Thread: Tyro Sharpening/refreshing a razor

My main concern is that you've been a member only for two months. You didn't state how much experience you have with knowing your face, whipping up good lather and how to strop without dulling your edge. In truth, those need to be in place before the overwhelming involvement of honing a razor to shave ready condition. A lot to be said for learning to hone bevel to 8k shave ready. Anything after that clouds the issue of is it a good bevel and sharp enough to shave as if the razor didn't exist.

I would recommend you perform a sharpie test. Get a sharpie marker and mark the bevewl up on both sides (dont worry, it comes off with a bit of elbow grease). Then perform a few laps on the hone. Inspect the edge and see if you have any ink left on the edge of the blade. If you do no have clean shiny steel allong the entire bevel then you still need to work on setting that bevel.

The razors from AOS just have a factory bevel set on them. If you have never honed before, I'd send the TI out to be pro honed.

Thank you all for your suggestions.

Razorfeld, I'm ok with whipping up a lather - I'm using AoS cream and it's very easy to lather. I'm getting used to my face, I'm not too ambitious about a BBS result (areas around the chin are a challenge) but I'm not nicking myself nearly as often and when I use the Boker I get a comfortable shave and a good result. Stropping is an issue. I've bought a SRD modular paddle strop to try and help with that, though I've a feeling a lot of the time I'm just polishing the spine.

It would seem the best idea may be to get the TI professionally honed and take it from there.

Can I ask a supplemental question? How long before shaving should I strop the razor. I tend to do it before I shower and then shave immediately afterwards, is that good practise. Is it important how long before you use the blade it is stropped, could I do it for instance after I shave ready for the next day?

Thanks again.

In my opinion that is good practice. You are opening a can of opinions with your last question!

Alwill747, just so we are clear, if you are going to use a razor just back from the honer for the first time all you want to do is wipe it carefully and shave with it. All shaves after that you should strop before you shave. I've tried stropping the night before, the morning of and between whipping up some lather and shaving. To be honest, I've found the later to be the best for me. Make lather, strop, apply pre-shave (if using), lather and shave. Its a what ever makes you happy situation. Some people will strop the night before, the morning of, just before shaving, during shaving and after shaving. Or any combination there of, depending on what level of OCD you've got going, as they say YMMV. Try different combinations till you find the one that lets you think you are improving your razor and shave every time you do the sequence.

I personally lather, strop, shave, lather, shave, and then shower.

I think what works for you is "good practice!"