Thread: newbie with few questions

Originally Posted by JasonMurph

My razor was sharpened prior to when I bought it but I'm worried its not sharp enough. How do I know if its sharp enough?

Well, of course many here will tell you to shave with it. If it shaves well, then the razor is sharp enough. Go no further.

But what if your shaving technique is not "there" yet? You might have a razor that is sharp enough, but still get a poor shave. So how do you tell then? Should you just assume that you need to re-hone, re-strop, and then re-test shave? That could be a lot of wasted time and effort.

After stropping do the "Thumb Pad Test." Of course this will also take some time to learn. Determining just what a proper keen razor edge feels like on the wet thumb pad is a skill in itself. It really helps to have an in person tutor.

Well, I've tried several of the tests. It doesnt cut a hair at all if I try to cut a hair with the razor, it really drags no matter where and how I seem to shave. I think I may have dulled the blade by stropping too hard and by doing a stupid thing and using the blade to cut the soap up into my wooden dish. Thats why I'm hoping to find someone local that can confirm this and hone it if necessary.

Stropping has to be light and cutting anything other than whiskers will blunt it very fast. It needs to be re-honed. Send it out would be my advice, or go along to the meet.

Originally Posted by JasonMurph

Well, I've tried several of the tests. It doesnt cut a hair at all if I try to cut a hair with the razor, it really drags no matter where and how I seem to shave. I think I may have dulled the blade by stropping too hard and by doing a stupid thing and using the blade to cut the soap up into my wooden dish. Thats why I'm hoping to find someone local that can confirm this and hone it if necessary.

I don't think it is possible to dull a razor by stropping too hard as you say. I've put a lot of pressure on my blades and they don't dull. Make sure the strop is pulled out fairly firmly (minimal sag).

It may be that the razor was not properly honed to begin with. Or the razor was honed correctly, but not stropped enough (easily determined with the thumb pad test). Or, again, your shaving/ prep technique needs practice.

It's your call if you want to send the razor out for honing. But it might just be that you didn't strop the razor enough.

Oh yes - don't use your razor to cut anything but whiskers. I'd even try stropping after cutting the soap (or did you "shave" the soap into the bowl?). Unless the soap was super hard (soap is usually softer than beard hair) I'd be surprised if much, or any, damage occurred that a strop couldn't fix. Or did you use your razor like a cleaver and chop up your soap?

Originally Posted by JasonMurph

using the blade to cut the soap up into my wooden dish. Thats why I'm hoping to find someone local that can confirm this and hone it if necessary.

It definately needs to be honed.

When I started, I struggled with everything. When I bought my second razor (professionally honed) everything fell into place like clockwork. Absolutely get it honed. That way you know it's good.

Thanks all. I'm sending it in to a web site (classic shaving) which offers a 20 buck honing service which seems reasonable to me. Then I'll know if it was dull or not and see if I can get a good shave.

Thanks.