Thread: Third Shave Frustration

Hey Folks thought I'd report in -

Last night was my third straight shave with my new Old West Dovo.

This time I first stropped about 30 times on the linen side of my Illinois strop and then about double that on the leather side. For lack of a better place, my strop hangs from an eye-level robe hook, so when stropping I'm literally going up & down at an angle, rather than at waist level; I mention this b/c I don't know if that might be what caused the problem.

While I did not get nicked, shaving was definitely less comfortable this time - I just bulled ahead rather than going back to the strop, as I prob should have. The razor was still cutting, but not as smoothly as in earlier shaves. Attempts to get the mustache area and chin were abandoned - I knew I'd just end up cutting myself - but the whole thing left me frustrated (yes Spar, I had to finish with the DE again).

After watching Jockeys video (light touch), I realize that the blade was not near as sharp as it should have been, not as sharp as it had been. So, what did I do wrong? Could the edge have been dulled by incorrect stropping?

I thought I had been developing a good technique, taking it slow, keeping the razor flat on a taut strop, etc. but I'm afraid that perhaps the angle might have meant that I've done more harm than good. If the edge has been dulled, can it be brought back only by going back to the strop (linen first, then leather)?

I've ordered some TI white strop paste and had planned to apply it to my paddle (two-sided, one smooth other rougher, as yet no paste applied), but perhaps the flip side of the linen would be better?

Thanks for your input; I realize that all this is just going to take time as well. Martin

i know for me, i need to be comfortable when stropping or something will go wrong. i found a really comfortable way to strop is to sit on the couch and put my right foot on the coffee table, then hook the strop on my big toe (mine has a leather shoe lace attached but any shoe lace would work) and hold it with my left hand. sounds funny but it really puts things right where they need to be.

as far as sharpness goes, at this point all you can do is work on your stropping technique and go to it. keep it light on the linen as it is easy to get heavy handed because typically the draw is less on the linen. keep the strop taught. if your technique is good then you can't make it any worse. i have heard of people doing a lot of laps on the linen and getting the edge back but for me i would just go to the 12k hone. if you have no hone options then hit the linen.

also i would check into the grit of the white paste as i think it is more of a strop dressing then an abrasive paste (NOTE that i could be thinking of something else here and be totally wrong ). i have a CrOx strop that i swear by, and will bring and edge back if it is just a little bit gone.

good luck!

I am having issues with my linen as well. It sounds as if there are two things at play here that my be working against you.

1- The strop is too high
2-You may have rolled the edge.

You may have rolled the edge because the strop is too high, the angle wrong and this was perpetuated by the over strapping and/or linen strapping.

Go back to a 12k or Coticule whatever you have. Newspaper may even work.

Lower your strop or get a plain paddle strop.

YMMV

Martin, how had the blade been sharpened before you got it? If it was sharpened in the factory only then it likely was not sharp enough and got dull quickly. Stropping alone would not be of much help then.

I do not think that the position/angle of the strop really matters as long as
* you can strop with a reasonable speed
* you keep the strop taut
* you do not apply much pressure
* you do not lift the spine while stropping

Send your Dovo to a honemeister. It will thank you. Your face will be grateful.

Originally Posted by Czechmart

For lack of a better place, my strop hangs from an eye-level robe hook, so when stropping I'm literally going up & down at an angle, rather than at waist level; I mention this b/c I don't know if that might be what caused the problem.

I have no problem with this angle. I can strop straight up and down or vertically.

You might be over using that linen. try not using it before the next shave to see what difference that makes.

You would not be the first to muck an edge with bad stropping. there are bound to be some missteps along the road. Don't sweat it too much.

X

Besides the great advice that you already got, it may be helpful to keep the strop tight and not apply to much pressure on the razor. Keep the razor flat too. Another thing to keep in mind while stropping is to do a proper razor flip. The razor should be flipped on the spine and never on the edge. This is probably the most serious mistake anyone can make while stropping. Check this out, it is a great thread:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...ing-razor.html

These are good too:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/newbi...ion-issue.html

http://straightrazorpalace.com/newbi...stropping.html

and you already know about the wiki ;-)

Al raz.

What Alraz said.
If you lift the razor off the strop each pass, chances are that you've rolled your edge. Its a method that works fine but less margin for error.

Thanks guys, I was actually trying not to be careful not to lift the razor (only flipping on end) but agree with Raz's linked discussion that stropping feels very unnatural at first and you have to develop that technique. I am afraid that perhaps I was applying TOO much pressure on the strop.

I applied the white TI paste to my wide paddle, stropped it on that and then went to the linen (this time lower - X-man, I agree once you get tech down, prob doesn't make a diff), then back to the leather. Seems to be getting edge back (cutting hair on back of hand), but first I want to try out my DOVO Black Star that just came in today with the paste.

Sparq: they both came "factory ready" from DOVO, but prepped from reading here I knoew they'd need stropping; the Old West was def cutting better after I stropped in prep for the 1st & 2nd shaves - I think I just overdid the pressure on the strop. At any rate, I hoped that I could fix it myself with the strop/paste method w/o having to send it to one of the HoneMeisters just yet. Watched Joeckeys video & got re-inspired so going now to try out the Black Star & will report back. M

Originally Posted by sparq

Martin, how had the blade been sharpened before you got it? If it was sharpened in the factory only then it likely was not sharp enough and got dull quickly. Stropping alone would not be of much help then.

I do not think that the position/angle of the strop really matters as long as
* you can strop with a reasonable speed
* you keep the strop taut
* you do not apply much pressure
* you do not lift the spine while stropping

Send your Dovo to a honemeister. It will thank you. Your face will be grateful.

Originally Posted by Czechmart

At any rate, I hoped that I could fix it myself with the strop/paste method w/o having to send it to one of the HoneMeisters just yet. Watched Joeckeys video & got re-inspired so going now to try out the Black Star & will report back. M

Good luck! I had one Dovo "Factory Ready" too and it was dull dull dull. Howard fixed it for me, it is my benchmark blade now.

Originally Posted by Czechmart

... they both came "factory ready" from DOVO, but prepped from reading here I knoew they'd need stropping;

You know that factory ready blades still need a little time on the hone to be truly shave ready right?

X