Maintaining Your Razors - Newbie Poll

Ok - I'm not fully versed enough to set up an actual poll here, but I am curious to here a bit on how people handle blade maintenance. Now, I know that there is a big variance and "your mileage may vary" here with all sorts of variables to play into. But, here's what I'm curious about.

1. Average number of shaves with a razor before stropping isn't good enough? Or, do you have a system (once a month or something)?
2. Feel is very subjective, but is there any guide you use to say "this edge needs to be refreshed!"
3. Refresh cycle, equipment (i.e., what do you use to refresh a blade, how long does that work, when do you actually pull out stones, etc.)

Part of my curiosity here is also based on what I need to get next. I've been going straight for 7 shaves so far, and have been getting great results. So, I haven't lost my honed edge yet and I've had one bad stropping session and could sort of tell that it didn't quite feel right, but the day after I settled in my stropping routine and seemed to work. I'm thinking about picking up a 4-sided paddle strop (Whipped Dog) to use for the abrasives when that time comes, but just looking to hear how other people approach it and get some feedback so I can plan out next steps.

My initial thoughts would be paddle strop with abrasives would be the first level when the blade needs to be refreshed, and then maybe a high grit stone when the abrasives don't quite work, and then resetting the blade/bevel totally with a complete job?

I went 5 months shaving almost daily with my first new razor that was honed for me, when it started pulling I did a few laps with CRoX , now i have a few in rotation I,m starting to do as Glen suggested , a maintenance routine instead of waiting till it dulls, a few laps on my Naniwa 12k with slurry and then thin down to water every couple weeks use on a blade. Soon as you said YMMV. But if your stropping well it takes a while to degrade the edge to where you need to use a pasted strop or a touch up on a finisher. Tc

Before you go 4 sided paddle and all the abrasives in the book do a bunch of research in the Library. You will most likely find that Crox is the abrasive of choice with small desenters in favor of diamond spray, etc. Of course it's your choice but it would be better to try them one at a time for a while to see if that's the one you prefer. As for a touch up stone. Again, review Barber's Hones and read about the different brand of 12k stones vs naturals (there in on it's own is a vast field of opinions). A lot if info to be taken in small bites so you aren't flooded and drowned in crashing waves of one opinion against another. Kind of like in kindergarten when all the kids are jumping up and down shouting, "Pick me! Pick me!"

I usually use CrOx after about 15 shaves and a 12k then CrOx after about 30 shaves. When I was learning to strop, I had to do it more often - one week I hit the 12k several times and an 8k to fix damage (note to beginners, I already knew how to hone a razor).
My guide to "this edge needs to be refreshed" is when I feel it pulling during the shave. Usually I will notice the toe pulling when I do my chin. To some extent, I think I can also feel it during stropping, but I haven't refined that feeling yet to the point where I know it when it occurs.
Refresh cycle I guess would be every 30 shaves I pull out the 12k hone. 8k hone maybe every 90 shaves.

Or just buy more razors, then you won't need the 8k except for restores :)

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Originally Posted by criswilson10

Or just buy more razors, then you won't need the 8k except for restores :)

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Can you have a discussion with my wife?

If you heed Razorfeld's advice it will save you a lot of money and you will more quickly learn the capabilities of a chosen abrasive.
The green stuff works very well.

I agree with Razorfeld and Galaxy51 on this. Also, if you haven't, watch this video, since it answers most of your questions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

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Originally Posted by Razorfeld

Before you go 4 sided paddle and all the abrasives in the book do a bunch of research in the Library. You will most likely find that Crox is the abrasive of choice with small desenters in favor of diamond spray, etc. Of course it's your choice but it would be better to try them one at a time for a while to see if that's the one you prefer. As for a touch up stone. Again, review Barber's Hones and read about the different brand of 12k stones vs naturals (there in on it's own is a vast field of opinions). A lot if info to be taken in small bites so you aren't flooded and drowned in crashing waves of one opinion against another. Kind of like in kindergarten when all the kids are jumping up and down shouting, "Pick me! Pick me!"

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That's hilarious... cuz its soooo true lol!


I don't have much to add. I fool around with my blades so much... anything resembling a regiment is so elusive, only big data can tell me my habits lol. Just remember, there are no real rules and your face will always be the arbiter as to what's working and what isn't. Have fun!

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Originally Posted by Haroldg48

I agree with Razorfeld and Galaxy51 on this. Also, if you haven't, watch this video, since it answers most of your questions: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

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Thanks for the video link . . . Quite helpful as always and about what I guessed. I think I might try the CrOx on the backside of the webbing first and then maybe save up for a 12k stone. (Figure that won't break the bank . . . )

I am curious though, as is everything, there are plenty of suggestions and the "YMMV". I don't mind dropping some money to try different pastes/sprays, but I don't want to shell out for a bunch of strops to test on. Any suggestions for how to handle experimentation?

I'd suggest the back of the webbing as Lynn does in the video. If you use the CROx crayon, the front will be unspoiled webbing and the leather will stay clean, which is important. the crayon is fairly cheap and high quality from SRD. When you get the 12k, you'll also need a DMT 325 or similar to lap (flatten) it. That runs the $$ up by about $50 if I recall. Some use sandpaper on glass for that step.

Shaotzu, foam core board cut 3" x whatever you want (actually 12" is most likely the best), heavy duck cotton cut 5" x 14" if going with the 12", rubber cement duck cotton to the foam core after notching the corners to avoid bulk when you wrap it to the back. Then, as they say, go for it. It works for some and it doesn't work for some. Cheapest way I can think of at the moment. And all the materials are available at Jo Ann's Fabrics or other craft/sewing stores.

To quote Lynn, "Have fun."

Balsa wood from the hardware is cheap and easy to use. Just lap and apply paste spray etc. Can't help much with the refresh info I always seem to have a new razor neefs honing and testing

What type of strop do you have? Another option that i used was buy replacement fabric from SRP and either glue them for paddle stropping or find a way to hang them. They are about four bucks a pop, which is nothing in the strop market and you can try out all the materials to see what you prefer.

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Originally Posted by aa1192

What type of strop do you have? Another option that i used was buy replacement fabric from SRP and either glue them for paddle stropping or find a way to hang them. They are about four bucks a pop, which is nothing in the strop market and you can try out all the materials to see what you prefer.

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Actually, I just looked them up and that's a great idea. I have an SRD 3" latigo strop with their premium webbing on the back, so I guess technically, I have the back of the webbing and the back of the leather right now . . . and at less than $10 for replacement fabric, that sounds like a fantastic idea. Thanks for the advice!

No worries man, I hope you enjoy them. I bought a couple myself and really enjoy the poly webbing despite the zip zip zipping of it. I will say this on a two piece strop I find it a pain in the butt to use the backside of the webbing. The piece of leather you are not holding tends to twist the webbing as it hangs which is not ideal. Luckily, I have a nail above my stropping station which I hook my leather to while i use the backside of the webbing. Eventually I am gonna separate all my fabric components into single piece strops for ease of use.

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Originally Posted by aa1192

No worries man, I hope you enjoy them. I bought a couple myself and really enjoy the poly webbing despite the zip zip zipping of it.

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Actually, I kind of Ike the zippy sounds .... :)

I have been using the SRD paddle strop and really enjoy it because it allows me to be able to experiment with different leathers and refreshing mediums. I have a hard wool felt pad that is treated with CRoX and another with 0.5 diamond (included with the kit). I think I'm leaning towards the CRoX as a preference, but whats nice about the paddle strop is I don't have to fully commit when applying the pastes. If I don't like it, I'll by another pad for less than $11.00.

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Originally Posted by mbg1081

I have been using the SRD paddle strop and really enjoy it because it allows me to be able to experiment with different leathers and refreshing mediums. I have a hard wool felt pad that is treated with CRoX and another with 0.5 diamond (included with the kit). I think I'm leaning towards the CRoX as a preference, but whats nice about the paddle strop is I don't have to fully commit when applying the pastes. If I don't like it, I'll by another pad for less than $11.00.

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So glad I found the replacement pads on there . . . makes the process much more palatable. :)

Not being able to move very well anymore I'm down to shaving once or twice a week, given the numbers of blades I've set up over the years I can go about two years between honing parties :p Hard part is remembering what razors are getting dull...

Reminds me I still have two boxes I have to deal with...

I still prefer Jnats or other natural stones for a shaving edge and when I feel it tugging at all vs the wet squeegee I try to put the razor in the correct box for touching up. I strop 10-cloth, 20-leather, shave, 10-cloth and put it away till next shave. When I'm up to it I get out my... wow forgot the names of the stones... well my green hand stone 10k range and do about 15-20 passes and test, than onto the blue asagi (hey I think I remembered one :)) for about 10 passes.

So far that has been working for me.

Between the new meds (of the month...) and PT sessions I have been getting better range of motion, enough to start classes again part time. Photography as I can no longer work in a kitchen, or anywhere for the past year+ is keeping me interested in moving about. I'm setting up a small light cubby for photos, I really want to get some better shots of my razors and kit :)

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Originally Posted by DwarvenChef

Not being able to move very well anymore I'm down to shaving once or twice a week, given the numbers of blades I've set up over the years I can go about two years between honing parties :p Hard part is remembering what razors are getting dull...

Reminds me I still have two boxes I have to deal with...

I still prefer Jnats or other natural stones for a shaving edge and when I feel it tugging at all vs the wet squeegee I try to put the razor in the correct box for touching up. I strop 10-cloth, 20-leather, shave, 10-cloth and put it away till next shave. When I'm up to it I get out my... wow forgot the names of the stones... well my green hand stone 10k range and do about 15-20 passes and test, than onto the blue asagi (hey I think I remembered one :)) for about 10 passes.

So far that has been working for me.

Between the new meds (of the month...) and PT sessions I have been getting better range of motion, enough to start classes again part time. Photography as I can no longer work in a kitchen, or anywhere for the past year+ is keeping me interested in moving about. I'm setting up a small light cubby for photos, I really want to get some better shots of my razors and kit :)

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What happened Chef? When I was first learning this art, you were the guy I watched on YouTube. I hope you get better, and wish you a speedy recovery.

Shaotzo, when I started I would be lucky to get 10 shaves out of a razor, but as shave and stropping technique improved, so did the shave count. I have a couple around the 70 mark with no noticeable loss of sharpness. I heard of a guy down here who shaved with one strop and one razor for 20 years. I have also read about some of the Japanese barbers shaving 1000 customers with a razor before needing touching up. It is one of the things I find really interesting about this art.

When I was using the same razor all the time for pretty much a year I would refresh it every couple of months. That was with pretty much daily shaving too.

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Originally Posted by HARRYWALLY

What happened Chef? When I was first learning this art, you were the guy I watched on YouTube. I hope you get better, and wish you a speedy recovery.

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Who knows what all collectively did me in but it all came to a head just over a year ago, I collapsed and never really recovered. Now Fibromyalgia has set up and a few nerve problems. Decades of living on a gallon of Mtn Dew a day and Tylenol burning the candle at both ends will catch up to ya.... Also turns out for the past 4 years I have been allergic to my BP meds, glad that mess is over, I still have very little memory of that time as thinking and memory retention where toast...

I never stopped shaving with a straight razor but it sure is more difficult nowdays. I'm still doing it all myself just not as often as I was.

Still trying to get the right storage set up :)

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Originally Posted by DwarvenChef

Who knows what all collectively did me in but it all came to a head just over a year ago, I collapsed and never really recovered. Now Fibromyalgia has set up and a few nerve problems. Decades of living on a gallon of Mtn Dew a day and Tylenol burning the candle at both ends will catch up to ya.... Also turns out for the past 4 years I have been allergic to my BP meds, glad that mess is over, I still have very little memory of that time as thinking and memory retention where toast...

I never stopped shaving with a straight razor but it sure is more difficult nowdays. I'm still doing it all myself just not as often as I was.

Still trying to get the right storage set up :)

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I wish you well and hope you get better fast. Sounds like your coming back from it strong!

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Originally Posted by Razorfeld

Shaotzu, foam core board cut 3" x whatever you want (actually 12" is most likely the best), heavy duck cotton cut 5" x 14" if going with the 12", rubber cement duck cotton to the foam core after notching the corners to avoid bulk when you wrap it to the back. Then, as they say, go for it. It works for some and it doesn't work for some. Cheapest way I can think of at the moment. And all the materials are available at Jo Ann's Fabrics or other craft/sewing stores.

To quote Lynn, "Have fun."

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Or just paste the foam core with a good Chrome Oxide. Don’t wait for the edge to begin to fail and do a maintenance routine of once every 7 or 14 days.

Proper maintenance will keep you shaving indefinitely. The problem is learning to strop correctly and effectively.

Good point Euclid, but make sure Shaotzu, if you don't use the canvas, to make sure you are using pastes, not sprays. Foam core board is paper surfaced and fluids of any kind will destroy the surface.

Foam core is great for testing out new paste, it is cheap and quick. Buy the cheap foam core from the dollar store, it is a coarser paper that holds paste well.

Apply your paste in a 2-3 inch X pattern for best results.

And will last a long time.

It depends on the razor I use. I find that my new Dovo Best Quality requires more frequent maintenance than an old Ern.

I shave about 3-4 times a week, mostly on my Dovo. I used to go 4 months before hitting the 4K/8K hones again. After I got the Naniwa 12K, I do monthly maintenance on my Dovo with just 10 strokes on the 12K.

I had originally set the bevel and sharpened the Dovo with tape. However, I got tired of using tape every month for maintenance, I went back and set the bevel & sharpened it without tape. Tapeless maintenance goes much faster and smoother.

Thanks for the advice everyone. I'm about to place an order for the Chromium Oxide crayon and going to go with that and the Naniwa 12k stone for now. I figure I'll use the crayon the backside of the fabric for now. Next order, I'll probably try a diamond spray just to see.

And as for the 12k stone, I'm getting that for the refresh on this razor, but I also have a few ebay razors I'm going to try to build up to shave ready as well, so figure if I get the 12k from SRD, I get free shipping. :)

1- Average shaves before strop is not good enough? 15 to 25 shaves

2- Feel that alerts me about blade needs refresh? Small lay flat whiskers on ATG; especially on my chin.

3- Refresh? CrOx and then a 12K finishing stone. This is good for a month or two.

4- Stones when number three isn't good enough. 4K, 8K, 12K, CrOx, linen, leather, and it is a brand new edge.

I have not been SR shaving very long yet. So I have got to step four with two razors only once each. I like a very sharp edge. So I am trying to stick with the strop and keep improving with it. I also use just CrOx and then the linen and leather. Step three I've done twice now.

As my stropping improves the edge lasts longer. Earlier it was clear stropping was hurting more than helping. Getting a much better feel for a thumb pad test has really helped too. I can really tell the edge is coming up from stropping now.

Best,

Ed