Thread: Edge life before more than stropping is needed?

I can see my interests progressing rapidly towards becoming self-sufficient in razor maintenance but for now I'm more concerned with trying to make sure I'm shaving with a good edge so that I can determine whether or not my technique is improving.

But as a wannabe wood worker and home improvement enthusiast I certainly do not need too much of an incentive to get more into the "do it yourself" aspect of straight razors. Thanks for the input.

If your just concerned with the short term needs and you catch the razor before it really starts to dull the easiest is probably a pasted strop. probably some CrO would serve well. Eventually you'll need the hone but that could be way over a year away.

10 laps on some Cox, 30 laps on strop and you should be good..hopefully, unless you really screwed up on your stropping.... I found SRD's strop paddle ... "forgiving". With that said, I have a 5/8/12 set from SRD to touch up.....

I shaved with a Dovo Bismarck nearly every day for nearly three months before it started to lose it's edge. About every week and a half, I did ten laps on the pasted strop and it brought it right back. I have a feeling that you'll be equipped to hone it yourself after that time based on your original post. Soooo...for right now, focus on shaving and begin to dig in a learn as much as you can about hones. In a couple months, you'll have an idea of what you want in the way of honing gear and then pick up a couple beater razors and begin practicing so that by the third month, you'll be confident enough to give your expensive razor a whirl.

Hi,

In addition to the daily stropping on linen/leather :

As a general rule, I give my blade 5 - 10 laps on CrOx after seven (7) shaves; after a month of shaves, they get 5 - 10 laps on a Naniwa 12k.

Each razor is different; for eample the TI C135 blades I have go on much longer with just stropping compared with some of the softer blades I have.

I have found, like many others, that 'little but often' maintenance works best.

As the individuals whiskers and razors are all unique, it is difficult to give a hard and fast duration for an edge; let your shave be the test

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Originally Posted by red96ta

I shaved with a Dovo Bismarck nearly every day for nearly three months before it started to lose it's edge. About every week and a half, I did ten laps on the pasted strop and it brought it right back. I have a feeling that you'll be equipped to hone it yourself after that time based on your original post. Soooo...for right now, focus on shaving and begin to dig in a learn as much as you can about hones. In a couple months, you'll have an idea of what you want in the way of honing gear and then pick up a couple beater razors and begin practicing so that by the third month, you'll be confident enough to give your expensive razor a whirl.

Great idea to practice on beat up razors when the time comes prior to attempting work on my more expensive razor. That should remove anxiety and help to build some confidence. Thanks for your reply.

I'm getting the hint that "less more often is better than a lot too late" when it comes to maintaining the edge. I'll reach out for more advice when the time comes. Thanks.

While "less more often" sounds like great advice, I've only had about 6 shaves on my Dovo Special, so it's hard for me to differentiate "learning curve" from "starting to pull".

Originally Posted by red96ta

I shaved with a Dovo Bismarck nearly every day for nearly three months before it started to lose it's edge. About every week and a half, I did ten laps on the pasted strop and it brought it right back.

If your razor didn't start losing it's edge for three months, then what was the point of hitting the paste every 1.5 weeks in that time frame?

Technically that's a touchup every 11 shaves or so, for a total of 8 touchups in three months....

Originally Posted by DPMaltese

I can see my interests progressing rapidly towards becoming self-sufficient in razor maintenance but for now I'm more concerned with trying to make sure I'm shaving with a good edge so that I can determine whether or not my technique is improving.

But as a wannabe wood worker and home improvement enthusiast I certainly do not need too much of an incentive to get more into the "do it yourself" aspect of straight razors. Thanks for the input.

Be careful give it some time. I went hog wild with honing gear and found out I don't need half the stuff I purchased. I would recommend the SRP modular strop with felt pads using 1 micron and .5 micron diamond paste or CrxO. Go slow.