Thread: Rolled edge? Time to send to honemiester?

ANy point in trying the diamond spray again?

I might just send it out for someone to a honemiester to look at and get feedback.

Originally Posted by RedGladiator

My stropping technique might be off,

Originally Posted by RedGladiator

ANy point in trying the diamond spray again?

If you're stropping is 'off ' using any form of abrasive will make things worse, exponentially.

So as I read it, you are asking two question, Was my razor shave ready? And how do I fix it.

First, we will never know… probably.

What you are experiencing is common and the catch 22 of Straight Shaving.

First you have to learn to shave and then you have to learn to strop to learn to shave.

Unfortunately a novice can easily ruin and edge by stropping it, the first time. As said, if you use an abrasive pasted strop and have not mastered stropping you will damage the edge faster and more thoroughly.
All of this is very common.

Find a local mentor to get you pointed in the right direction with your edge and stropping.

The pin test is not a definitive test for a rolled edge, you can roll an edge and the next stroke on the other side can break off the rolled edge and now you have a chip.

Diamond is very abrasive and will leave a harsh edge, when used with pressure it is more so.

So the answer to the first question is…Probably

The answer to the second question is … find a mentor or send the razor out and learn to strop, lite pressure, go slow, keep the spine on the strop the whole time, and stop before you flip.

Until I shaved with a properly honed razor I did not know what a shave ready razor was really like.

I'd suggest the razor needs a honing. Simple as that really, regardless of why it got to this stage. If you had the funds (and I'm unsure exactly how much I haven't checked prices lately but you could look them up)

I'd maybe get a Shapton 16k and do 20 laps and see how you go. I'd tape the edge, regardless of if you knew the edge was taped on its first honing.

Second option would be a Norton 4/8 AND a Shapton 16k.

I seriously think if you invested in a hone and check back here someone could essentially talk you through it; I would. I'd tell you exactly what I'd do and video it and explain it. Of course the aim is some learning and new skills for you (teach a man to fish) but there'd be no guarantees.

A cheaper and less risky option it to send it to get honed. The benefit there also is that you'd KNOW what a properly honed razor felt like.

I guess a third option and I think one that's been mentioned is to hook up with someone personally.

Of course ALL of these options require you do your homework (reading).

Carl

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I'd suggest the razor needs a honing. Simple as that really, regardless of why it got to this stage. If you had the funds (and I'm unsure exactly how much I haven't checked prices lately but you could look them up)

I'd maybe get a Shapton 16k and do 20 laps and see how you go. I'd tape the edge, regardless of if you knew the edge was taped on its first honing.

Second option would be a Norton 4/8 AND a Shapton 16k.

I seriously think if you invested in a hone and check back here someone could essentially talk you through it; I would. I'd tell you exactly what I'd do and video it and explain it. Of course the aim is some learning and new skills for you (teach a man to fish) but there'd be no guarantees.

A cheaper and less risky option it to send it to get honed. The benefit there also is that you'd KNOW what a properly honed razor felt like.

I guess a third option and I think one that's been mentioned is to hook up with someone personally.

Of course ALL of these options require you do your homework (reading).

Carl

Sorry Carl, I don't agree.

From the conversation so far, it has become obvious that the OP is not even sure whether the razor is suffering from a rolled edge caused by incorrect stropping, or a dulled edge caused by incorrect honing, or incorrect use.

While the ultimate solution is indeed a proper honing regime, the OP has not yet built the experience to analyze the problem; in fact the root cause may be his lack of experience in stropping or shaving and the mishandling of the razor that resulted from it.

At this stage, the best advice is to keep things simple and concentrate on as few (e.g. stropping, shaving) techniques at a time as possible.

Introducing another technique that needs to be properly learned and mastered at this stage is not likely to produce the desired results and will only add to the frustration that the OP is experiencing at this stage.


In other words, one (careful) step at a time.



B.

I think the OP has pretty much answered it himself , first time with a straight , no experience so doesn't know what the edge should be like, could have been a fine shaving edge when he got it and as many who are starting , the technique wasn't good and then his stropping didn't help

so in short stick with it and get someone to hone for you till you get the shaving and stropping down ,, eventually you,ll get there good luck tc