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I had the worst shave yet this morning...I had a couple of nicks, took three passes, still couldn't get smooth, and my neck is irritated as hell. Not sure if it was a stropping issue (I would think not since I haven't had one since I started back in November or so), but I think my razor may be in need of a honing. It was on a couple days growth, but usually any other time I go that long I never have any problems. Opinions?
Quote:
Originally Posted by wolfmanXIII
How long have you been shaving with it?
Note, the long hair should have nothing to do with it--- that's one of the great things about the straight-- nothing can "clog" the razor...
Can you clarify your comment about stropping? Did you recently get a strop and just start using it? Or are you saying you've been using a strop since November without any issues?
-Chief
First,
did you purchase this razor as shave ready from a reputable vendor/ classifieds?
Second, how long have you used it for since you bought it?
The issue depending on the above questions could be the razor was not shave ready, was not stropped properly, or its just time to refresh the edge/hone it.
Refreshing the edge can be done on CrO strop, Diamond spray strop, barbers hone, or another polishing stone. It is also possible that the razor indeed needs proper honing.
It could be the edge. I'm guessing you've been having good shaves up till now?
Basically there are four things you need to think about: The razor, stropping, prep and technique.
If you're happy with your stropping, prep and technique, and you can honestly say to yourself that they were all good, then the only thing left is the razor.
If you've been getting good results up till now, and you're happy with stropping, the prep and your technique and the shave has deteriorated over the last couple of shaves then its time to bring out a pasted strop, barber hone or other high grit stone or send it out to be honed.
Good luck!
Wow thanks for the quick replies fellas.
I'll try and get all your questions in one reply so here goes:
It is one of a pair of Dovo Best Quality razors that I got from Lynn from SRD so I know it was shave ready. I've been shaving with these since about the end of November-beginning of December. I haven't noticed any variation in stropping, prep, or technique (other than maybe some improvement) that I think would be causing it. I used to have some trouble with stropping, but am very particular about that so if it is a stropping issue I'm unsure how it would have taken this long to affect my shaves. I have been using the same strop since I started, which is one of the ones from SRD as well. My last shave was great, no irritation or anything, but that was with the other Dovo that I got right before this one from the same place, which I find odd since I've been using that one a little bit longer than the one I'm having trouble with. I may give it one more try with less growth (I was experiencing some pulling from the razor, but again it was a couple days growth and my hair is like steel wool and I understand I wouldn't clog the razor, but have had that problem with feather blades before in my "barber str8" when I've allowed too much time between shaves), but after that I think I'll be sending it in for honing. Luckily when I bought the razors I got them during the free honing for life promotion from SRD, I just didn't want to send it in if it wasn't necessary.
oh yeah, one more thing to answer stubear's question. Yes, I have been getting good shaves out of it until now. Well other than when I first started before I got proper technique down. One thing that doesn't help much with that though is that I usually keep some type of beard or mustache and I'm changing it slightly all the time. Went from full beard recently (with neck and upper cheeks shaved of course) to goatee with mustache, and recently let my sideburns grow down to my jaw line and kept the goatee and mustache, but I don't think that would be causing an issue since I had less problems in that area than the rest of my face and neck.
well there is no question about the shave readiness of the razor then, to me looks like it needs a touch up. You can try CrO strop, Diamond spray, Barber's hone high grit polishing stone. If those are not available send it out to a honemeister for a touch up. When I got my Dovo from SRD they also sent me a coupon for one free honing, if you have that use it.
If you get the modular paddle with the diamond spray and some chrome-ox you'll be able to extend the time between honings. Cool to have the honing for life option. The fine print is that the free honing is for as long as Lynn and Don live ..... not you. :D
What is this CrO strop you speak of? I've never heard of it.Quote:
Originally Posted by mainaman
Good point Jim, it's also limited to as long as you own the razor according to some people I've talked to. So if I pass it on to someone else before Lynn or Don kick we're still outta luck. I think it's settled then, I need to take my razors to the grave, and Lynn and Don need to live forever. :)Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyHAD
Chromium oxide on a leather. SRD has all the ingredients to make one, if you follow Jimmy's advice you will end up with anice paddle strop that can be functoinalized with CrO, diamond spray as well as just plain leather .Quote:
Originally Posted by wolfmanXIII
I had the same problem with a Dovo BQ from SRD. The solution for me was about 10 laps on a Norton 12K. A CrO paste could be a good solution too. There's someone in the classifieds who sells packets of the paste for a few bucks, I think. I have the Filly strop so it already had it on the backside.
The big takeaway point though is the edge only needs a refreshing. Not a complete rehoning. If you can get one of these other mediums - polishing hone, barber's hone, CrO paste, diamond spray - you can do this yourself and not have to bother sending it out. IME/O, a 12K or barber's hone will get that "new edge" feel better than CrO.
Thanks for the link Jim. I had actually gone and looked it up right after you mentioned it and that seems like a fine piece of equipment. Only problem would be getting used to using a paddle since I've always used a hanging strop, but hey I learned how to use a straight razor so I'm sure I can learn that.
Yes a long and healthy life.... but forever?Quote:
Originally Posted by wolfmanXIII
Have you seen the whiskers on Noah and Moses.
Another choice for a touch up is a barber's hone (swaty), or a coticule (use with with water only for a touch up). Note, I generally need to touch up after a few months of use, so it sounds like you are due.
I have read that using pasted strops will eventually put a curve on your bevel, so at some point you would need to to rehone the razor (more aggressive work vs. a touchup). I don't use pastes strops so I don't really know how long that would be...
-Chief
I don't know how... but you need to get this resolved before Mar 30, next full moon.
Obviously, buying your razor from SRD was a great move. I would send it in and let them hone it for you. When you get it back shave with it before doing anything to it. That will give you a feel for the difference, and if your stropping or prep is off your shaves will go downhill fast.
My experience has been a razor needs attention beyond normal stropping when it starts to pull. Beard length should have no affect on how the blade performs, as the blade is completely open all the time. Short or long the blade cuts the same diameter of each hair.
That said, you can use fabric strops and pastes or spays to extend the sharpness of your blade.
I too am in wolfman's position. I bought a Böker King Cutter back in December from SRD. I used it daily for shaving since then. Really awesome shaves...until about yesterday when I made 3 passes and had couldnt get it clean. (un)Luckily I start a new job on Tuesday, nothing like using a junky multi blade again (for a bit).
When I first started using this razor, my stropping technique was semi-sloppy. I knicked up my Filly quite a bit (which I think shortened the lifespan of this edge). Still shaved well for 4 months. I think I am going to send it in to SRD.
A few questions. BHChieftan mentions a swaty stone; are these quality and relatively easy to learn to use?
2. I covered my blade in olive oil so it doesnt rust. Is this an ok oil to use on it? Does anything else work better. Also do you reccommend insuring your razor when you send it?
3. I think I should get a new strop. I feel pretty confident in my technique and think I could upgrade from the Filly. I am still a college student, but I have work now :) I am looking for something that is a good value.
Thanks!
PanStan
Howdy,Quote:
Originally Posted by PanStan
The barber's hone (swaty is one brand) isn't in production anymore-- you'd need to find these on ebay. I have personally never used one (I use a coticule), but concensus on the site is these are good for a touch up.
Here's a good link on hones from the wiki:
What hone(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Wiki
I use mineral oil on the blade.
-Chief
They are pretty easy. Just put some water or lather on the stone, do about 5-6 strokes, strop, good to go.
Olive Oil can turn rancid... I would just pick up some mineral oil from your local store(in the pharmacy). Insurance.. Well that is up to you. If your razor gets lost in USPS land, can you easily afford to replace it?Quote:
Originally Posted by PanStan
Quote:
2. I covered my blade in olive oil so it doesnt rust. Is this an ok oil to use on it? Does anything else work better. Also do you reccommend insuring your razor when you send it?
+1 on the mineral oil chieftain and Slartibart
@PanStan You can usually find a good size bottle of mineral oil (which will take you forever to use up if you only use it for your razors) at just about any drug store or Wal Mart if you don't mind going there. It will usually be labeled as mineral oil or laxative, but the ingredients will just be mineral oil. I use it on my razors and it works great, haven't had any rust or anything so far and I live off the bank of the Mississippi so it does get kinda humid here, most people who aren't from here say it's like breathing through a damp washcloth :)
There is no substitute for a barbers hone, inexpensive, simple and durable. Just give the blade 4-6 round trips and its good for a couple of more months.Quote:
Originally Posted by stimpy52
Thank you nun2sharp, I've been thinking a lot on just getting a small barbers hone instead of bothering with extra strops and paste as I've heard it's really easy to mess up your edge that way. Do you have any recommendations on a brand, grit, and place to purchase just for touching up my razor between full honing? I know I could go read in the wiki, which I have, but I always value multiple opinions/points of view.Quote:
Originally Posted by nun2sharp
Haha, all the more reason for them to keep on kickin, I mean who else is gonna get a straight sharp enough to whack Noah and Moses whiskers in only a few passes?Quote:
Originally Posted by niftyshaving
haha Nice stimpy, but I thought it was supposed to be on the 29th...oh well either way you're right, I couldn't go to work the next day without cleaning up first, I mean I don't think they'd let me in the building lookin like that! :DQuote:
Originally Posted by stimpy52
Lynn has an excellent video around here somewhere that lists all sorts of brands, almost any of them are good. I prefer the following, Swaty, Shumate, Keen Kutter, Shapliegh and Velvet edge. There are hundreds of others and they can be had cheap. I bought a couple of swatys a few months back for 1$ each at a gunshow.Quote:
Originally Posted by wolfmanXIII
I can get away with missing a full moon by a day--- I rarely eviscerate people anymore......in a literal sense anyway.Quote:
Originally Posted by wolfmanXIII
I guess it's dismissible this time around. Hell I wouldn't have even known if I hadn't seen it on someone's calendar whose computer I was working on yesterday, then thought about your post :DQuote:
Originally Posted by stimpy52
New update to this one...(maybe it belongs in the honing section)
I found that I may have been stropping a little poorly, but not enough to destroy my blade since it shaved well for the last 3-4 months prior to the recent issues. I did find that it was much easier to strop when I had the strop mounted at waist level, unfortunately the towel rack in my bathroom is all I had to mount from and it was chest level for me, so I switched to using the door knob, I know it's a no-no, but hey it worked and the door opens outward. Anyway though I shaved with that razor again this morning after stropping at waste level. The shave was much better until I reached my neck, which I normally have trouble with anyway, but it did still pull a little while trying to shave my neck. I've come to the conclusion that I need to keep stropping at waist level, but also need to get a finishing/touching up hone. I would like some opinions on which would be best for this. I have been looking at getting either a Naniwa 10k or 12k, but have heard that they are pretty soft and require regular lapping. Any opinions on this? I'd like to buy from SRD, but if anybody knows of lower prices somewhere or a better hone for what I intend on doing I'm open to suggestions.
It won't be an issue. The upside is that lapping is easy on a soft stone. Ask any body who ever honed a Spyderco UF if they'd rather lap a Naniwa :)Quote:
Originally Posted by wolfmanXIII