Thread: So Im pretty sure I rolled my edge

So I am just starting this straight razor shaving. Got my new straight and strop. Well, Im pretty sure that my first few strops were awful, and i lifted the spine so i am pretty confident I rolled my edge. The razor is tugging and just does not seem to want to cut through my lather, let alone my beard. Oh well, I have a sight unseen razor coming from Whipped Dog, so at least when I get that I will know what a well honed razor feels like. I will also have something to use as I send my other razor out to get a good edge put back on it. (No way I am playing with honing yet). Live and learn. Hopefully, live and learn to strop properly.

Who did you get the new razor from? Was it professionally honed? If it was then it is a good chance it is your strop technique.

Originally Posted by bouschie

Who did you get the new razor from? Was it professionally honed? If it was then it is a good chance it is your strop technique.

It was me. I admit it. It was my poor stropping.

IF it was only a slight rolling, you MIGHT be able to improve it by stropping the crap out of it first on linen and then on leather. Try at least a hundred GOOD strokes on each one.

It's a long shot, but then again, you need the practice!

Originally Posted by Utopian

IF it was only a slight rolling, you MIGHT be able to improve it by stropping the crap out of it first on linen and then on leather. Try at least a hundred GOOD strokes on each one.

It's a long shot, but then again, you need the practice!

Others have used a great number of strokes to correct a stropping mishap.
Certainly worth a try.

Stropping can often fix a slightly rolled edge. It's worth a shot at the very least.
I would suggest practicing the stropping motions with something else first. A few hundred laps with a butter knife will help you learn the technique. Then you'll stand a much better chance of fixing your first razor.

Originally Posted by Utopian

IF it was only a slight rolling, you MIGHT be able to improve it by stropping the crap out of it first on linen and then on leather. Try at least a hundred GOOD strokes on each one.

It's a long shot, but then again, you need the practice!

What have you got to lose? Pretty sure I did the same thing when I got my Ralf. Luckily I had a canvas strop Marty had put CroX on and I was able to salvage it.

Don't worry, you will get the hang of it.

I was lucky in that my stropping seemed to be the one thing that I didn't have trouble with.

I did manage to chip my first razor on the chain that holds the plug though. It needed a professional hone to restore the edge. Having a second razor is good. If you are getting it from whippeddog I would hold off stropping it before your first shave. It shouldn't need it and it will truly give you the idea of how the edge should feel, also that way you can't damage it before you shave. These things come in time and you will wonder how you ever managed to do it wrong in the first place. Stick with it.

Good luck on your journey.

Originally Posted by Porl

Don't worry, you will get the hang of it.

I was lucky in that my stropping seemed to be the one thing that I didn't have trouble with.

I did manage to chip my first razor on the chain that holds the plug though. It needed a professional hone to restore the edge. Having a second razor is good. If you are getting it from whippeddog I would hold off stropping it before your first shave. It shouldn't need it and it will truly give you the idea of how the edge should feel, also that way you can't damage it before you shave. These things come in time and you will wonder how you ever managed to do it wrong in the first place. Stick with it.

Good luck on your journey.

I dinged my first razor on the faucet & had to send it off. That taught me to be just as careful with it in the sink as I am on my face.

Originally Posted by chromedometone

So I am just starting this straight razor shaving. Got my new straight and strop. Well, Im pretty sure that my first few strops were awful, and i lifted the spine so i am pretty confident I rolled my edge. The razor is tugging and just does not seem to want to cut through my lather, let alone my beard. Oh well, I have a sight unseen razor coming from Whipped Dog, so at least when I get that I will know what a well honed razor feels like. I will also have something to use as I send my other razor out to get a good edge put back on it. (No way I am playing with honing yet). Live and learn. Hopefully, live and learn to strop properly.

When you are new to straight razors, learning how to strop is tough. I know as I am pretty new myself. If you are using a hanging strop, it is even harder as you have to consider the angle of the strop, the tension, the pressure of the bladed(should be minimal), the flipping/rolling motion of the blade, etc. It is surprising that anyone masters this, but it will come in time.

For now, you might want to consider a bench strop. That eliminates several of the variables from the process. You can purchase one already made, or you can make your own from a clean piece of leather glued to a flat piece of wood, plywood or MDF. You can usually find leather, balsa and basswood in a craft, hobby or hardware store. I suggest making it 3" wide so you can strop the full width of the blade without resorting to "x" strokes... one less thing to think about for a beginner. Make sure you flip the blade without the spine of the razor losing contact with the leather. When I started, I wanted to lift the entire blade off the strop and flip the blade edge first. After putting a couple of small nicks in my strop, I learned to do it the right way.

Once you master the bench strop, then you can move up to a paddle strop, either purchased on DIY. Even after you master the hanging strop, you will find that paddle strops are still useful as they can be pasted or sprayed with abrasive compounds that will help you maintain your blade to perfection.