Thread: Newbie Questions

Hi all. I am very new to the straight razor shave and had a couple questions/concerns that maybe someone can help me with.

I started straight-razor shaving just shy of a couple weeks ago now. I ordered the DOVO Classic 5/8 from Classic shaving - DOVO Straight Razors
- as well as a strop. I already had on hand shaving cream and a brush that I have been using for shaving for some years. Note the razor says PRESHARPENED. I was wary of this (especially since that isn't a word), so I called and was assured from the person I spoke to that any razor prefaced with that is ordered from DOVO, and then sent out to be sharpened before it is stocked. (Interesting side note; I asked why the white one was $85 and the black one $89, and got a very confused operator on the phone. I notice that both now carry the same $89 price).

After getting my razor I spent a lot of time reading a lot of sites and guides and even some YouTube videos. I have been very much enjoying my shaving experience thus far and have gotten much more confident than I was initially.

So, down to my questions:

1. I am wondering if the edge on my blade is really as sharp as it should be. I notice a distinct pull on the hairs on my face when I shave, especially the left side. I do realize I am still very new to this, so a large part of it may be me. And I realize my skin is still a bit sensitive, but I almost feel as if the blade is pulling sometimes instead of cutting. I did try to cut some arm hairs with the edge to no avail, and I cannot work up the confidence to press the blade against my thumb just yet (I need to read on that a bit more, for I am a wimp). Is there any way for me as a newbie to be able to tell if the edge is as sharp as it should be?

Another note - I think it is possible I could have damaged the blade on my initial try at stropping. I hit the piece that holds the leather to the rings a couple times when turning the blade over. I would not think that would damage the edge (unless I cut into it, which i did not), but I do not know enough about metallurgy to know .

2. I am considering going ahead and buying a honing stone and paddle strop - especially as I will have to buy them eventually anyway, if I plan to hone my own blade. I am fairly certain I will go with the Norton 4000/8000. My question is this: Is it possible I will be so bad at honing that I should consider a second blade until I can get it right? I used to sharpen hunting knives a lot in my younger days, but that has been a while ago. And I see that honing goes well beyond having a sharp knife.

I know probably the best way to learn honing is to apprentice to someone (i.e. sit down with someone and let them teach you). I can almost bet there are few to none straight razor users in my neck of the woods (South Carolina), but if anyone is in state, I would love to be able to meet up and learn from someone who has experience at honing.

Thanks in advance for any advice and help you guys can give me!
-Stoneguard (aka Phil)

Phil
Welcome to SRP first off glad to have you here...

Sounds to me that you have already tested the edge with one of the best tests for a new guy...
A blade that is even near shave ready should pop arm hairs without any trouble.. The other tests we use such as The Thumbnail Test (TNT) or the Thumb Pad Test (TPT) and the Hanging Hair Test (HHT) are a little harder to interpet....

The arm hair test is probably the best to start with, I would try stropping the razor again, being very, very, careful to keep the blade flat and keeping the spine on the strop, start slow and build speed very slowly.. Try about 30 laps, and see if the razor will cut arm hair, try 60 laps and try again... If it won't cut arm hair, it won't shave, period, cutting arm hair is just a start at where the edge should be....

Honing razors: I like yer idea of doing it yourself and of getting another razor to practice on.... However when starting out, you had the right idea by starting with a shave ready razor, honing is not rocket science but it does have a steep learning curve, and when you have all the other factors added in Prep, Lather, Razor angles, etc:etc: learning to hone on top of that can be overwhelming.....
Keep at it it only gets better

Thanks for the reply! I will try that tonight or tomorrow. Hopefully stropping will help, though I have been given to understand that stropping will not actually sharpen the blade, but is for aligning the edge (I am not clear on this, just relying on what I have read at the moment).

Thanks again, I will see how that works.

-Phil

Originally Posted by Stoneguard

Thanks for the reply! I will try that tonight or tomorrow. Hopefully stropping will help, though I have been given to understand that stropping will not actually sharpen the blade, but is for aligning the edge (I am not clear on this, just relying on what I have read at the moment).

Thanks again, I will see how that works.

-Phil

No yer right on your understanding , but if you didn't do to much damage from stropping you might be able to "realign" it back so to speak....
It might just need a little proper stropping to birng that nice edge back to life it might need a stone but it is worth a shot.....

With all due respect to the many who believe honing and stropping to be some type of esoteric art, I just don't see it that way. I honed up my first straigth razor in an afternoon, and stropped it the next morning. Got a great shave. Frankly, I think hanging wall paper is much more difficult.

Originally Posted by fccexpert

With all due respect to the many who believe honing and stropping to be some type of esoteric art, I just don't see it that way. I honed up my first straigth razor in an afternoon, and stropped it the next morning. Got a great shave. Frankly, I think hanging wall paper is much more difficult.

Honing is like learning how to ride a bike: some kids grab it instantly. Most need to practice a lot and fall a few times...

Stoneguard,

A shaveready razor does not pull during the shave. Your shaving angle could be too high, in which case you're likely to nick yourself, or your shaving angle could be too low, resulting in a lack of closeness. But either way, a razor should not pull.

A razors edge is extremely prone to damage. Your stropping accident could have easily dulled it. If it's only folded a bit, Glen is right that a decent stropping might realign it.

The Hanging Hair Test is not very difficult to perform: One clean head hair is pushed against the edge at about half an inch from the holding point. The other end of the hair is hanging freely. If a razor passes that test, it is sharp enough to give a decent shave. That's a bit of an oversimplified statement, but when starting out, it's a good method of knowing that a once properly honed razor is still up to his task. Perform the test after stropping.

If you want to tackle honing, the second blade is a good idea. Buying an old razor of Ebay is the cheapest way, but those razors mostly have serious issues, such as corroded steel near the edge, small chips, and a way off bevel. It might be better to order a honed Wapienica or Double Arrow from one of the forum member offering those entry level razors. Shave with it till it starts to become dull and learn to hone on that one. It's a slightly more expensive option, but one that offers a better chance of success.

Oh yes, welcome to SRP.

Best regards,
Bart.

Originally Posted by fccexpert

Frankly, I think hanging wall paper is much more difficult.

Completely OT: I'll see your wallpaper and raise you with mudding and taping wallboard. M&T is the only time I've ever yelled at my wife in our marriage. Yeep.

Some great info here. Thanks for all your advice. I will keep a watch on the Ads for a nice razor for a newbie and se if I can compare shaves between a razor honed by someone here and my first one.