Thread: is my razor still sharp?

I myself am a noob to straight razors but the test I use is down where the rubber hits the road. Next time you shave with the razor utilize the "proof is in the pudding" method:

1. Will the razor effortlessly shave arm hair?
2. Before my morning shave, I strop the razor like always 20 laps before, (20 laps after first pass, and 20 laps before I put it away.)
3. After my initial stropping I lather up and shave. This is the critical test:
A. Did the shave leave your face burning irritated or full of visible stubble?
B. Does the razor tug or move through large areas of your face without removing stubble or removing it in patches?
4. If you answered yes to A or B then your razor is likely not as sharp as it should be.
5. Now, I'm by no means an expert but I can tell you what I've done and why and if I'm completely full of feces, the experts can correct me as required and I'll appreciate the steer. At first, my reflex was to take it back to the hone and hone the crap out of it. Fearing overhoning though, I decided that before I did that I'd simply strop the crap out of it. After all, I didn't see anything in the wiki about overstropping. I stepped up my stropping to 50 laps prior to shave, 50 laps before the second pass, and 50 laps prior to putting the razor away. Over a period of 3-5 days on this regimen, the razor should have noticably better performance.
6. If the razor still isn't giving you good shaves, take it to the hone and start the pyramid at 10 (15 if the razor is serious no kidding dull.) Once you run the pyramid, do 100 laps on the strop and put the razor away for the night. The following day do the 50/50/50 stropping. It should be good to go. If not start over again at step 5 and repeat.

This of course assumes that at a minimum your stropping technique is not harming the edge and your shaving techique is adequate to be able to deliver a good shave. If you suspect stropping or shaving technique problems, do your homework and practice, practice, practice. Once technique is ruled out start at one and run the gamit.