My first shave!

danieleboyo · 09-19-2008, 03:55 AM

So technically, I should be writing this in the newbie corner, but I am not quite a newb. I have been shaving with a straight edge for several months, just the one with the disposable butterfly blades. I have honed my technique to something I call respectable, and thought I was ready for my first shave. I bought my razor through someone in the selling forums and told that it was "shave ready". From my scouring of the literature, I knew that I had to strop the razor even if it said shave ready, and did proceed to do so. However, the shave was anything but delightful; it was jagged and left me feeling like i had ripped most of the hairs off of my face. I did try the "shave ready" test before shaving (letting the razor cut a hair effortlessly) and it failed miserably. I am assuming this is just a dull blade and not what a typical experience should be (as I went back to my disposable straight edge and found the shave wonderful). Anyway, I was thinking of buying a honing stone to bring the razors edge up to snuff, but was wondering if there may be anything else to this problem, and if my analysis is incorrect. Any help would be great, thanks!

daniele

Lt.Arclight · 09-19-2008, 11:51 AM

Welcome,sorry to hear about your experience with what sounds like a dull blade. We spend alot of bandwidth talking about "shave ready" razors. Unfortunately, short of buying the blade from one of the known honemeisters AND using proper stropping technique to prep it for shaving- you are kinda rolling the dice.

Your experience with a butterfly razor had given you enough experience to have had at least a "decent" shave.Your knowledge of blade angle etc. still won't make up for a poor edge.

I know from my own experience, that even with a truly SHAVE ready razor-just doing the sharpness tests(short of actually shaving with it) can dull it enough to cause issues.Prior to shaving, I NEVER touch the blade prior to shaving. Stropping technique-although a straightforward endeavour: ON PAPER

can also be an issue. Even slightly rolling the edge or using excessive pressure can also dull it.

Using a 10x loupe is enough magnification can show a chipped blade that will turn your face to hamburger.If the blade has been allowed to strike the faucet,or closed against the scales can also spoil what WAS a keen edge.

Short of obtaining another razor, perhaps another member in your area might be able to offer some assistance. Don't be discouraged, its happened to all of us.

RichZ · 09-19-2008, 02:09 PM

I have to agree that unless it is from one of the honemiesters here at SRP it's shave readiness is suspect. When I first started my wife bought me a Dovo from Art of the Shave. The salesperson told her it was shave ready and we wouldn't have to worry about sharpening it for a year.

As you can imagine they were wrong on both counts.
I would recommend going to www.wellshavedgentleman.com and getting a four sided paddle sharpening stop. With all four sides pasted it should run about $80 something but it makes honing the blade much easier. Welcome to the site.

netsurfr · 09-19-2008, 09:36 PM

At the risk of being redundant, send your razor out to a honemeister to get a nice truly shave-ready edge on it.
Second, be careful not to put any pressure on the blade while stropping it. The weight of the blade is all you need combined with a very taunt strop.
Third, when the razor gets a little dull (read starts to pull a little) you can freshen it up on a strop with Cromium Oxide and this will keep your blade going for quite a while. Eventually, you may need to go back to a stone and a yellow coticule is a good choice for a touch up.

danieleboyo · 09-20-2008, 11:45 PM

Hi everyone,

thanks a lot for the insight. Now i have a few things to say...I did try my very best to put no extra weight (other than the blade) when stropping, as I did read carefully into that. I currently only have one strop, that should not be pasted (bought from thewellshavedgentleman). Should I get another pasted strop? And for that matter, should I get a hone and try honing on my own? thanks again!

RichZ · 09-21-2008, 01:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by danieleboyo

Hi everyone,

thanks a lot for the insight. Now i have a few things to say...I did try my very best to put no extra weight (other than the blade) when stropping, as I did read carefully into that. I currently only have one strop, that should not be pasted (bought from thewellshavedgentleman). Should I get another pasted strop? And for that matter, should I get a hone and try honing on my own? thanks again!

As I noted earlier a pasted 4 side paddle strop will be an easier way to sharpen your razor. I have both hones and the paddle strop and unless the blade is really bad the paddle strop is the way to go.

nathanjones · 09-23-2008, 01:20 PM

I would get the razor checked by a honemiester first. I think it takes experience to determine the feel a sharp edge on a straight and you want to be sure that you have a definitive sharp edge. Also I can never get any of my razors to pass the hair test no matter how sharp. What I will say is that my first few shaves felt awful even though I got mine from a respected honemiester. I soon realised that it was my lack of experience rather than the quality of honing. So personally I would get it check out and then if it still feels bad then it is just your technique you need to work on.

StraightRazorDave · 09-25-2008, 03:12 AM

I had a similar experience.... I bought a new Dovo 6/8" from the mall that the sales person deemed "shave ready". That night I was eager to try it but could barely get it to cut anything!

I know I was lacking a lot of straight razor experience, but this think couldn't cut air. Needless to say it took a lot of work to get the razor up to par....

The lesson is: "Shave Ready" = A load of

Dave

RichZ · 09-25-2008, 02:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StraightRazorDave

I had a similar experience.... I bought a new Dovo 6/8" from the mall that the sales person deemed "shave ready". That night I was eager to try it but could barely get it to cut anything!

I know I was lacking a lot of straight razor experience, but this think couldn't cut air. Needless to say it took a lot of work to get the razor up to par....

The lesson is: "Shave Ready" = A load of

Dave

Boy you have that right. Salesperson at AOS told my wife my first razor was shave ready. Several scars later and a hone found it was not true.