Thread: razor sharpness

Ok:

so I have been shaving with my razor since January...pretty regularly since February. Stropping is going ok after some errors. So my question is for the long time guys...how much use can I realistically expect to get out of my razor (DAVO 5/8 classic carbon steel) before I should think about getting it sharpened.

I know it depends...but here's the think. I strop and some days it goes ok some days not ok. Lately it feels like the side with the hollow ground ready for use emblazoned on it is sharper than the other side--no matter what.

The shave seems to be ok...but not as close as before no matter what I do. Should I send it in for sharpening. It came from Classic Shaving sharpened by them and ready for use the first time. I have a second razor same one and haven't used it yet. Bought it so I wouldn't be out of luck when this day came.

So how many shaves do you get?

I believe you have answered your own question.

Having a spare I would not hesitate to get the dull razor honed.

Sounds like you are doing great.

How many shaves you get can vary between 5 and 250... These are pretty rare and extreme limits, but they do illustrate that it's impossible to tell.
Being new to straight razor shaving, you probably don't use your blade in the most long-lasting way, taking into account that many factors aren't always perfect during the learning stages. Stropping affects edge longevity (positive or negative), but also the way you use the razor (pressure, angle) is a contributing factor to edge deterioration. If you shaved for a month or two with this razor, I consider is perfectly normal that your razor is in urgent need of a touch-up by now. I would also consider it perfectly normal that you're going to get better longevity in the future, as your proficiency grows.

One thing that does sound off a bit, is that you say one side of the razor shaves better than the other. There's only one possible explanation for that. You're bending the edge a bit over on the strop, probably by some inconsistency in your "returning" stroke on the strop. I assume that the etch on the Dovo is up, when you strop away from you, and down when you return back to the start position. If so, you're probably lifting the spine a bit by the end of the returning stroke, which causes the edge to fold slightly in one direction. As far as I know, this is the only possible explanation that a razor can perform better on one side than on the other.
In most cases, a good correct stropping session can correct that problem, but your razor may still be in need of a touch up. There's even the possibility that you had this issue in your stropping all along, but it's only showing up now that the blade is loosing a bit of its original keenness.
I recommend reading the Wiki article about stropping, and you could perform a conservative attempt to touch-up the edge on a barber hone or on a pasted (CrO) paddle strop. It might work, and if not, no honemeister will charge you extra for trying.

Best regards,
Bart.

thanks...that was the type of guidance i was looking for.

So I'm assuming your second razor was also from Classic and pre-honed ? Try it out and see how much difference you feel. If your regularly shaving with a straight it would be nice to learn to maintain your own. I would send back the first one and look at the tutorials on honing in the Wiki here.

I like Bruce's reply a lot - saves me from typing

Originally Posted by gugi

I like Bruce's reply a lot - saves me from typing

Who's Bruce?

What Bart said. His first one, not the second.

Originally Posted by Bart

Who's Bruce?

You do realize I have the power to edit the posts



Happy yet

Originally Posted by gugi

You do realize I have the power to edit the posts



Happy yet

Well, I'm sorry, but I couldn't resist Gigu...
Too late to edit now, unless you're prepared to clean up our entire mess. You have my blessing on that.

Have a glorious day,
Kind regards,

Brad.