Thread: Bad edge or bad technique?

Originally Posted by 400E

I appreciate the advice everyone has given.

I got my razor back from Glen this week - really great work, fair price, and amazingly quick turnaround time.

Used it for first time today and great to know that my razor is at peak performance. It did highlight for me that I really need to go back to basics with my technique now. I think I will just focus on WTG for a while, paying really close attention to blade angle, using a light touch, and stretching the skin.

I still want to learn honing, but that needs to wait until I have a better handle on shaving technique.

"I still want to learn honing, but that needs to wait until I have a better handle on shaving technique".

Atta Boy! :

There are so many variables when trying to learn this Art and until you master the lathering, stropping and the angles, learning to hone needs to be last on the list!!

With that said, once you get the basics down and start to learn to hone, you will find it challenging and eventually Very Rewarding!!!

Once you learn to walk, and then run, I hope you run like the wind!

Thanks!

I appreciate the support.

Originally Posted by 400E

Thanks!

I appreciate the support.

Most will tell you not to learn honing and the SR shave at the same time. I disagree. The only thing is don't try to learn honing on the razor you're using to learn to shave with. Considering that you have a nice Dovo Bismark, I'd get another razor of lesser value and try to hone it. You have to figure, you only shave once a day or every other day, right? All the hours in between could be spent working on another aspect of the hobby. The main reason you may need to not do both at the same time is because you don't want your razor's edge to be all over the place and have you questioning the edge whil you learn. So, just get another razor and start learning to hone. The frustrating part of this hobby is that you get a small, short window to enjoy it during your morning shave and then there is nothing until the next one. So in the time between, you can work on honing. Just my two cents.

Another thing you can do for learning to hone is easing yourself in. Get a finisher such as a Naniwa 12k to touch up your razor when it starts to pull. Do 5-7 strokes and then shave at least twice with it. See how it feels. If it feels perfect to you then you're good. If not, give it another 5-7 strokes. The idea is to do small things to slowly tweak your edge to see what you like.
This is much easier, to me, than starting from scratch, being unsure as to how to get from point A to point B, and not knowing when you're there.

Start using experienced honing service until you get your shaving technique in order. Then you can turn your attention to honing.

Originally Posted by Brenngun

Start using experienced honing service until you get your shaving technique in order. Then you can turn your attention to honing.

I agree- I sent my Bismarck off to a great honemeister and am going to go back to basics -- mostly WTG for a while, watching angles, light touch, stretching, lathering technique.

I may do as OCD says and get something cheaper to practice honing on, but would not plan on honing my "good" razor any time soon.

On another thread, someone suggested getting a $5 cheapo razor off the internet, dulling it deliberately and seriously, and using that for practice shaving to get angles right, esp in hard-to-shave areas (for me, the angle of the jaw, and under the side of the chin). Sounds like a decent idea. Could then use the cheap razor to practice honing.

A "cheap" razor for learning to hone needs to be made of good steel, have a good heat treatment, and good geometry. Lightly used vintage shave ready razors from the classifieds can be sometimes found at modest cost. A low end Dovo etc. may also be a good starter blade.

Rusty badly worn vintage e-bay blades are difficult to hone, may need restoration, or may even be unrecoverable for shaving. Some of the low dollar Asian blades cannot take and hold an edge. Good shaving is largely about attaining and keeping a shave ready edge, once shaving and prep skills are learned.

+1 on another razor. Get something mid range( cheap older but quality) and learn bevel set to finishing till you got it right. Be prepared to do it again and again. Practice makes perfect(or there abouts). Same goes with shaving. Come at it every which way till you find WHAT WORKS FOR YOU. Have fun