Thread: Hitting the brick wall.

Originally Posted by Disburden

I don't know if the original honing was the issue either. OLD_SCHOOL seems to know what he is doing when it comes to honing razors. If my stropping was incorrect for the first few weeks, would stropping correctly fix this?

Maybe, it depends. Read this post here. It is what I have based my stropping routine on with some success. YMMV.

Originally Posted by Disburden

If my stropping was incorrect for the first few weeks, would stropping correctly fix this?

Sorry answer is no.think about this way (not exactly)if by stropping you have brake down edge today tomorrow by stropping you won't be able to fix it.
i read all above and there is really nice very helpful advices.i will add this.
your blade needs to be sharpen at first
second when you do ATG PLEASE use short strokes very short ones until your face get used to it.
i have done research on stropping action on the blades .what i was doing checking different strops how effect the edge.they do effect differently.
Now if your stropping is wrong doesn't matter how many time your blade will get honed you will make it dull next day.Solution learn how to strop right.
the best way
use only weight of the blade don't push pressure on the belt.
lets hope this will help .

A touch up on coticule and 50 laps on leather would do the trick to put the razor back in action, I presume... Good stropping is the key to smooth shave and it is the most essential part of straight razor shaving to learn... Without razor being properly stropped, your shaves will always be less than perfect... If you suspect that strop isn't completely flat try to put it on the flat surface and put some heavy books on it... It worked for me...

You've already had the pointers at what may be wrong, so i'll skip that as i can't add anything. You have to remember that you've not been doing this long. Some fella's start getting great shaves early on. Others take a bit more. Don't be disheartened. As you gain more experience you'll get more little breakthrough moments & they all start to add up. The shaves will improve, particularly if you have been stropping badly & have now identified that. Stick with it & good luck mate!

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Maybe, it depends. Read this post here. It is what I have based my stropping routine on with some success. YMMV.

Hmm, and yet no thanks on that post...

Thanks a lot, guys, for all the helpful advice. When I first started a few weeks ago, I thought maybe my facial hair is just really corse especially since the razors were pulling alittle from the start before I stropped (it is I have been shaving since I was 13), but then I watched a lot of videos and the ease of the shave in the videos was a lot different than my experiences. It seemed like the razors cut through like butter when I saw other guys shave on youtube. I will continue to try this method of shaving, since I enjoy it a lot, and I will continue to improve my stropping. These things are hard to pick up when you're learning alone, there is no one in the room to show you what you are doing wrong and what it looks like to do it right.

We've all been there. The intertubes aren't the best way to learn but they're better than the nothing we had after all the old guys died.

Originally Posted by mparker762

Hmm, and yet no thanks on that post...

I add to your reputation whenever the soft wear allows it. Same with Af Davis and randydance. Sometimes it says I can't. It says I have given one individual too much and I have to spread some around. I have to wait a week and try again. Try it you will see. IMO you guys should have the six greenies and I should have the two. That's show biz. Thanks for your very helpful posts on honing and particularly stropping.

I feel you man, I learned without any hands on training from others. You got lots of good advice, so I'll just add what I would personally do, what I wouldn't do, and a small recommendation I think would help.

My recommendation First, stropping. one, get used to the feel of it being flat as much as watching it. If you've got a TM strop you've got enough area that resting the blade on there flat will be asy. MOST IMPORTANT THOUGH, don't feel you have to strop just before the shave, in the bathroom or after the steam starts. i always strop before I even get in the shower. I do 20 cotton 50 leather, usually. strop somewhere you've got good light, with your glasses on, and get used to how it feels when you do it right.

I WOULDN'T hone it myself if you're not used to it. also if you haven't gotten a great shave from one yet how are you going to gauge when it is shave ready?? I finally honed one myself, was able to do a complete shave with it but it pulled a bit so I know it needs more finish work. but it was not one of my shaving rotation I tried it with. If you try honing and don't get it right and continue getting less than optimal shaves you're just going to get frustrated.

I WOULD get it honed by whomever you feel is good, there are some honemeisters not to far from NY I think. ask them to pre-strop it (I know that Max does that when he sends you a razor). that is an excellent opportunity to take one straight from honing AND stropping and shave with it. if you get a great shave you know it was something in the edge of the razor. if not then it is something in your technique. (I will say though that I once had a blade sharpened that was just wicked sharp, but did not shave well for me. it cut hair fine but my skin didn't like the blade. it was just not a good blade for me). Also, if you get a good shave and then the next day strop it yourself, shave and get a lower quality result you know you stropped wrong

Red

Thanks again, everyone. I am going to try improving my stropping and perhaps send a razor out too. I will keep the thread updating on how things go throughout the week with my new stropping knowledge.

I think it's also weird that I have never gotten razor burn from using the razors.