I feel a little dejected BUT...

...I will keep all in perspective and persevere.

I've been SR shaving now everyday for about 6+ weeks and the edge just isn't cutting it anymore (you must forgive the pun).
Don't misunderstand, it still shaves, but it isn't comfortable and the chin area is getting tougher and tougher so I'm sending it back for my free honing at SRD.
I'm afraid my course beard and, more than likely, lack of stropping technique may have prematurely worn the edge down. I tried CrOx on the webbing part of the strop and barbers hone when I first noticed the drop in performance.

To be fair, I've had some pretty significant "SEEs" (Significant Emotional Events) over the last 6 weeks that probably helped speed this up (I posted them when they occurred, please don't make me relive them).

As a newbie, I guess I'll use the 6 week mark to 'dial-in' the effectiveness of stropping in the future.

It's going to STINK going back to the Fusion-World while I wait to get my razor back.

The biggest lesson learned is I NEED AT LEAST 2 STRAIGHT RAZORS!!

As always, thanks for everything this forum does.

I don't think it is too unusual at the start to dull a razor in that time. I know I did in that or even less. Yea, you do now have a good bench mark to gauge improvements by. A second straight is always a good strategy and even a DE for emergencies too.

Bob

'Sounds like a normal thing w/ developing skills & a tough beard. In extreme cases, some stropping on a hard surface covered w/ newsprint can help. Unlike the normal pasted hanging strop, the hard-backed newsprint won't round-over the bevel. 70 strokes on newsprint and check sharpness. At this point, its gonna be *harsh*, requiring lots of stropping on leather. Glen's suggestion (beginner's tips 3/11) of laying the hanging strop on a flat surface might also help the stropping. The 2nd blade would be really helpful at these times. If you get stuck, pm me to touch up the fading edge. 'Just pick up return ship cost.

+1 on the needing another razor. Whipped dog or classified would be OK. A nice new one would be even better! Go for it! As was said it takes time for shaving technique and stropping to all come together. Its a package.

I have been using a straight razor for about six months. My first honing was less than two months in. Blade angle played a role, but dings to the razor's edge during stropping were the main reason the blade needed honing so soon.

Yup, agreed, sounds normal...two straights, heck, 10 straights or more is always a great idea! A rotation, however small, always allows you to send one out to be honed, and will give you a gauge between razors.

Stropping and some DOVO white / grey paste on the linen side of the strop works well for me, once in awhile go the CroX balsa board, and after my class tomorrow, I should know enough to use my Coticule to refresh my blades on a natural stone!

Don't worry, it's all good and you're right where you should be....

Cheers!

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Originally Posted by Leatherstockiings

I have been using a straight razor for about six months. My first honing was less than two months in. Blade angle played a role, but dings to the razor's edge during stropping were the main reason the blade needed honing so soon.

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Well, truth be told, I dinged it too and touched it up on 'a' hone (some dip but not much). After that I cut my strop pretty well. Surprisingly (or maybe not surprisingly), the cut strop had more of an impact on performance than the chip.

Hey, this all comes with the territory...and I haven't made those mistakes again!

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Originally Posted by Phrank

Yup, agreed, sounds normal... Don't worry, it's all good and you're right where you should be....

Cheers!

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Thanks for commiserating...

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Originally Posted by pinklather

'Sounds like a normal thing w/ developing skills & a tough beard.
If you get stuck, pm me to touch up the fading edge. 'Just pick up return ship cost.

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That's a very gracious and generous offer. Much appreciated.

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Originally Posted by BobH

I don't think it is too unusual at the start to dull a razor in that time. I know I did in that or even less. Bob

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You gentlemen certainly know how to take the sting out of the learning curve here.
Thanks again and to all...

OK, that's enough. Suck in that bottom lip. I managed to shave and strop my first razor to the sharpness of a beachball in about two weeks. What everyone said about two razors. You beat the first one to death then you figure out how to go light-handed and steady to keep the second one stropped right.

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Originally Posted by MisterMoo

OK, that's enough. Suck in that bottom lip. I managed to shave and strop my first razor to the sharpness of a beachball in about two weeks. What everyone said about two razors. You beat the first one to death then you figure out how to go light-handed and steady to keep the second one stropped right.

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OK, thanks for the hit to the head and the good laugh...sharpness of a beach-ball!!!

LOL Colonel G - I couldn't even wait as long as you did! My razor felt dull after 3 - 4 weeks, so I I ordered a new Dovo from SRD on Wednesday. It just arrived today, and I can't wait to try it out. The "old" razor is headed back to SRD for rehoning next week.

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Originally Posted by ColonelG

Hey, this all comes with the territory...and I haven't made those mistakes again!

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Lessons aren't learned if mistakes aren't made. :)

ColonelG,

I kindly offer you advice that I had taken which trained me on stropping.

Lay your hanging strop on a table and strop there and only there until you can perform the flip with minimal pressure without thought. I found myself with a pretty rough start to SR as well. All sorts of problems. Primarily, my blade wasn't shave ready and the honemeister remarked: "Nice razor, but the shave had to be pretty rough" and he was right. Ask the honemeister for feedback to see if he can notice anything else, like a rolled edge from poor stropping.

That wait without the straight in my hands KILLED ME! I cannot see having less than two razors now. Period. Hang in there. I was there and its only gotten better since. Don't get me wrong. There will always be set backs, but those set backs are things to be learned from. So, take them along with the successes and journey forward.

Kind Regards,

Siguy

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Siguy

Ask the honemeister for feedback to see if he can notice anything else, like a rolled edge from poor stropping.
Siguy

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Thanks Siguy for the great advice and the encouragement.
I did enclose a note to the honemeister for his feedback when it was mailed this morning.

Again, so many encouraging comments for so many members. What a great community.

Like I said, I have kindof a rough start.

1.) SR wasn't shave ready(6 brutal shaves)
2.) I bought a soap that I can't lather to this day
3.) My strop had a ridge along the entire length of the leather

I found encouragement from other caring people. As I am finding, our journeys are unique to each one of us, we just need to observe some of the general guidelines to aid us along our twisting turning journeys.

When that razor returns, you will be right at it again and there *will* be a smile on your face after your next SR shave, buddy.

ps-I even had a few shaves where I just stopped after the WTG pass and finished up with the disposable. I don't find a need to be a purist about it. Put down the SR if you feel like it and hit the touch area with the disposable. Its not like cheatin' on your wife ;)

Just don't do what I did and send both your razors off for honing at the same time :)

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

Just don't do what I did and send both your razors off for honing at the same time :)

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:nono::gaah:

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Originally Posted by Chevhead

:nono::gaah:

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:o..........

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

Just don't do what I did and send both your razors off for honing at the same time :)

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Yea, I like to plan ahead too. :hmmm:

Bob

Knew there was A reason for buying all those razors. Had 2-3 getting sharpened constantly for the first few months. Now have a rotation to last a few years. You should see my first razor. That thing has had chips taken out 3 times now and my first strop is half of what it used to be.

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Originally Posted by BobH

Yea, I like to plan ahead too. :hmmm:

Bob

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Well, it's a bit more complicated than it sounds: sent first razor off from Karratha where I work and live for two weeks out of 3, went back to Perth where I actually live and part way through that week I sent off my other razor expecting that when I got back to Karratha my first razor would be waiting, it wasn't. When I am in Perth I only shave every few days at best so for my week at home.it wasn't really a stress to be without.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

Well, it's a bit more complicated than it sounds: sent first razor off from Karratha where I work and live for two weeks out of 3, went back to Perth where I actually live and part way through that week I sent off my other razor expecting that when I got back to Karratha my first razor would be waiting, it wasn't. When I am in Perth I only shave every few days at best so for my week at home.it wasn't really a stress to be without.

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OK change that from plan ahead to "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft agley" with a big thank you to Robbie Burns for that poem and insight.

Bob

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Originally Posted by BobH

OK change that from plan ahead to "The best laid schemes o' mice an' men / Gang aft agley" with a big thank you to Robbie Burns for that poem and insight.

Bob

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And plan ahead, by assuming Aust post will take half a lifetime to deliver stuff.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Siguy

ColonelG,

I kindly offer you advice that I had taken which trained me on stropping.

Lay your hanging strop on a table and strop there and only there until you can perform the flip with minimal pressure without thought. I found myself with a pretty rough start to SR as well. All sorts of problems. Primarily, my blade wasn't shave ready and the honemeister remarked: "Nice razor, but the shave had to be pretty rough" and he was right. Ask the honemeister for feedback to see if he can notice anything else, like a rolled edge from poor stropping.

That wait without the straight in my hands KILLED ME! I cannot see having less than two razors now. Period. Hang in there. I was there and its only gotten better since. Don't get me wrong. There will always be set backs, but those set backs are things to be learned from. So, take them along with the successes and journey forward.

Kind Regards,

Siguy

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You jogged my memory Siguy about stropping, which was the last thing of the three (shaving, honing, stropping) straight razor skills I learned. I got a balsa wood strop for removing residue off the edge after honing and immediately noticed how much easier it as to strop with something lying flat. I further learned from some here not to be so rigid about stropping technique that you never get past the slashing stage when the strop is hanging. The college I attended used to have the initials "USL" (before a name change) and for me that must have meant "University of Slow Learners."

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Originally Posted by DCB2

LOL My razor felt dull after 3 - 4 weeks, so I I ordered a new Dovo from SRD....

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Too funny. I had 'The Talk' today with SWMBO about how I would probably need another razor. She just looked at me and said: 'Just one??!! Oh, I've been expecting this little chat for weeks now....And, shouldn't your next razor be better than the one you bought to see if you were going to like this whole thing?'. She was smiling ready to laugh the whole time.
I don't think she noticed the grin I was working hard to suppress......

Yeah, when I started this whole thing I was worried about cutting myself. Now I'm worried about bleeding my checking account!

When I was just starting to research the whole straight razor thing, I felt kinda creepy thinking about using somebody else's old razor. But I have seen the light and now I appreciate vintage razors even more than new ones. You ought to mix it up a little. Now, you have two new razors. Might I suggest your next one be a vintage blade? Today I shaved with a loaner from my straight razor guru that he originally got from whipped dog, a Geneva Cutlery 5/8 full hollow, and dude, that thing ain't purty but it shaves like crazy and feels really good in the hand. It would never be my favorite, because I like the weight of my Gold Dollar conversions and my Bismarck, but it was sort of refreshing and different. Something about a completely different razor just makes you want to slow down and take your time and appreciate the process. I have a few other vintage razors and I have access to literally a bucketful of vintage razors belonging to my mentor, and I got to say without vintage razors I wouldn't know what I was missing. Plus it is fun to bring ebay rescues back to life and you see some very unique and unusual vintage razors there sometimes. Plus some old classics like the ones you read about so much on these forums. So think about making your next one a vintage one. Some are real bargains, too. Get 5 for the price of one!

BTW I am having excellent results stropping on diamond pasted balsa after every shave. So far since I started, (well TBH only a couple months ago) I haven't had a razor start to go dull on me yet. It's not magic and you have to do it the right way but it really works and for me it seems to work better than crox on linen or any other free hanging strop. The trick is to not over-paste, rub it in good, never have a coating on the balsa, and start out with the balsa sanded/lapped nice and flat, and especially with the .1 micron, use plenty of laps, like 4 or 5 dozen with light pressure, almost no pressure. And of course you still strop on leather before the next shave. And don't use a short skinny little block of balsa. Get a piece like 3x12 or so, so you get a nice long smooth stroke. I really think crox would work for this but I like the diamond. Be aware that diamond coarser than .1 micron will give you a sorta harsh edge sometimes, which crox usually won't do.

Nice thing about having a good rotation of razors is it puts you in a situation where learning to hone your own is very practical. As long as you got one or two others you can shave with, you can take as long as you need to get your first edge squared away. When you are doing your own honing and getting good edges you will be a lot more independent and self reliant. Gives you a good feeling, the first time you shave with an edge that you honed yourself.

Hang in there. You aren't doing so bad. It is all gonna come together for you.