Thread: Ok... something is very wrong

Just received my first straight courtesy of an SRP member, advertised as shave ready. Blade surface was a bit tarnished, so I buffed it up a bit with some simichrome paste. Still waiting for a starter strop from Tony Miller, so I (attempted) to strop on the back of an old belt, trying to keep the blade flat on the surface. Tried the hanging hair test, and got it to cut once, but failed another few times... hmmm.

I figured I would try it out anyway, so lathered up with a boar bristle brush and sample of C&E Sienna cream (still awaiting my badger brush and Taylor's Avocado), and carefully made a with the grain pass. I don't think the razor cut a single hair, I looked the same as before I started, in fact worse with a couple nics. Lathered up again and tried a few spots against the grain, and my results were even worse: no hairs cut and now a great deal of irritation. The razor isn't gliding in any sense of the word, it's definitely dragging. Made a quick WTG pass with a Mach III, no lather, and took off almost all the hairs I missed. When a Mach III drags less than a straight, something is wrong.

I'm thinking it very likely that I ruined the hone with poor strop technique, but I thought I'd ask. Help save my shave!

Either that, poor stropping, or you dulled it with the Simichrome. If the rag with the paste got near the edge, it is gone...

Nenad

Oi, you're probably right. I should have known better I guess. Well, even paying for a re-hone, the razor will still come out cheaper than a new one.

Sounds like you're using a 90* angle mate. How could it cut your skin and not your hairs?! It must be sharp enough to cut hair if its cutting your skin?

Could be wrong - noob 2 noob tbh. lol

Polishing has been known to ruin an edge, so it's quite possible. Sometimes they don't get shipped out tarnished but they arrive so. That's why I started oiling the blades before shipping as an SOP.

Originally Posted by ryaninbc

Blade surface was a bit tarnished, so I buffed it up a bit with some simichrome paste.

This is a very likely candidate. Any time I've buffed a blade with a patch and some Flitz it knocks off the edge and I have to rehone it.

Originally Posted by mparker762

This is a very likely candidate. Any time I've buffed a blade with a patch and some Flitz it knocks off the edge and I have to rehone it.

I concur whole-heartedly!

Regards,
EL

Yea, when I get a blade the first thing I do is clean and polish first and then take care of the honing business. I found out the hard way a while back trying to polish after honing is a waste of time.

Ryan, it's my Wester Bros. isn't it?

I know it was good before it left, as I shaved 1/2 my face with it one day. I cleaned and stropped it before shipping. It is possible that I damaged it when stropping. Regardless, I'll re-hone it and ship it back to for you for free if you'd like.

I'll again strop it before shipping, so you should just be able to shave with it when you get it. Let me know if that works for you.

Take care - John

John, make sure you give it a coat of mineral oil before sending it back.