Bad edge or bad technique?

I have been using my 1st SR, a Dovo Bismarck, off and on since January -- mostly off since my shave quality seems to be going down. I recall my first shave, I believe on Christmas Day, and was really surprised that I either didn't cut myself at all or only did so once. Of course I was only doing a single pass then.

Since then, I can't seem to make it through a single shave without at least 5 nicks. I do WTG and ATG. I strop prior to each shave, and have read extensively about stropping and seen a lot of videos, so would not be surprised if my stropping technique has been less than optimal much of the last 7 months.

I am trying to figure out whether the problem is my technique or that the razor needs honing. I do have a barber hone and have done 5 or so passes from time to time without noticeable difference. I do notice a nick on the blade, about 3/8 inch from the end, and not sure if this might be the source of the nicks on my face?

Anyway, just trying to decide whether to buy a set of hones, or have the razor honed by a honemeister, or just keep trying to improve my technique.

It is really frustrating, however, because my facial nicks are sufficiently bad that I really don't like shaving with my Dovo during the week since people at work ask me why my face is so cut up.

Any advice on how to improve this situation would be appreciated.

If you've spent any time here at all you'll probably guess that the advice you'll be getting is to have it honed by a pro. You're new to the whole straight shaving thing, you're stropping may be less than optimal, and you admitingly have a chip in the bevel. Your shaves have not been good and you're thinking about taking on a far more frustrating task of honing. Give yourself a shot at some success. Have it honed by a pro, lather up, and try again.

+1 to OCDs advice. Get it honed. When you get it back, don't strop - just prep and shave. With the blade ready to go, you will be able to narrow down any issues to prep or technique.

When I started out, I didn't pay nearly enough attention to stretching my skin. The result was poor shaves, irritation, and fairly frequent nicks/cuts.

So when you get the razor back from being honed by a pro (excellent advice BTW especially considering the chipped edge), make sure you are stretching your skin taut. That, along with proper preparation, a good angle, and a light touch, should help.

Good luck!

OCD is 100% correct! As I’m going to tell you the same thing!!!

While I do hone my own and have for a few years, PM me and I’ll tell you my favorite Pro to hone your blade!!

Yes!!! Any nick/divot in the blade will cause you grief!

You don’t say whether or not you have a strop! Having one is essential! Learning to use one is another matter.

While I highly recommend straight razor shaving to anyone who will listen, I also tell them that there is a Huge Learning Curve! Not only on using the blade to remove your beard, but the prep, stropping, maintenance etc!!

PLEASE GET THAT RAZOR PROFESSIONALLY HONED!! It will take at least one variable out of the equation!!

Once you learn how to properly use, strop and maintain a straight razor you will find that it is indeed a whole better new/old way to shave! :tu

Thanks guys! That was quick.

My natural tendency is to think, "For $25 I can get a professional honing, but for $135 I can get a Norton 220/1000 and 4000/8000 and never have to pay someone else to hone my razors ever."

That's probably my stubbornness. Around the house I am a real DIY kind of guy -- fix my own plumbing, rotate my tires myself, change my own oil.

Having said that, I do think everyone is right on target, that going for a good solid professional honing, and shaving on it without stropping first, will really help so that is what I think I will do.

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Originally Posted by 400E

Thanks guys! That was quick.

My natural tendency is to think, "For $25 I can get a professional honing, but for $135 I can get a Norton 220/1000 and 4000/8000 and never have to pay someone else to hone my razors ever."

That's probably my stubbornness. Around the house I am a real DIY kind of guy -- fix my own plumbing, rotate my tires myself, change my own oil.

Having said that, I do think everyone is right on target, that going for a good solid professional honing, and shaving on it without stropping first, will really help so that is what I think I will do.

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Hey Steve,

Thanks for the PM you won’t regret having your razor professionally honed!

For one thing, it will give you a ‘Point of Reference’ in that you know how it shaved, then if it feels the same after stropping etc.

I cut meat for a few years and the man that taught me to sharpen a knife started as an apprentice meat cutter in 1934. To say that he knew how to put a killer edge on a knife would be an understatement!

When I decided that I could hone a straight razor using my knowledge I very quickly came to the conclusion that sharpening a knife compared to honing a straight razor was as different as the color black is to white/night and day!!

I had to entirely relearn the muscle memory let alone the new and ‘Very Delicate’ strokes!!

I feel that most that want to learn to hone can!

With that said, it takes patience!!! In fact everything about using a straight razor takes patience!!!

Have patience and wait until you have your razor returned.

First off i must say congrats on owning your first razor and it not needing honed for more than half a year. Half a year is about how much time my razors would hold a good edge anyway, but i still hone and touch them up more frequently because i have an addiction. With that said it might not be so much of your stropping technique as it is the razor just needs honed from use. As for the nick, I have shaved with razors with small nics without much of a problem as long as the rest of the blade is inline and stropped properly, but bigger nicks will definitely cause agony especially when applying too much pressure. If you are a diy guy i would recommend learning to hone, but also to have it honed by a pro now so that you know what to expect when you start attempting to do it yourself. Just my 1 1/2 cents.

I admire your courage going after honing. Its a very relaxing but sometimes frustrating when you are at it and you have no idea why it wont cut. Then you learn different techniques and off you go. The most important thing I learned was adjusting my different strokes to each individual blade. They are all different and I don't think I ever honed one that was dead flat. But that's how you learn. I would consider a few inexpensive ebay or yard sale antique store that aren't extremely valuable. EVen a junky Chinese blade or Pakistan just to learn, they aren't worth much to shave with but they hone up just the same. The more you do it, the more muscle memory you get. Good luck.

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.

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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.

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

Atta Boy! :bow:

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! :tu

Thanks!

I appreciate the support.

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Originally Posted by 400E

Thanks!

I appreciate the support.

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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.

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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.

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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