How To Sharpen Your First eBay Razor 

I have watched so many videos on how to do this process and this is the first one to actually work. Thank you.

Short n sweet method. No frills, just efficiency & results. That IMO is a true art form. Love it!!

Hey Dr. Matt: I've been watching your videos and collecting razors for about a year. You really boiled it down to a simple process with this one. I'm starting to favor the heavier wedge blades. Also trying different soaps, lots of samplers. Keep 'em coming!

I have been de shaving for 3 years now. I have been wanting to get into straight razor shaving, but I have needed the sharpening guidance you have just given. Terrific Video!

Dr Matt never fails to make a great video... interesting/educational especially for people just getting into straight razor shaving.

Great display from a master. I’ve spent hours on a razor going through the grits and was still not happy in the end. Took a lot of practice to get it down but in the end it is a good feeling to be able to put an edge on a tool. It’s a matter of independence for me. Been trying to teach my son to do it also but he is at that difficult age, hopefully he will pickup something by osmosis. Thank you for all your wonderful videos as they have taught me a lot. Now if I can only get that rolling x stroke but I still need more practice on that one, have a difficult near wedge razor that gives me fits but it sure is pretty.

Top class vid again Doc, superb tutorial. I have been honing for a decade now and i love the way you understand the metal and when to use pressure or torque. You are a master of this art.

Easy to understand, concise, no technical mumbo jumbo. Thanks Matt

No one puts a better edge than Dr.Matt

Thanks for the video Dr.Matt. I've been looking at getting into honing my own razors and seeing what you do for a basic hone job is awesome. Hopefully I'll have the coin this summer to start entering another rabbit hole.

Thanks I've been trying to sharpen my own now I see I need better stones I've been using the lansky system to no avail thanks DR Matt

Dr.Matt I just want to say you convinced me to pull out my stones and try sharpening them using a much simpler tutorial. Thxs I'm ready to try AGAIN !!!!

Incredible. I was thinking just this morning, as I was shaving with my late father's DE Gilette, that it is about time for a Dr Matt video. Thanks! I live overseas and picked up some old razors at a flea market. Would like to send you photos and get your opinion. Will send to you soon.

Hey Dr Matt, great video, I have used my stones to varying degrees of success, but I feel inspired by your instruction, that’s what I will be doing this weekend.

Hell yeah \m/ I haven’t shaved in years, but I still watch these great videos.

Great to see you back, as usual fantastic, concise information, many thanks. Enjoy

Dr. Matt, thanks again for refining my razor! Scott G from Bryan, TX

Hey Dr.Matt, great video. I’ve been using a Parker shavette for about a year and want switch to a real straight razor. Your videos are super helpful.

Nice job. These videos are quite helpful for someone like me who's looking to get into honing.

Thank you Dr. Matt this is the best video I’ve seen on a beginners first blade sharpening. Well done you’re awesome ! Please keep the videos coming! I really want to learn how to sharpen my own razor. Thanks again. Be safe and stay healthy.

Really appreciate your vids very informative ,I have a GD I got from the stallion a little over a year ago and love it, only got a couple little knicks from it until the other day... after a long day and a couple crown and cokes is not a good time to put a sharp blade to your face, wasn’t pretty almost had to get stitches lol.. thx again doc.

Love your videos thanks for all the great information and for taking the time making them👍

It's a statement of independence, creating and keeping an edge with simple tools, staying sharp, self reliance, emblematic of a manifesto synthesized in a process.

Excellent video Dr Matt💈😎👍 I guess I’ll have to give it a go.

I agree there is a great feeling from taking steel to stone and coming up with a shaving sharp edge! Don't need the razor I have enough! give it to someone that will enjoy it!

Very helpful video! I have a vintage razor I’ve been trying to get a good shave with. Not successfully done yet, but I won’t give up. Would be great to have a razor that you honed. To see what a truly sharp blade should feel like. Congrats to the blessed person who gets this razor. Thank you for this opportunity Dr. Matt. Take care all.

Great video!...appreciate the enthusiasm...I’m interested in shaving with a straight razor and didn’t want to have to send it out for sharpening...This video took the mystery out of it... really liked the tape idea...have not seen that in other videos!..

Very nice video thank you for the info Just purchased my first stone. 12k naniwa

This is the exact kind of video I've been missing! I'm just now starting out shaving with straight razors. Nice, short walkthrough of the basic set of stones. Generally it's hard to find info about what the lowest and highest grits one should go far, natural or synthetic, etc. You know what I'm talking about, it's a jungle when starting out. Anyway, this video was a good reminder to keep stuff simple and the fact that you'll be able to achieve a good edge without insane investments in gear! Thanks. Also, would love to add that razor to my collection :)

Nice quick instructional video. I dig it. Thanks for posting. I try and tell people that it isn't an all day thing to put an edge on a razor. This proves it. Haha. Have a great week.

Hey there Dr Matt! Loving the videos, I started following you just after I started shaving with a shavette (about 4 months ago). I've been amazed at how much its saving my skin! I bought a cheap older solingen made straight razor about a month ago and am quite excited to do dome very necessary bevel setting, which your videos are really helpful with. I must admit though, as I'm a professional circus acrobat, and am out of work for the next 6months (at least), times are tough. There's been a lot of adapting and hustling to get work in another sector, so buying a 'good' razor and a decent finishing stone is a bit tough. It would be pretty cool to get to handle a blade you've honed, and I'd be very grateful... But that said I already feel like your videos are such a huge help that I almost feel cheeky entering this. Thanks for doing your thing! 😊

Another great video. Man I wish we had the internet and your videos back in the eighties. I could have shown my barber a few tricks because back then there was only one freaking guy in the whole town that still offered shaves like this and the ones that still shaved with a straight acted like it was a big secret to even show a young man the little tricks they had learned over the years.

Thank you for one of the best and simplest videos on How to sharpen a Straight razor! I just bought some vintage Cattagurus the Green Lizards. Can't wait to apply what you taught. Mark A.

Oh my,,, simple like that,,, great job done in 15 min! Usually I’m killing hours to bring razors to useable stage : ) many thanks Dr Matt for the tips

It's great to see another video from you Dr Matt! I've been getting into honing and your videos have been very helpful, so thank you for that and the help you give to the community. I always look forward to seeing your content, please keep it up

Great see you Doc. Thanks for the great video as always. 👍🏼🇺🇸

Amazing shave and video! Loved the video mate!

Great instruction, amazing passion. Bravo and thank you!

Hey Dr. Matt, glad to see another video. I found your videos about 4/5 months ago after gaining interest over straight razor shaving and I must say, watching you shave has given me a huge amount of excitement over learning the process. I spoke to my father about straight razors and he was explaining to me how my grandfather had three or four straight razors, stones and strops and thoroughly enjoyed his Sunday morning shave! My grandfather passed many years ago but we still have lots of his belongings around the house, stored away. I spent about 4 days absolutely gutting all of our storage trying to find these items but only found the strop unfortunately. I actually told my father if I found them I was going to contact you to ask some questions about the razors and perhaps get them honed! My family purchased me a Parker shavette, brush and shaving cream for my birthday to get me started on the process (appreciating it isn't the same as a straight razor) due to my excitement. Although I've had one or two (being generous to myself here haha) nicks, your videos have taught me how to safely shave with this apparatus and for that I am grateful! Id love to have this straight razor for four reasons, one: I want to experience all aspects of a straight razor shave using a straight razor rather than a shavette (the process of honing and stropping fascinates me in particular), two: I am 21 but born in the wrong era, anything traditional or 'old fashion' grabs my attention and I just have to give it a go/learn all I can, three: to have a straight razor honed by you, the reason I stick to learning the process, would honestly be pretty cool and something to cherish and four: it would be a pretty cool graduation present after three long years at university haha. Thanks Dr. Matt, I hope to see many videos in the future, stay safe! Jason.

Thank you for teaching us! Greetings from Argentina!🇦🇷

Iam a old UK newbie, so thank you so much ! So informative!

Hey.. Welcome back in making more videos, I probably looked in all your videos around. Not long time ago I called you on email in regards with a set of Shapton Glass going all the way to 16K, thanks for the advise on there but in the mean time I purchased 2 JNATS Nakiama Kiita and Ozuku Asagi plus a Coticule stone and I want to say that is a different level. I finally managed to make a shaving edge. With all this been said I will appreciate to have that razor to my collection to see what an edge of a PRO looks like.. If I will not be the lucky one, no problem...keep doing good videos.

Hi Dr. Matt, you are a great educator! Thanks for it. Cheers

I have quite a collection of DE razors, and I've designed quite a number of DE razors for 3d printing. Also, I've shaved with shavettes for years. But it took COVID for me to commit to the effort required to maintain a traditional straight. I'm still waiting for all the gear to arrive, but I appreciate channels like yours that havehelped me come up to speed. You seem to have found a $15 treasure so easily! I had to settle for a Gold Dollar for my first! Thanks and stay safe.

I missed you! eBay razors are fun surprise. One of my favorites (Genco Gold Seal) was a nearly a "pig in a poke" is was so blury.

Nice to see a new video from you. Hope you are doing well during this pandemic.

Thanks for sharing your knowledge with your videos. I'm sure your personally honed eBay purchase will make a straight razor newbie very happy.

Doc I just finished honing my 2nd razor because of all your videos and I greatly appreciate everything you do....I wouldn't have ever believed I could do this ...but I do primarily because of you ,thank you brother for what it's worth this means alot to me to be able to do this

Thanks for the advice. I appreciate it. Looking in to stones to start learning to hone. Demonstration is a blessing looks idiot proof. Have a great evening. Very best regards Gordon.👍👌

This guy makes it look easy.

Great video! Short, sweet and to the point. Thanks. Hoping all are well.

Beginner, very helpful and well made video

When i first learned to use a SR, HRH (my missus) got browned off with me going 'feel my face - smooooth'! Never thought of using a slurry on a 4k before, very helpful. T

Started watching you 2 weeks ago Dr. Matt. Bought my first straight razor 3 weeks ago, shave ready (not so much). Watched your video about the only 2 stones a beginner needs. Proceeded to buy the Shapton 8k+ILR. They came in yesterday. I used them today exactly as you said in that same video and.....WOW, what an amazingly comfortable and close shave!!! I have so much to learn from you. Thank you so much Dr. Matt, you've made the daunting seem somewhat manageable!! I would love to win the razor in this video, #1) to shave with (duh) and #2) to have a benchmark to see what a pro-honed/ACTUAL shave ready straight razor is supposed to look+feel like! Thanks again!!

Informative video! Looks like a good fit for my face! Thanks!!!

I shaved with my first edge last week and it felt great!

"Kill the edge" I love it. Think I'll have a t shirt made.

Super cool idea for teaching and the bonus giveaway. I am super interested in trying to put my own edge on something, haha! Cheers!

Great to see you again Dr Matt. All my razors are eBay beauties since down here in Aus a new one is just silly expensive. So we need to know how to fix up our blades. I would love to get this one to see and feel how good a Dr Matt edge is. See how far I have to grow with my honing or if I’m getting good edges also.

Literally just got my first e bay razor 4 days ago! Dr. Matt on point!

Good Video Dr. Matt. A quick "crash course" intro into getting started with straight razors. I hope you still have in archive those videos you did 5 years ago that get into more detail with technique. Glad to see you are well. Have a fun and safe Memorial Day weekend. Cheers!

Another great, informative video. I hope that the newbies appreciate your time and expertise. Have a great weekend!

Realy nice video Matt 👍👍👍 Have a rocking weekend and take care. 🤘😃🤘

I love this man so much this is awesome you are so easy to listen to and follow and you offer real information I absolutely love it keep doing these I was literally about to spend 335$ on a straight razor because mine had a frown in it I guess you could call it a frowning razor

Hi Love your videos! Never tried a straight razor before but I would love to give straight razor shaving a go!

Brilliant video - very useful

I'm so excited to start my honing journey cant wait to shave with my own edge

Your honing instruction videos have helped me develop the skill to get a razor shave-ready. I still haven’t gotten good enough to shave against the grain on my upper lip like you, but it’s nice to know I don’t have to buy a new razor every time the edge gets dull. I do not need another razor, but hopefully your give-away will convert another person to the SR community. Thank you for taking the time to make these videos.

8k shapton, ilr, strop. So far so good, take care doc

Hi Dr Matt, I hope all is well with you. I like your videos quite a lot. You have taught me a lot about straight razor sharpening and shaving. I’ve strayed to the dark side lately it’s vintage DE and SE razors. Maybe winning a Dr Matt sharpened straight will get me back on the straight and narrow. Looking forward to more videos. Thanks, Gil

Okay dude. Today I moved up to the majors after failing a number of times. Used the Scotch Super 88 tape on my vintage razor. Smooth as a baby’s bottom. Awesome. Amazing how a small bit of advice can make a major change. True about shaving, business and life. Thx, Dr Matt.

I really appreciated the video when you sharpened and corrected the neck of smiley bald a that was from Ireland that was over 100 years old that was really neat.

Dr Matt, I think you should send that razor to the UK. Thanks for all your help.

Hey Matt, great content! I've always wanted to grab a straight razor but decided to go DE because I thought honing, putting edges and stropping would be a hassle, but you just proved me otherwise! Please consider me as a potential candidate for that beauty! Have a great weekend. Cheers

Great video Matt thanks for your help. Greetings from Ecuador

Great video. I've never used a straight razer before and this was a great little video. I have used double-edged safety razers but I would like to move into this. Now to go look at your other videos and see if you recommend brands. Since I never win anything lol.

Just got done using these stones but my finisher was a Shohonyama Nakayama Asagi JNat. Did this on my Grim Dollar. Wonderful results. She's all stropped up and raring to go!

Another awesome video!!

Excellent tutorial👏👍

Great video mate

I’ve watched all your videos and learned a lot from them and would love to shave with a razor you’ve honed to compare with the edges I have produce to see if I can improve. Thanks for all the information you’ve shared good job 👍🏻

Love your videos. I've benefited greatly from them. I have enough razors so no for me but thank you.

Hi doc, looks like you have been hitting more than the stones. Looking fit. I should get the razor cause I am a nice guy Love the vids. Always great advice

Whats UP doc? I like your videos. I think they are educational and nice to watch. I would like to have that razor. My grandfather was a barber in Greece. He passes away in the 70s. My uncle carried on but he didnt want me to be next one. I want this because you sarpened and used and I saw you did it. Thank you Doc.

Hello Dr. Matt, I always find your videos informative and entertaining. I've never shaved with a straight razor and think it would be fun. I would like to be considered for the razor giveaway. Thanks and keep making the instructional videos.

Hey Dr Matt! Great video as always, my 7 month old is teething and your videos always seem to entertain him enough to get the crying to stop..... although most loud noises do too. I'd love to win the razor, but mostly wanted to thank you for the content! Have a great weekend!

The only stone I have is the Naniwa SS12K and it, along with your instruction, have been instrumental in keeping my only razor tip-top. It came to me professionally honed so I didn't have worry about the lower grit stones. I just had to worry about keeping the edge finely polished which I can do with the 12K and a good strop. Straight razor shaving, to me, necessitates the need to be able to hone your razor. As you say, it's not that hard and the satisfaction I get being able to do that myself is its own reward. I get it.

Hello Dr. Matt I just ordered the strop you talked about in this video. Nice looking razor how different is the shave compared to a near wedge? A near wedge is all I own and use as of now never used a full hollow ground razor. Keep posting the great videos. Thanks Dr Matt.

That was reel great thank you. I am moving country and wish to save some money as I'll be on the budget and won't have the money for the over price razor blades, as well as saving something towards the environment. also to have a shaving experience to make it a pleasure. This video was very helpful thank you. I have watch most of them but this on was especially good for me as to how to get that edge.

Good video mate im gonna follow this to a point 😁

Too awesome and no nonsense guide. Just shut up and do it for a great edge.. 😃

The thimble is an awesome idea. I typically rub my fingers on an alum block for the grip

I should get it because I'm just getting into straight shaving. I don't have any yet!!!

Dr Matt Howdy! I am new to your channel and I dig your videos on the straight razors. I just bought my first straight razor at the age of 70 and had a question for you. Is putting the 3M tape needed every time I sharpen it or is it just for the first time only? Because I see you sharpening razors without the tape. Just curious. I like how you get into explaining things. Thanks Craig

Great video, as always. Do you use tape for regular touchups?

I'm just now getting into this and looking for my first razor. I can see why this is a lost art of manliness--so much work involved but it's something I want to learn. My dad sharpens knives but he never shaves (he's always bearded). Me on the other hand, this is my next thing to learn and conquer. Just wish I could find a good beginner blade that isn't too expensive and good enough to be one to hold for years.

not having to much luck picking up razors myself, bad pitting, badly worn or my last one blade split right in the middle about a 1/4 inch long, still sharpened it though. practice makes perfect, so they say.

Holy crap your Naniwa has gotten a lot of use! 😳

Hey Dr. Matt I'm a new subscriber and I think that you are Awesome and a Blessing, God bless ✌️

Awesome informative video as per usual Dr Matt357. Your vids were the ones I watched and digested when I set out in the Addictive hobby of Straights. I now have approx fifteen with a custom also....Love your vids man could watch all day.