has chips, grind them out either on a wheel or just on something rough like a brick until the chips are gone. Then bring shape back with a 600 diamond plate. Then set the bevel on a 1000 Naniwa. I now have a 5000 and a 10000 Naniwa too so I can begin bringing mirror polishes to them and see how that goes, but not until I've mastered getting them cutting paper smoothly on the 1000K first! Oh and then stropping on newspaper (surprisingly effective) and I can try them on my shaving strop too probably. Still finding my way but I made my fingers bleed sharpening the knife without realizing so that's a good sign!
Very nice. I've tried, but not been successful at freehanding knives. Resorted to a rod guided sharpener that makes maintaining a repeatable angle easy. I seldom take a knife past 1k grit. All my knives (except garbage) are cleared by slicing tomatoes and bread in addition to shredding paper. +1 on stropping a knife. Use a little green Chromium Oxide paste to jumps things up a bit regardless of the media. I've seen videos of guys making a newspaper razor strop to fold/hang over a towel rack in a pinch. Great to have you with us. Be well. Bill