Thread: time to hone?

As I have mentioned in other posts, my face eats razors. it was, in fact, a motivator to switch to straights. A gillette cartridge last me 3 weeks, at most, and I would rather use duct tape than shave with a bic disposable.

The last few months have been wonderful. I have been using a beautiful gold dollar from Ken Rup, and I've spent a great deal of time taking care of it, and learning as much as a could. It's survived just over three months now, and its starting to do some wierd things.

-When I shave with the grain it has begun "hopping" where it will catch and pull up and pop off my face, usually leaving a nick where it lands.

-when I shave against the grain its doing the opposite, catching on a hair and trying to rip it out.

-Its not gliding anymore, and I can hear and feel the blade cracking the hairs in half more than slicing them. The feedback in the tang is kinda popcorn-ish

now I haven't changed my angles at all, I have been using a matchbook for comparison (a standard soft pack of matches is +/- 20 degrees). and I THINK I have been stropping correctly.

Being that I am used to my face eating razors, I assume this means time to send it off to a honemeister. Or have I been doing something horrible to my edge?

Other info:
only shave after showering. I use an exfoliating facial scrub by Aveeno. and use the same conditioner on my facial hair that I use on my head.
Boar Brush
Shave Soap is NOMAD by crabtree & evelyn. I'm getting a good creamy lather.
Haven't dropped it, kicked it, used it as a cheese knife, anything like that.
all of this has remained as constants for the life of the edge so far.

thoughts?

You could try doing some CrO on balsa or a barber hone. See if that brings it back.

I've got CrO on the course knap side of my leather hanging strop, same idea?

Same idea. If it has been around 6 months, it may be time for a honing. Alternately you could try picking up a strop and some diamond spray stuff to freshen up your blade.

It's been like 3-4 months. heh. I wasn't kidding about eating blades. I tried waxing once. dont ever wax your face. take that to the bank.

I was worried I had done some serious damage, but the symptoms generally sound like minor dull, not borked cutting edge?

Sounds just a little dull to me.

Take my advice with a grain of salt though, I'm new to this myself.

After that long, it's probably time for a touchup on a hone. Pastes will refresh an edge, but if they're not doing the trick anymore it's a sign you need a trip to a hone. A barber hone will probably do the trick, or you could use that C12k you've got (provided you've lapped it).

of course I haven't. that would be usefull.

Here's the lapping guide, in case you haven't found it already
Hone Lapping 101 - Straight Razor Place Wiki

thanks guys. I'll take it to task in the morning.