{"id":348,"date":"2021-10-10T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-10T13:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/?p=348"},"modified":"2022-12-17T12:10:31","modified_gmt":"2022-12-17T18:10:31","slug":"can-a-straight-razor-be-too-sharp","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/can-a-straight-razor-be-too-sharp\/","title":{"rendered":"Can a Straight Razor Be Too Sharp? (How To Find the Right Balance)"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Blade maintenance is critical to achieving a clean, precise shave with your straight-edge razor. You might logically presume that a dull blade needs to be sharpened, but if you think a step further, you might find yourself wondering, \u201cCan I sharpen my straight razor <em>too<\/em> much?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>When sharpening, a blade can have its edge excessively refined or over honed. Though a rare occurrence, this could lead to a brittle edge and a rough shave. Practicing regular straight razor maintenance with the right tools and the correct process should help to avoid both a dull edge and an overly honed blade.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Let\u2019s take a look at how a <a href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/how-often-should-you-strop-hone-sharpen-a-straight-razor\/\" target=\"_blank\">straight razor might be over-sharpened<\/a>, and exactly what the standard is for how sharp one should be. Then, we\u2019ll look at what goes into maintaining a straight razor to keep it in a state of sharpened, honed, and stropped perfection.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-light-blue ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #999;color:#999\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 eztoc-toggle-hide-by-default' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/can-a-straight-razor-be-too-sharp\/#Can_a_straight_razor_blade_ever_be_too_sharp\" title=\"Can a straight razor blade ever be too sharp?\">Can a straight razor blade ever be too sharp?<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/can-a-straight-razor-be-too-sharp\/#How_sharp_should_a_straight_razor_be\" title=\"How sharp should a straight razor be?\">How sharp should a straight razor be?<\/a><ul class='ez-toc-list-level-3' ><li class='ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/can-a-straight-razor-be-too-sharp\/#How_to_tell_if_a_straight_razor_is_sharp_enough\" title=\"How to tell if a straight razor is sharp enough\">How to tell if a straight razor is sharp enough<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/can-a-straight-razor-be-too-sharp\/#Is_it_hard_to_keep_a_straight_razor_sharp\" title=\"Is it hard to keep a straight razor sharp?\">Is it hard to keep a straight razor sharp?<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Can_a_straight_razor_blade_ever_be_too_sharp\"><\/span>Can a straight razor blade ever be too sharp?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>There is a way in the delicate process of blade sharpening that the action can be taken too far, and ruin the integrity of the blade\u2019s edge. This process is called overhoning. It doesn\u2019t happen often, but when either too much pressure or too many laps (repetitive motions) are utilized, a blade can be over honed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A jagged edge on the blade can be the result of overhoning. In turn, this can lead to a dull-feeling shave, and the occurrence of razor burn is another possibility. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Over-sharpening your straight razor is a possibility. However, it is not a highly likely one. Choosing a straight razor as a shaving tool is an endeavor of itself; these razors need to be cared for and maintained just as one would a set of knives or any other blade. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>To best prevent errors in sharpening your blade too much, not enough, or improperly in general, make sure you have a good handle on the basics of straight razor maintenance. This is sure to help keep you safe, and paramount to a mutualistic relationship between you and your blade.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>In addition to the inconvenience of a less-than-clean shave, correcting the edge of an over-honed blade requires back honing, which means more time (and possibly money) spent on razor maintenance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_sharp_should_a_straight_razor_be\"><\/span>How sharp should a straight razor be?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Without professional equipment, it can be <a href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/how-to-tell-if-your-razor-is-sharp-enough\/\" target=\"_blank\">difficult to gauge the sharpness of a blade<\/a> without testing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The easiest way to determine the sharpness of your personal straight razor is by performing a test shave with it. An adequately sharpened razor will not pull at hair. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A blade pulling at hair is a sign it has not been adequately sharpened. A scratchy feeling can indicate underhoning (not honing the edge enough) or overhoning (honing the edge too much).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"How_to_tell_if_a_straight_razor_is_sharp_enough\"><\/span>How to tell if a straight razor is sharp enough<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>If you&#8217;re not in a position to immediately test the blade out on your face, there are <a href=\"https:\/\/www.westcoastshaving.com\/blogs\/wet-shaving-and-grooming-blog\/how-do-you-know-if-your-straight-razor-is-sharp-enough\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">other ways to get a good idea of how sharp the blade is<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Outside of diving right into the shave test, there are other options for assessing the sharpness of your razor:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"How to Hone a Straight Razor: Step 3 Sharpness Check\" width=\"720\" height=\"405\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/Dpsb88Y0hkk?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Hair Test<\/strong> &#8211; Take a single strand of hair and hold it so it hangs down. Lightly tap it with your blade. If the hair \u201cpops,\u201d this indicates it is properly sharpened.<\/li><li><strong>Arm Hair Test<\/strong> &#8211; Carefully run your straight blade \u215b\u201d-\u00bc\u201d above your arm hair. If the hairs \u201cpop\u201d or are severed, then your blade\u2019s edge should be at optimum sharpness.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Is_it_hard_to_keep_a_straight_razor_sharp\"><\/span>Is it hard to keep a straight razor sharp?<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Keeping your straight razor sharp is <a href=\"https:\/\/chefsvisionknives.com\/blogs\/chefs-vision-blog\/stropping-vs-honing-what-is-the-difference-between-each\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">certainly a task<\/a>. However, it can be viewed as a labor of love. <\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Following these three straightforward steps as part of regular maintenance should keep you on track to a clean shave with a sharp blade.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul><li><strong>Sharpening<\/strong> &#8211; A dulled blade must be sharpened. A rough stone helps remove debris from the blade. The blade is left with a \u201cwire edge,\u201d which will be improved upon in the next step.<\/li><li><strong>Honing<\/strong> &#8211; After a blade is sharpened, it is then honed. Using a less coarse stone than those used for sharpening, the blade\u2019s edge is smoothed and refined by honing.<\/li><li><strong>Stropping<\/strong> &#8211; The final step in the process, stropping takes what honing does and finetunes it even more. This is for removing any final scratches and polishing, essentially.<\/li><\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>After these steps are followed, be sure to <a href=\"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/how-to-store-a-safety-razor-and-blades-in-between-shaves\/\" target=\"_blank\" data-type=\"post\" data-id=\"253\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">properly sanitize and store<\/a> your straight razor.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Blade maintenance is critical to achieving a clean, precise shave with your straight-edge razor. You might logically presume that a dull blade needs to be sharpened, but if you think a step further, you might find yourself wondering, \u201cCan I sharpen my straight razor too much?\u201d When sharpening, a blade can have its edge excessively&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":471,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","_kad_post_transparent":"","_kad_post_title":"","_kad_post_layout":"","_kad_post_sidebar_id":"","_kad_post_content_style":"","_kad_post_vertical_padding":"","_kad_post_feature":"","_kad_post_feature_position":"","_kad_post_header":false,"_kad_post_footer":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[],"taxonomy_info":{"category":[{"value":8,"label":"Razors"}]},"featured_image_src_large":["https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/can-a-straight-razor-be-too-sharp_featured-1024x683.png",1024,683,true],"author_info":{"display_name":"Joshua Bartlett","author_link":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/author\/joshuaebartlett\/"},"comment_info":0,"category_info":[{"term_id":8,"name":"Razors","slug":"razors","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":8,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":54,"filter":"raw","cat_ID":8,"category_count":54,"category_description":"","cat_name":"Razors","category_nicename":"razors","category_parent":0}],"tag_info":false,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/348"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=348"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/348\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/471"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=348"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=348"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/imustacheyoutoshave.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=348"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}