Thread: All I Know is Pain

Razors hardly ever come shave-ready out of the box. Send it off to a honemeister and in the mean time read up on the basics of stropping.

Here is a link to find members in your area. As Rezdog said, put up your location. Some hands-on will really shorten the learning curve.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/memberlist.php?do=search

Pick out a few single hairs on your arm and just lightly touch them with the razor. Do they ping off at a touch? If they don't cut easily, then your edge isn't right.

The shave test

This also has some tips for your first attempt

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93zQP7CToWQ

I've made this offer on a LOT of new razors and several Harts: Try the recommendations and if you still don't like your results, send it to me. I will shave with it and report to you via PM. If the razor needs a touch-up, I'll take care of that. All you have to do is cover the return postage of a USPS Priority box with insurance. This way you will know if your edge was right or it was technique. Most of the time it's a little of both, edge and technique.

That 7/8" Hart Steel razor is a fine piece of equipment! It's a "chopper;" i.e., it's a BIG razor. I have two Harts, a 6/8 and a 7/8 and I love them both. They are excellent razors. But, you'll have to send it out to get a professional honing. Once that's done, you'll love that big chunk of steel! Sssmmmoooootttthhhhh!

To summarize: watch your angle, practice your lather, the razor might be to blame (for some of the issue).

I'll add my own $0.02 on those subjects. Because of their design, shavettes require a higher/steeper than actual SRs. The beginner's guide here has a lot of information on proper technique, and it's best to spend any available free time reading it .

Lather is tricky. And even if your lather is fine, it usually takes we noobs longer to shave. As a result, even the best of lather won't hold up to a shave that takes 30 minutes or more. If you lather in sections (examples: left cheek/sideburn, goatee area, right side of neck, etc.), it will help eliminate that variable. I'm still working on my lather, and when in doubt, I revert back to sections.

I don't think I've seen it mentioned in this thread yet, so I will do it... Remember NO PRESSURE! Pressure and straight razors do not mix. This applies to both stropping and shaving. Stropping should basically feel like "weight of the blade only". And shaving: it is said that you should think of it more as wiping away the lather with the blade.

The other tips thus far are excellent.

Hope this helps! Good luck!

Thanks again folks.

This was the info on the readiness of the razor. see #7...
http://www.hartsteel.com/index.html

Originally Posted by shooter74743

I've made this offer on a LOT of new razors and several Harts: Try the recommendations and if you still don't like your results, send it to me. I will shave with it and report to you via PM. If the razor needs a touch-up, I'll take care of that. All you have to do is cover the return postage of a USPS Priority box with insurance. This way you will know if your edge was right or it was technique. Most of the time it's a little of both, edge and technique.

Thanks for the offer. I think if I have any further doubts on the quality of the blade, I will probably deliver it back to the manufacturer for honing if I'm going to send it anywhere.

Originally Posted by rolodave

Here is a link to find members in your area. As Rezdog said, put up your location. Some hands-on will really shorten the learning curve.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/memberlist.php?do=search

Thanks. Looks like I'm the first member in my area. Pioneer