Thread: Closeness of shave

Hello. A month or so ago I decided to try a straight razor just for giggles. I watched a few videos, read some reviews, and placed my order.

I ordered a low cost kit with a supposedly shave ready gold dollar razor, synthetic strop, soap, etc.

I have learned a great deal about technique, I have not destroyed my strop, and I have not sliced my face off. I have created my own blend of a pre-shave oil that helps immensely, and I genuinely enjoy using my straight razor. My biggest question is one of shave closeness. It seems no matter what I do with the straight razor, I can get a closer shave with a well worn safety razor, such as a Mach 5.

I know it is a poor craftsman who blames his tools, but I have to wonder if they may be the problem. Having never used a "good" straight razor I have nothing to compare it to. What I do know is that everybody says a straight razor is supposed to be the closest shave you can get, but for me that is most certainly not the case. Is the combination of low cost blade, mediocre honing, and poor quality synthetic strop stacking the deck against me, or does my technique really suck that bad? I feel like I get a lot of drag attempting to go against the grain, causing the razor to want to pull rather than cut, and possibly skip which doesn't seem so hot. My gut tells me this is a sharpness issue.

I thought about investing in a good honing stone and a quality leather strop. I'm not opposed to buying a better blade but I hate to spend a whole lot if I am doomed to suck. I figure a good blade with a crappy strop will quickly become a crappy blade, whereas a quality stone and strop would still be useful after I upgrade blades.

Thoughts?

I would question if it is actually "shave ready" unless you bought it from a honemeister here.

A quality honed antique would be a good starting place; and even if you don't want to invest in one of those you could send your straight to someone here to hone. There are a few people that offer services.

You would probably have to post up a pic of your strop to tell if it's any good. But my first strop came with a cheap pakistani razor that was junk. The strop isn't high quality by any means but I got by with it for a while.

So your challenges, as I see it from your post:

1. questionably honed blade
2. cheap blade (might be a problem, might not. Many people have success with Gold Dollars)
2. new shaver with possibly not great stropping technique
3. new shaver with possibly not great shaving technique.

Poor stropping technique will dull a blade quickly.

Eliminate at least the honing variable by getting the blade honed by someone here. If that doesn't fix it, try a different, quality antique razor, also honed by someone else.

If that doesn't fix it, you probably have a technique problem.

While GD's can be made to shave, they seldom hold an good edge for long, and generally, are not considered highly usable straight razors. Opinions vary on this, but my experience with honing two and using them to shave with was subpar.

I'd advise getting a nice vintage straight, from Whipped Dog for instance, they're not pretty, but you'll get a solid straight razor that is confirmed shave ready.

There are usually some great straights in the Classifieds here that are also an option.

Either way, I'd recommend going one of those two routes, and when you receive a "shave ready" razor, it has been stropped for you, so have a shave with it.

Carefully strop afterwards, and I'll bet you'll see a world of difference. There are a few selling these GD's online and various places, who've decided they're now, "honemeisters" and they're not, they're at best beginners or intermediate honers (and I'm being generous here), and they're selling GD's...to me, that says a lot right there...again, just my opinion.

Welcome,
The quickest answer to your question is a mix of both (equip and technique). More than likely your GD was not "shave ready". I won't go into if a GD is worth it or not...long debate and there's plenty of threads debating that topic (if you get time google "gold dollar + straight razor design...and for some light reading do the same with "taping to Hone" hours of post just in those two topics that will show you the subjective side to our hobby.
What I do recommend is get a vintage shave ready on the cheap from the "Buy/Sell/Trade" from a member off the forum. It will truly be shave ready (ask them to send it ready to go no stropping needed/that first shave will be a good personal bench mark)
Next grab a leather strop. You can find a good one from about $40-$70 (Tony Miller, Straight Razor Design, Whipped Dog). Or, look for a razor/strop set from a reputable vendor (find one you like and ask for references from the forum). While your looking and waiting check out the Library on the forum and there's some you tube videos by a couple of members (look up Lynn Abram and Glen(Gssixgun). I'd watch all the ones the have to offer (maybe minus honing...save that for later), Get a canvas/web belt and a butter knife and practice stopping tech. You'll more than likely do some harm when you start stropping so practicing will put you ahead. Plus, it could help not cutting the strop. Look in the sticky thread in stopping called "Stroptober"

As far as shaving Tech. The sources mentioned above will provide info on this too. It takes time. Watch your angle and as a wise forum member likes to say "shave the lather". and give it some time and you'll see results.

Probably the best thing you could do is put your location in your profile. More than likely a member in your area will make contact. Can't beat one on one mentoring. It's a great bunch on here1 Besides spent some time a Murray State and Louisville and I'm always interested in talking Kentucky with others (kind of assuming that's where your at).

Keep asking questions and exploring the forum!

Be safe, keep it upright, and Cheers,
Jer

They beat me to it. Belay some of my last.

Yeah, it is something you need to stick with to give yourself time to iron out what the problem is. It can be frustrating at first, but it does eventually come together.
A one on one with a mentor would help and highly recommended.

Sent from a moto x far far away...

The cheapest solution is to buy a $10 paddle strop and $6 chromium paste and strop the blade 5 to 10 times and then try shaving.

Undoubtedly your technique, as a newer shaver, leaves something to be desired. If it used to be sharper than it is now the pasted strop would probably take care of that.

Thanks for all the feedback. I don't really believe that my stropping technique has done any harm to the blade as I can definitely feel a difference after I strop it. More than likely the "shave ready" blade wasn't really up to par and there is only so much a strop can do, especially a cheap synthetic one.

I think my best course of action will be as suggested to look for better quality blade which is truly shave ready, and a decent strop. I'll then probably pick up a honing stone and use my gold dollar to practice on. What am I going to do, ruin a good blade?

Originally Posted by KYMotorcycleShaver

Thanks for all the feedback. I don't really believe that my stropping technique has done any harm to the blade as I can definitely feel a difference after I strop it. More than likely the "shave ready" blade wasn't really up to par and there is only so much a strop can do, especially a cheap synthetic one.

I think my best course of action will be as suggested to look for better quality blade which is truly shave ready, and a decent strop. I'll then probably pick up a honing stone and use my gold dollar to practice on. What am I going to do, ruin a good blade?

Sounds like a solid plan to me. :-D keep us updated on the results.

Yep, Good plan. Get a Razor that is "for sure" shave ready and I bet some issues go away. Still having less than 100+ shaves with a straight, your still in the beggining stages and haven't got the hang of the blade yet. Takes time.