Thread: Razor is tugging a lot

Hello everyone,

I've been lurking around for a while now trying to gather all of the information I can, but I seem to have hit a wall and am in desperate need of some help.

A brief background for some perspective to my question:

I became interested in shaving with a straight razor back in January of this year. I was tight on money and decided to start out with a shavette. After a couple times I began getting incredibly comfortable shaves with it. Eventually, I was able to save up and move to a real straight about two and a half months ago. I purchased a Dovo Special 5/8 from Straight Razor Designs. It came shave ready. Shaving with it was so much nicer than the shavette, although it was noticeably not a sharp, which I understand to be typical. I quickly got used to it and was getting some awesome shaves. After about 6 or 7 weeks though, the razor began tugging a bit. Shaving in the mustache region was especially painful. I have been stropping before and after each shave, about 50-60 strokes before and 30-40 after. I figured it might need to be touched up, so I purchased a 20k chinese polishing stone. I did 10 strokes on that (after lapping it of course) with no change in the tugging. Then I tried 20 with no improvement again. So, I started shaving with the shavette again, and was amazed at how easily it cut.

Today I purchased a Norton 4k/8k stone and spent a bit of time lapping it. I tried 10 strokes on the 4k, 10 on the 8k, and 20 on the polishing stone, hoping to once again get a smooth shave. Unfortunately, it was still tugging and painful.

When I read about similar problems, it is usually because shaving technique is suffering. I don't understand how my technique could be regressing though. Do I need to spend more time on the hones to get it sharp again? And more importantly, should the blade be that bad already when it's only been used for 10 weeks or so?

Thank you for any insight you can provide!

Originally Posted by fletcherac

And more importantly, should the blade be that bad already when it's only been used for 10 weeks or so?

Welcome to SRP.
It's quite possible if a combination of factors exist eg poor/heavy stropping, poor technique, rust, etc. etc.
No offence but your expectations may be a bit high if you expect to be able to hone it back to shave ready if you've never done it before.
My advice is get it honed by a pro & get to practising on some cheapies

6-7 weeks isnt so bad for a first touch up
I too would suggest sending it out to be done properly(dont you have a free honing)

Also what is a 20k chinese polishing stone? i hadnt heard of that before

Originally Posted by fletcherac

Today I purchased a Norton 4k/8k stone and spent a bit of time lapping it. I tried 10 strokes on the 4k, 10 on the 8k, and 20 on the polishing stone, hoping to once again get a smooth shave. Unfortunately, it was still tugging and painful.

Honing has to be learned by correct practice. It takes awhile to develop the stroke and to get a feel for where you're at and where you need to go. The pyramid method is good for a new honer because it is a formula and can be followed sort of like painting by the numbers. If you do one pyramid and the razor still isn't where you want it to be repeat. Learning to gauge the keenness of the edge with the thumb pad (TPT) , intuitively knowing how much pressure to use comes with time and practice. There is just no substitute IME. Here is the pyramid method in the SRP Wiki.

should the blade be that bad already when it's only been used for 10 weeks or so?

Ideally when the edge starts going downhill touching up before it is too far gone is recommended.

Thank you for the advice. I was debating about using my free honing that came with the razor so soon, but I suppose that is my best option right now.

I mistakenly wrote 20k when I meant 12k. The polishing stone I was referencing is here: Natural Polishing Water Stone - Woodcraft.com

No need to spend all that money! Point one, SRD gives a free honing. Point two, a barbers hone is all you need to keep a razor sharp indefinitely. At this point in time it is not unusual for a blade to start tugging and pulling, it just needs a touchup. There are usually a good number to choose from on ebay.

I will also add that 30 strokes on a chinese 12k is likely not near enough. I've heard of many members doing a minimum of 100 laps, sometimes many more, just for a touchup. You can speed the process up with the use of slurry, but it's reputation as a very slow hone is well deserved.

I recommend buying two razors that are shave ready. Keep one for your standard. Shave, say, an inch swath with your "standard" razor to judge its sharpness. Then, clean and store without stropping. (Stropping introduces an unneeded variable, since it might dull the blade.)

Shave day to day, and practice your honing on your regular razor. Whenever needed, shave a small area of your face with the standard razor to compare its edge to your current edge on your regular razor.

Touch up or maybe even some ChromeOxide paste? I had the same issue with a Livi Regrind after a bit of use and felt I was going backwards. About 30 laps of CO and then a good stropping and it cuts like butter again...if it's too far out of whack from stropping, send it to SRD for your freebie...

Originally Posted by Formel1

Touch up or maybe even some ChromeOxide paste? I had the same issue with a Livi Regrind after a bit of use and felt I was going backwards. About 30 laps of CO and then a good stropping and it cuts like butter again...if it's too far out of whack from stropping, send it to SRD for your freebie...

30 laps of chrome is an awful lot. Remember, less is more, so if it takes that many laps to bring your edge back to life you might consider getting a touchup hone. Your razor will thank you for it.