How to sharpen a razor - 6 ways: food foil, sandpaper, stone sharpening, how to sharpen with a pyramid, leather belt, denim

Our distant ancestors did not shave their beards; in those years, a man without it was perceived as unreliable and unable to give birth. They tried not to have business relations with them, and the girls avoided them. This situation changed under Peter the Great, after his return from Europe in 1689. He issued a corresponding decree and then introduced a tax on wearing a beard. For the boyars, he demonstratively chopped them with an ax.

Nowadays the ax is not used for removing beards; shaving accessories have undergone great changes since those times. Modern shaving devices are the height of perfection and design thought. The blades for them are made from high-quality steel, and the razors use cassettes with several blades. This greatly simplifies the process and makes it more comfortable. But the blades become dull, and their cost is quite high. For example, the price for a set of four cassettes, with five blades each, in the Magnit cosmetics store is 1039.99 rubles.

Gillete shaving device

Is it possible to restore the razor for further use? How to sharpen a razor blade if you forgot to buy fresh ones yesterday, and now you urgently need to look shaved. There are methods and devices that will help you adjust your razor and get yourself in order in this case. In this post I will look at some of them.

What is important to know about self-sharpening machine blades

Shaving with a blunt edge is not at all uncomfortable, but it can lead to inflammation or irritation on the skin. Blunt edges can be easily sharpened; it is important to correctly calculate your strength and take into account some nuances.

Main subtleties:

Only disposable razors, as well as replaceable shaving cassettes or cartridges, can be sharpened. With conventional blades, the result will not justify itself, and there is a high risk of accidental cuts in the process.
It is better to throw away cheap disposable razors or shaving accessories of poor quality (damaged, rusted) immediately, without exposing yourself to the risk of accidental injury.
Good quality products from trusted manufacturers can be sharpened in specialized workshops. Such a procedure will cost less than a new purchase; the main thing is to choose a good specialist.

The advent of safety razors seemed to have solved the problem of dealing with stubble forever. At the same time, disposable machines and cartridges quickly break down, so you have to constantly spend money on purchasing new accessories. You can solve this problem by sharpening it yourself; the best methods are given below.

Why do you need to sharpen electric razor blades?

Self-sharpening of special shaving blades allows you to extend their service life and improve the quality of cutting stubble. It will be possible to shave even long hair in one pass without wrapping it around the shaft, thereby eliminating skin damage or irritation.

The reason for sharpening the cutting edges of the razor yourself may be the need to shave in the field. This is especially true when there are no specialized sharpeners or machines at hand.

Methods for sharpening a razor

The best option would be to purchase a special sharpening device. Externally, it is a small plate coated with fine diamond chips.

How sharpening occurs:

Apply a small amount of shaving gel to the plate.
Guide the machine in the direction of shaving movement.
Repeat movements 25-30 times.

High-quality sharpeners can be purchased from the Razor Pit brand (Denmark), as well as its budget analogue - Zattoch (Ukraine). Chinese fakes, despite the minimum price, do not justify their purpose at all.

We use denim

An original method, for which you will need a small piece of fabric, you can use the finished product - it will not be damaged when sharpening. Place the fabric on a hard, flat surface with the wrong side turned out. The movements are carried out in the opposite direction than when shaving (30-50 times). This method is convenient to use on the road or in hiking conditions.

Leather belt

You can use a trouser belt in a similar way. It should be made of thick, high-quality leather, wide enough to accommodate the entire blade. Sharpening occurs on the back side of the belt; the procedure requires 25-30 passes.

Special pyramid

An original way with a minimum of costs is to use a cardboard pyramid. It must be made to size, and a pedestal with blades fixed on it must be placed inside. A small hole is cut into the body of the pyramid on one side and placed on the south side. The structure should remain in this position for a week, but it is forbidden to move it or touch it with your hands.

Sharpening stone

This method requires some skill, so not everyone succeeds the first time. A stone of uniform structure is used, without inclusions or large particles on the surface. You must first moisten it with water, and then perform 20-30 passes in the direction opposite to the shaving movements.

Sandpaper

Having fine grit sandpaper (over 2000) on hand can also quickly restore sharpness. It needs to be slightly wetted, the movements are similar to the method of using a sharpening stone.

Food foil

Sharpening a razor on a roll of food foil is an effective, quick method. To do this, it is better to use the end of a new roll; there should be no dents or deformations on the foil. Repeat the movements at least 30 times, the direction is away from you.

Sharpening a cassette in a pyramid

If you are wondering how to sharpen a razor and don’t want to buy any equipment, you can build a special pyramid for this purpose.

This device is useful for repeated use. Sharpening your razor is simple and convenient. When manufacturing, you should proceed from the dimensions of the machine. The device itself can be constructed from wooden slats and any available material that is used to cover the sides of the figure. Using machines with this device is very profitable.

The razor is placed in the inner part of the pyramid with the blade directed north. The device itself is also positioned taking into account the cardinal directions.

Why razor blades become sharp is still an open question for debate. Judging by the reviews of those who tried to build a special pyramid, we can conclude that the method really works.

One razor must be processed in a pyramid for 1.5-4 years. Therefore, the device is considered effective and reliable, despite its secret technique of influence.

How to sharpen a disposable razor at home with your own hands

Typically, disposable razors are not intended for long-term use, but throwing them away after the first shave is an unaffordable luxury . If you carefully care for the blade and avoid damaging it, the product will last for months without any problems and will help you out in an unforeseen situation.

Basic rules for maintaining and sharpening a razor:

After shaving, you must thoroughly clean the body of hair and detergent residues. It is best to use warm (not hot) water.
The machine must be stored in an upright position, avoiding direct sunlight and high humidity. If you need to take the razor with you on the road, the razor must be absolutely clean and dry.

It is most convenient to sharpen a disposable machine using denim or the back of a belt. As a rule, workshops do not sharpen such products, and sandpaper or a stone can damage the metal, which is usually not of the highest quality in such products.

Preparation

The preparatory stage involves making a preliminary assessment of the geometry of the razor tool in order to find out what type of sharpener will be required (coarse or fine).

Evaluate the geometry by placing the instrument on a flat surface (preferably glass). It should be in contact with the leads and edge of the razor. If the fit on the side of the cutting edge and the backing is not tight enough, preference is given to a coarse abrasive.

The geometry of the tool is assessed from both sides.

Examine the “caution” for the straightness of the cutting edge line. If there is a geometric defect - a “reverse smile” - it will not allow you to properly sharpen the tip. It will need to be fixed.

Features of sharpening a straight razor

Razor accessories with an open long blade are not often used when there is a wide range of safety razors. Previously, such an item, in addition to its direct purpose, often served as a weapon for self-defense. To successfully shave with this tool, it is important to choose the right product and learn the rules for its use.

Tips for choosing and sharpening straight razors:

Beginners should pay attention to products with a wide, rounded blade. This makes it easier to adjust the angle of inclination and makes it more difficult to cut yourself.
The handle of the razor should be durable, fit comfortably in your hand, and not slip off when moving.
The opening angle of a good razor is 270 degrees. Closing must be without jamming or distortion.
It is better to store it in a special case, thoroughly washing and drying it after use.
The blade must be sharpened before each use using a whetstone or ceramic whetstone. Movements should be smooth, direction away from you, then towards yourself. After a couple of passes, the blade is turned over to the other side and the procedure is repeated.
After sharpening, you need to straighten the blade with a leather belt. This is necessary to remove possible chips and irregularities on the edge of the blade, which can seriously cut you.
Before editing, a thin layer of polishing paste must be applied to the surface of the belt. Straighten and tighten the belt, repeat the movements as when sharpening for each side of the blade.
After shaving, the blade is thoroughly washed to remove product residue under hot water. The razor is thoroughly wiped with a towel and put into its case until next time.
The undoubted advantage of a straight razor is the almost eternal service life of a high-quality blade.

In our age of accessibility of goods and even their abundance, useful advice on sharpening a disposable razor is as relevant as ever. “Working” tips on how to sharpen a razor with improvised means, as well as rules for caring for razor accessories will help extend the service life and keep the blade longer.

How effective is it?

After you have sharpened, you can use the machine one or two more times, after which the procedure will have to be repeated. Regarding efficiency, these methods are about the same, and it all depends mainly on what materials you have at home.

Most often, a single-use machine cannot withstand more than three sharpenings due to wear of the rubber plate, which is located under the blades of the lower part of the device. Because of this, it will not be possible to make the machine eternal, but it will also cease to be disposable. Shaving will become much more enjoyable and efficient. This way, you can save a little, and also use your old machine if you forgot to buy a new one.

Results

Careful care of your razor will help extend its service life, and sharpening it yourself will save you money on future purchases.
In hiking conditions, the method with denim or a belt is suitable. For home sharpening, it would be best to buy a special device, a stone or fine-grained sandpaper.
Straight razors are more difficult to use and sharpen yourself. At the same time, with proper care, such a blade is practically eternal, which will more than pay for all expenses. We also recommend that you familiarize yourself with facial hair removal for women in this material.

What is important to know

The main accessory for men's daily grooming that requires attention is machines. Mainly used - disposable, T-shaped or reusable with replaceable cassettes.

It happens that the blade becomes dull or the replacement cassettes run out. You have to shave with unsuitable material, which results in severe skin irritation, abrasions on the face, and the hair is shaved poorly.

Home techniques will quickly restore the original appearance of the sharp material, extend the shelf life, help save money and help out in any situation.

Sharpening or straightening knives?

Before moving on to the instructions on how to sharpen knives on a sharpening machine correctly, you need to determine what kind of care the blade of your tool needs - sharpening or sharpening. What is it for? The fact is that for different types of deformation, the principles of care will also differ. For example, when bending an edge, one nozzle and one speed are used, when removing chips, a completely different disk and different settings are used. Using standard bent edge turning techniques, you can cut off too much metal. Therefore, it is recommended to edit the gun first. Among the mechanical analogues, musat is used to eliminate wavy irregularities and curves - a round oblong file with a handle (Figure 4). However, if you have a machine, processing with hand tools is too energy-intensive.

Figure 4. Variant of the Musat file

Editing is carried out at minimum speed:

The wave-bent metal is removed completely under the base. It will be impossible to bend it back. It is worth considering that cutting the deformed layer must be done with pinpoint precision, so as not to double the time of further processing and not accidentally shorten the length of the blade;
Based on the initial edge angle, further work is carried out.

Conclusion

Razor accessories all have their own service life, which depends on the materials used in the production of the razor itself and the quality of the blades in it. Disposable razors are used no more than 1-3 times, but T-shaped razors and reusable razors will last longer if you change the cutting parts on time. And in order not to spend money on buying new “feathers”, you can sharpen them in a timely manner. To do this, you may need a special device, as well as a pyramid of improvised materials, a leather strap or denim.

How to sharpen knives on a machine correctly

Before you learn how to properly sharpen knives on a machine, you need to become more familiar with its design. Since all motor models are divided into automatic and semi-automatic, instructions for their use will vary.

Figure 1. Wheels for sharpening knives: abrasive and felt

However, the operating principle remains the same:

The electric motor rotates the axis on which a circle with a special coating is installed. For turning it is crystalline abrasive grains of various sizes, for grinding it is felt (Figure 1). The coarser the crystals on the wheel, the more severe dullness they can handle. It is prohibited to use coarse grain for thin, soft or partially dull blades - complete deformation will follow. The use of small crystals for a completely dull tip will also be ineffective;
The rotation speed of the axis is selected by the operator himself, depending on the type of steel and the degree of dullness. If you choose the wrong mode, you can overheat the product and inevitably damage it under the influence of temperature;

This is where the similarities between automatic and semi-automatic devices end.

Figure 2. Options for professional knife sharpening machines

A professional automatic knife sharpening machine (Figure 2) operates according to the following algorithm:

A motor and abrasive wheels of different grain sizes are built into a maximally closed casing with an opening (or several openings) for the blade. The system is designed in such a way that the inclination of the grinding wheel can change depending on the impact on the guides themselves. The operator inserts the product into the opening, and the guides automatically adjust the required angle;
Since the turning inclination is individual for each tip, such devices imply the ability to adjust down to the millimeter;
Most devices have several speed or time modes, so you need to know the characteristics of the gun in advance. By choosing too intense a mode, you can also deform the tip.

Figure 3. Typical “Epaper”
A manual machine (Figure 3) for sharpening knives (aka “emery”) requires an integrated approach to the entire process:

Turning is carried out by applying the edge to a rotating wheel; precise inclination must be maintained. Otherwise, you can either grind off a significant layer of metal, or completely change the slope of the processing, which will ruin the blade;
The attachment with grain is also selected according to the characteristics of the implement. For kitchen or travel models, fine sandpaper is sufficient, for working tools (for example, shoemakers) – medium sandpaper. Axes and other household and garden tools are sharpened using the coarse fraction;
To ensure that the process proceeds smoothly, at first it is recommended to work with a partner who will monitor the uniformity and accuracy of the operator’s movements. Even an untrained person can act as an assistant: he only needs to concentrate on the work. At a more professional level, the operator copes independently;
It is recommended to work in plastic safety glasses and closed clothing to prevent crumbs or sparks from touching soft or mucous tissues. Neglecting safety precautions when working with the machine is strictly prohibited.

Is it important to use special devices?

In fact, any selected razor sharpener should be approved by experts, like a leather belt, pyramid or denim. Other unfamiliar techniques and untested means at hand can easily damage the integrity of the blades, since we are talking about a metal plate with a thickness of 0.5 mm or less. Although there are many razor sharpeners sold online, only a few actually do the job.

If we are talking about an expensive machine and blades, it is better to purchase sharpening options such as a device from the RazorPit brand or its Ukrainian equivalent from the Zattoch brand. In such a device you can sharpen both blades and cassettes of a safety razor without fear for their integrity and functionality. If a man prefers the cheap option of sharpening on jeans, you need to correctly observe the direction of the blades perpendicular to the direction of the threads in the fabric.