Keeping a razor blade sharp is essential for getting the closest shave in life. The more you use your razor, the sharper it will need to be to cut through hair. But, how do you keep your blades sharp? There are many different ways you can sharpen your razor blade so that it can cut hair again and again. A sharp blade is an important component of any shaving kit and is also an investment; trust us, it’ll pay for itself quickly. In this article, we will explain everything about how to sharpen a razor blade as well as the best methods available on the market today.
How To Sharpen A Razor Blade
1. The first way to sharpen a razor blade is by using a sharpening stone. A sharpening stone is one of the easiest and most effective ways to sharpen any type of razor blade, including straight razors, safety razors, and disposable razors. Sharpening stones are also referred to as whetstones or Arkansas stones. You can purchase one at any hardware store or even your local grocery store. These stones come in many different grits ranging from very coarse to very fine. The higher the number of grit, the finer it can be used on your razor blade. Most people use either a medium or fine grit stone for their razor blades. If you have never used a sharpening stone before, we recommend that you start out with a medium grit stone and work your way up; otherwise you may ruin your razor blade by using too high of grit for it.
2. The second way to sharpen a razor blade is with an electric knife sharpener. This type of sharpener can be found in many different stores such as Target or Wal-Mart and usually costs only about $20-$30 dollars depending on the brand name that you choose. An electric knife sharpener allows you to hold the blade at the appropriate angle while it spins around like an electric drill grinding off any nicks on your blade’s surface that have formed over time from normal usage.
3 . The third method for how to sharpen a razor is with an old-fashioned oilstone. This type of stone has been around for years and is one of the first types of stones used to sharpen a razor blade. A razor oilstone usually looks like a rectangular block with a handle on it. To use this sharpener, you simply place the stone on a flat surface and hold your razor blade at an appropriate angle to grind off any nicks that have formed on the blade.
4 . The fourth method for how to sharpen a razor is with an electric sharpener. Electric sharpeners are also very inexpensive and can be used in the same way as electric knife sharpeners but are meant specifically for sharpening razors. This type of sharpener will allow you to hold your razor at an appropriate angle while it spins just like an electric knife sharpener allowing you to have more control over your blade while it grinds away at any nicks that have formed over time from normal usage.
5 . The fifth way to sharpen your razors is by using sandpaper. Sandpaper can be found in most hardware stores or even home improvement stores such as Home Depot or Lowes for about $1-$3 dollars depending on how much you purchase at one time. Using sandpaper is similar to using an oilstone because you need only place the sandpaper on a flat surface and hold your razor blade at an appropriate angle to grind away any nicks that have formed from normal usage.
6 . The sixth method for how to sharpen a razor is with a knife sharpening stone. This type of stone is usually found in the same places as the oilstone but is a lot more expensive than the oilstone and can cost you up to $20-$30 dollars depending on what brand name you choose. A knife sharpening stone works in the same way as an oilstone and also requires that you place your razor blade at an appropriate angle to grind away any nicks that have formed over time from normal usage.
Types Of Razor Blades
Safety Razor Blades
Safety razor blades are typically used in safety razors or double-edge razors. These blades have a protective guard (or “safety”) on one side of the blade, which allows you to shave without cutting yourself. Safety razor blades are also more affordable than other types of razor blades, but they can get dull faster than others as well.
Disposable Blade Razors
Disposable blade razors are the most common type of razor blades around today. They are cheap and very easy to find at any store near you. You can purchase disposable razors by the pack or individually as you need them. Disposable razor blades can be used for about five shaves before they start to dull out on you, but some may last longer than others depending on your hair and skin type.
Straight Razors
Straight razors are a classic shaving tool that many people use today; however, many straight razors require a lot of maintenance to keep them sharp and working properly, which is why they aren’t as popular as they once were years ago. Straight razors require regular stropping and honing in order to maintain their sharpness otherwise they will not effectively cut hair like they should be able to do so easily.
Double Edge Razors
Double edge razors allow for both sides of the blade to be exposed at once so that you can shave with both sides of the blade at once. This is a great way to save money on razor blades and create less waste, but it does require more skill in order to be able to shave with both sides of the blade at once.
Electric Razors
Electric razors are a popular choice among men and women alike because they allow for fast and easy shaving without needing to make any extra effort. Most electric razors require you to replace the razor head every so often in order to maintain proper performance; however, some electric razors don’t need replacement heads as often as others. If you are looking for a more convenient way of shaving without having to use a manual razor every day then an electric razor may be right for you!
Japanese Sharpening Stone And Waterstones
- Place the sharpening stone in a shallow bowl of water. Make sure that the water is only enough to cover the bottom of the stone. If you put too much water in, it will cause the stone to float and you will have to file your razor with a floating stone. This can be dangerous as it can cause your blade to slip out of your hand and cut you if it falls on the floor.
- Take your razor blade and begin filing it against the sharpening stone in a back-and-forth motion. Make sure that you hold your blade at a constant angle so that you don’t end up with an uneven edge on either side of your blade. The angle should be somewhere between 20-30 degrees, but this all depends on what kind of razor blade you are using and what kind of handle it has; this angle is for safety razors, not straight razors or disposable razors, which we will explain later on in this article.
- Continue filling your razor until you see a small burr form on both sides of your razor blade. A burr is a thin layer of metal that forms when metal filings are scraped off by sharpening stones; this makes the edge very sharp and ready for use again.
- Once you have created a burr, rinse off your razor under running water, dry off with a towel, and try shaving! If there are still spots where hair is not being cut close enough, go back to your sharpening stone and repeat the process.
- If you are using a straight razor or a disposable razor, the process is slightly different. With these two razors you will use both sides of the blade to sharpen it, so make sure that you use both sides evenly so that one side of your blade doesn’t get sharper than the other side.
- To sharpen your disposable razor, hold it at a 90-degree angle (perpendicular) to the sharpening stone and drag it down flat against the stone in a straight line motion until you see a small burr form on both sides of your blade; rinse off under water and dry off with a towel before using it again.
- To sharpen your straight razor, hold it at an angle between 10-30 degrees and draw it across the sharpening stone in an even motion; rinse off under water and dry off with a towel before using it again.
- Always keep your stones clean by washing them often with soap and water or rubbing alcohol; this will prevent metal filings from building up on them which can be dangerous when shaving!
Conclusion
A dull blade will not cut hair, so it is important to keep your blades in good shape. You can use a bench grinder or a sharpening stone to keep your blades in tip-top shape. The best method to sharpen your blade is to use a sharpening stone. There are many different types of stones and each has its own benefits.
