How to Maintain Your Straight Razor Edge For Life With Only 2 Stones - Imperia La Roccia 

your coming back with force Dr Matt. watching now!

great explanation Not took the jump to straight yet. looks like maintaining the edge is easier than learning to strop correctly. Off work for a few weeks after an op on my hand so going to be watching a lot more of your content. great work.

Finally a way to refresh the edge without messy pastes! Thank you Dr Matt!

This is great Matt. Easy to understand for beginners like me. Thanks for making it.

Thank you so much for that, I have spent un told hours on some razors and got absolutely nothing I'm sure some were sharper when I started. One a full wedge was has been laughing at me for over a year. So as I watched you i decided to check it on a peice of floated glass and found out it was curved from front to back. Following your advice I took the bow out and using no tape I passed it over my charnley forest a dozen passes and it was catching the hairs on my arm. I am sure I will be shaving with it tonight

BRAVO! Keep posting your enjoyable videos Doc!

Very nice! I think I just found my finishing stone. Thanks a lot! Great video.

I been using a DE razor and sharpen my own knives for the last five years. I watch a lot of RU-vid and this is by far the best informative video I’ve seen in five years. You did the hands on first and the. Educated on the back end. I want to go to a straight razor. This is helped with confidence I can at least sharpen it right. Shaving....... maybe a lot of manual education. Thank you!

First video out of dozens I've watched that actually helps instead of making me more confused. Thank you sir. *Subscribed.

Great video Dr Matt. I really like the demonstration of the different scratch patterns, and would love to see more of it. Maybe do a video where you do the same procedure and show black arkansas, spyderco UF and of course many more :D Keep up the good work.

Being new to straight razors, I've seen numerous videos that demonstrate time consuming and expensive ways to accomplish what you've shown me here. Your video is simple, economic, and informative. I shall make the initial investment and learn how to maintain my straight razor with the confidence you've shown me. Thank you.

Great video. I’ve been using a shavette for about a year and have been apprehensive about moving to a real straight razor because of the cost and difficulty of maintaining them. After watching this I’m definitely want to try a straight razor.

Took me a decent amount of searching, but this was the video that helped me finally understand the honing process (with good results at home, too).

Thanks Doc. Loved your technique on the ILR. Pulled mine out, tried it and holy cow...WONDERFUL!!! Thanks soooo much.

Thank you for the video Dr. Matt, you've provided a ton of insight for me and I really appreciate the help. Well done sir!

This is a very helpful video. I’ve just got into straight razor shaving and would like to hone my own razors but without getting too much into the art of honing - I just want to keep a great edge so I get a smooth close shave. Thanks for breaking this down to the fundamentals.

Great video Matt :) Just ordered myself a ILR

Dr. Matt; bringing science, visuals, education and pocketbook concerns into our world with a smile.

Great video instruction. Thanks for the slides at the end, really drives home your point.

Great vid Dr Matt...first one I have seen..Just starting out with straights and it really helped on the honing aspect. Although I have the Norton 4/8K and a Chinese 12K I was able to get a really good hone and a very nice shave. I ordered the ILR and fire hose strop and we will see some incremental improvements hopefully. I really like the edge shots juxtaposed at the end..very informative.. Your channel will hold a place of honor..and look forward to more. Again thanks..really good stuff

Shaved with my edge off the ILR today and it worked great. BBS shave with no irritation. What impressed me was how keen yet smooth the edge felt. It was almost like a coticle edge but keener.. I am impressed. Thanks for your help Dr. Matt!

Awesome tutorial, thank you so much for sharing. Just getting into str8 razors and your video was so helpful. All I have have is the Norton 8k 4K going to buy the the finishing stone you recommend.

My ILR is scheduled for delivery today... I. definitely going to try that on my Fili after I get it lapped. Thanks for making this video, Matt!

Dr. Matt I took your recommendation and go the IRL stone and I am extremely happy with the stone. Using your running water method I am getting some amazing edges. Again thanks!

Deffinately a fantastic video! I also enjoyed the way you shared your truth about the ILR.

Thank you... This is a great tutorial for edge maintenance.

You sir, you have conquered the art of honing an edge toe-heel so sharp it shaves. Well done!

Really great video, thanks! You answered my question comparing 12k Naniwa vs ILR.

After using the Imperia La Roccia the shaving was nice and smooth despite the dry shave. Thanks for the information and techniques!

Thank you for posting this video. Awesome!

Awesome video.. ILR was my first finisher and still have a very special place between my stones..

Thanks again Dr Matt, I now know it's more affordable to being able to get started and to maintain a razor. I just hope I can put it to my wife as well as you have educated me on this. Very best regards Gordon. 🙏👍👌

You know what I watched this again today on the computer. On the larger monitor screen the edge you magnified is clear as day that the edge is so refined. Never ceases to amaze me how good the ILR is for the money. Keith Johnstone must have been very unlucky to have caught two bad stones or he's got some other reason to say what he did. At the end of the day the stone works. Best maintenance video Dr Matt, when it's time I always give it a quick watch as a reminder. Just as a motivator to do it.. lol

thanks so much for your feedback it is greatly appreciated.

This is the best ILR video ever!

Thanks for the video. Very helpful and informative.

love your videos I am going to remember to get the ilr as soon as I get back to the US. love your videos and smile.

I run dry laps on the ILR with my blades as the final step of my progression, and I think I get better edges as well.

Sir. I am a 2nd generation barber from the infamous 8 mile road in Detroit Michigan. I would like to thank you for this video. This is a dying art. And people like you keep it alive. Thank you.

Nice video ! Insightful and informative 👏

Great video Dr Matt! I enjoyed watching this

Awesome honing techniques. This is a great help!

Thanks! just found this after many years. subbed :) have a great day

Excellent instructional video. Thank you so much!👍👍

great video. keep em coming. love the microscope shots.

Thanks for the video. Love that shirt. My EDC is a Springfield Range Officer Elite Champion 1911 in .45ACP.

Just did my first touch up on the ILR using what I learned in this video to great results.

I just had bought me a shapton 8K stone and I’ve bought the ILR so I’m going to do this same thing to get that cutting edge sharp!

Fantastic! I ordered my first strop from your recommendation. Now I have a good idea where to start getting the proper stones and how to use them. That Japanese frameback was shave ready as advertised so hopefully I will be able to find out if the person used tape.

Very good instruction. Thank you!

The system you demonstrate here works perfect.

Man I’ve done the exact process and it has created a phenomenal edge upon my razor! The cutting edge is amazing

Great video! I love my ILR.

Fantastic shirt! Couldn't agree more. Great video also, thanks for all of the great info!

thanks dr it help me understand better.

Great Job! Learned a lot.

Nice work, Dr. Matt!

Good god man.... you really really truely love the sound of your owen voice..... i really like the way you do want to be a master at your craft and want to share it with the world that my freind is very awsome.... so i geuss just keep on keeping on man....

works brilliantly thank you

Love your .45 T-Shirt!

one thing for sure. polishing a sword is WAAAAAY different than honing a straight razor. having a lot more difficulty than I expected! even though they're both simple high carbon steel lol. getting AN edge. Sharpie ink all gone, hangs and grips my nail a lot, cuts paper on a whim, but can't seem to get it to pass the hair test! Like I said, your technique is great, considering all the guys who never even touch the end 3rds of their stones lol as easy as it LOOKS, and really is, it isn't. if you know what I mean. don't let anyone bug you about that. I still have lots of work to do.

I got that ILR hone the standard stone! Ultra fine! Thing is awesome! And their 3 inch wide strop the horween Latino leather

got the ILR! works great!. wish you made more educational videos!

Dr. Matt, I just bought my first straight razor this Black Friday. I checked the spine, doesn't need beveling, but it's not as sharp as I'd like it to be. I watched this video a little late though and already ordered an 8k Aluminum Oxide stone and a Naniwa Gouken 12k. The razor doesn't pull on my skin, but it also doesn't want to shave close so it might need to be honed... or it could just be " operator error " involved. 🤣Not sure about that yet. I definitely wanted to hone it anyway just for the sake of removing that problem from the list. Your videos, especially this one have given me an edge ( no pun intended ) on getting this razor honed when the stones get here and in the future when regular maintenance is required. I made the choice to switch to a straight razor mainly because I've been using the ol' school single razor disposable ( the double sided kind that tucks into the all metal safety razor ) for the last 3 years and I'm just getting tired of spending money on refills. I knew if I took this route, it'd pay for itself inside of 6 months.

Nice and informative vid! Thank you! Thumbs UP!

ehh doc love your vids I just bought a Chinese natural polishing stone from woodcraft in Minneapolis it's about 12000 grit for 26 us talk about a steal cheers

Very well done Matt! Excellent instructions for beginners. Simple, logical, effective and inexpensive. I even gleaned a pointer of this myself. Pleasure to watch.

Sir, I want to thank you for this video. I have a Thiers Issard "Spécial Coiffeur", 6/8 and Half Hollow, and your technique made it the perfect razor for my beard. And yes by the way, I also saved say $200 or more haha!

Dr. Matt, you rock!! :) awesome video

I know how to sharpen cooking knives to a razors edge and was wondering if it's the same with a straight razor and I believe it's similar. Thanks for the Informative video.

Great video!

Fun video. Thanks for making it.

Thank you so much for this.

Best video I could find !!!

I'm a woodworker, I have a Norton india combination for really hogging off metal. I own a set of Smiths Arkansas stones that takes me from soft, hard and black. I usually start with my Hard and move to the black for normal honing and strop for a good edge. Most of the tools I have found "in the wild" have had really neglected edges.

I am just getting into the straight razor style of shaving. Thanks for your candor on stones. I bought the Kuromako 8000, & the ILR stone. The price of the ILR's have jumped since you made this vid. They now cost 65.00.

thnks a lot man, i recover my old straight razor.

Dr Matt, what a great video! My stable of razors either have your PERFECT edge on them or the bevel isn't set and the 8k isn't effective. My wife got me another razor for Christmas and the bevel was close enough for me to play with. After shaving with your coticule edge for months now (daily shaves) I was shocked at two things: First, how easy this ILR is to use. I'm sure my 12 year old son could put a great edge on a blade with this stone. Second, how good the shave is, even compared to your perfect coticule edge. Different for sure, even surprisingly different but still very good. You talk in this video about how satisfying it is to put an edge on a razor that you use... Boy are you right! Thanks for the great information.

Thanks great video. I've managed to recover 2 razors after watching

I hone my own razors I finish on a 12k naniwa but man that ilr stone is amazingly impressive I'm gonna get one and try it out I also restore razors if they ain't in to bad of shape

Hey Doc, I'm amazed at the wealth of information you continue to share and appreciate it. I've looked around for the fire hose strop and see many many options. I'm sure you have answered this question on one of your other videos but I don't see it in this thread... Where do I obtain one that meets your standards?

Now I understand, thank you Dr Matt..

love the shirt. Great vid

Hey brother! Keep up the good work!

Dr. Matt, very helpful vid. Thanks for putting it together! I notice that the ILR website offers a "Premium" grade for this stone. I wonder if this accounts for some of the variability in opinion about how well they hone? Do you know whether the stone sent to you for testing was standard or "premium"?

Nice video Matt. If someone needs to set the bevel, how many grits is the starting point? 1000 grit? After that, we need 4000k and 12000 K? Thanks

Dr Matt....great video, and very instructional. But I would like to add another way to maintain a SR Edge. Using a barber's hone . That is all I use to maintain the edge. How effective is it? Ever since I use the barber"s hone (Franz Swaty) the last time I touched up my razors (with a stone) was well over a year ago, and they are every bit as sharp as they were when I first started using it. About the ELR.....its a great finishing stone, but if you use it in combination with a coticule (8000 grit) and an Escher (around 10000 grit) the ELR, the edge it puts out gives by far the most comfortable shave. Nothing beats it, not even a JNat....

Hey DrMatt! thanks for the awesome videos! I wonder if your recommendations changed after 7 years of this video being published, will wait for the update!

Matt love the videos I am getting in to straight razors and sharping it. Would like to know more about Maintaining the ILR stone. And if it is better to pap it till shining smooth

Thanks for great info! My stones are coming in this week. I’m new to using a straight razor and found a nice intro Dovo for a descent price online. Quick questions, doesn’t the spine wear down and show abrasion when you sharpen the razor? Also suggestions on how sanitize the razor before using it? Thanks, Rob

DrMatt Do you use chromium oxide or diamond paste/sprays on your strops? Thanks for the advice on a great video even I can do my own now.

Good day DrMatt. I made my entry in to straight razor shaving a couple years back, and after discovering this video, made my purchase of both of the stones recommended in this video. I rewatch it every time I'm going to refresh my razors. First I'll thank you for the info and instruction. Very valuable to me... I've had great success in maintaining both my razors without issues. I'm curious, how often do you think the stones need to be re-lapped over time with granite and sandpaper? Thank you ~Drew

I really enjoy your videos. my question to you is do you want command taping or no taping. and please include your reasoning thank you

Spend the extra money on a diamond flattening plate, I used the sand paper method a messed up all my fine grit naniwa stones, when the sand paper starts to wear down those pieces embed into the stone, luckily I only used one side with the sand paper method or I would have had to buy new stones.

One of the easiest honing techniques you can ever do. I've done this with all of my razors and it has worked every single time. I've even went straight to the ILR in the middle of a shave with lather on my face and it still worked. I use a Naniwa Snow White 8K Junpaku and then I go straight to the ILR after stropping on my fire hose strop. This technique also works extremely well with Coticules to.

Dr Matt, I realize this is an old video, but I enjoyed it. I wondered what you use for magnification. Would you mind sharing what you are using now? Maybe everyone would enjoy a video.

Hi Dr Matt, one of the best vids I have seen. Im new to straight shaving and had my razors professional honed. Will definitely order one of these. Any idea on the running water technique.on a japanese kamisori, as also added one to my collection. Also the jnat featured for $70, and idea where to pick one up. Keep up the excellent work.

Just got my 8k! Excited to use it. About how often should I expect to do this routine with shaving 3x per week?

Hi Dr. Matt! I love your videos and am learning a lot from your expertise. I notice you don't mention a leather strop in this video. What is your opinion on stropping on leather? Not necessary? Not as smooth or as sharp as the natural ILR stone? Thank you for making these.

Bleeding is primal!