Thread: happy but dissapointed all at the same time!

Hello.

Ever since I started SR shaving - which has only been around 4-5 weeks, I have had a sense of dissapointment about not only the shave but the hours of burning afterwards. I always put that down to a beginners technique - that was until this morning

Last night, I spent some time honing up a Ebay razor purchase (a 13/16" round point hollow ground Joseph Wood****). I honed it up on a 5000, then a CH12k. This morning I thought I would give it a try, not expecting much from it - but the difference was amazing. Smooth, and very clean cutting. No razor burn, and even managed to almost get BBS on the chin area - which was previously not possible. In fact, I could barely do anything to the chin area with my TI

My main everyday razor is a TI 6/8 Festonne with the vintage blade. It was purchased shave ready - but whenever I use this blade, I get a harsh scratching sensation. I have tried touching it up on the CH12k but it doesnt help at all. I am happy enough with my stropping - this morning I gave both blades the exact same number of stropping passes - 60 on canvas and then 80 on leather.

So could it be that the Wood**** 13/16" is just more forgiving to a beginner or do you think there is a strong chance the TI is not and never was shave ready? And given the scratching sensation I get from the blade, what would you suggest I bring it back down to? Do you think honing on the 5000 and then 12k might smooth it out? I also have a yellow coti on route to me so that is the other option.

One thing is for sure, after the BBS shave this morning, I am not using that TI again until I have the edge sorted out - which is kind of dissapointing since the entire reason for splashing out on a decent first razor was to ensure that the blade itself would not be under question..

Thanks again for any advice

Sounds to me the TI was not honed properly, guessing you went with the factory edge? I'm guessing the factory edge probably is sharp enough, but the polishing of the edge is largely lacking so that it still does not shave comfortably.
Being that it is a nice razor but also reportedly harder to hone, I'd advice you to consider shipping it to one of the gentlemen in the
member services so you can get it properly set up. That should enable you to maintain the edge much better. Best of luck.

Ti may be never been shave ready. Many people says it is shave ready but you need to make sure.
if you bought from classified try to contact seller and ask about it. i am sure he will work something out.
in the other hand you confusing me by saying you went from 5000 to 12k and after that you got creat shave. i don't think your second blade is shave ready ether.
hope this helps.

thanks str8fencer. I may do that. The razor was purchased shave ready from Martin at rasurpur.de - so it shouldnt of just had the factory edge on it. And I know he has a good reputation so I would imagine he did hone it properly. It did use to provide a better shave - although still not as smooth as the ebay razor. So I guess over the first week or two by stropping it badly I did enough to dull the edge. And as you say, being stainless steel it is ever harder to bring the edge back.

thanks

Originally Posted by str8fencer

Sounds to me the TI was not honed properly, guessing you went with the factory edge? I'm guessing the factory edge probably is sharp enough, but the polishing of the edge is largely lacking so that it still does not shave comfortably.
Being that it is a nice razor but also reportedly harder to hone, I'd advice you to consider shipping it to one of the gentlemen in the
member services so you can get it properly set up. That should enable you to maintain the edge much better. Best of luck.

i would rehone it and do the marker test on the blade

well, all I can tell you is that by the standard I am used to - it was a great shave. By a great shave, I mean no pulling or scratching. I know the edge is certainly not as sharp as it could be - eg it will not pass the HHT, but if hovered about arm or leg hair it will cleanly swipe away a lot of hair without any popping. If I do the same test with the TI, it will still catch hair, but it will pull.

Once the yellow coti arrives, I should be able to get a better edge on it.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

Ti may be never been shave ready. Many people says it is shave ready but you need to make sure.
if you bought from classified try to contact seller and ask about it. i am sure he will work something out.
in the other hand you confusing me by saying you went from 5000 to 12k and after that you got creat shave. i don't think your second blade is shave ready ether.
hope this helps.

How many laps did you do on the Chinese hone? Many report that it can take many, many laps for an effective touchup (talking in the region of 100-200 laps due to the stones hardness). Also be aware that, being a natural hone, not all Chinese hones are the same; some could even be lousy for SR use.

All of the above is assuming that a) the razor was indeed previously shave-ready (as in honed by a honemeister), and b) that the edge is still responding to touchups. If the answer is no to either it will probably require some sharpening beyond what a touchup hone is capable of.

thanks ryan82. I went at the TI again this evening on ther 12k, in my very limited honing experience - I was experiencinit a nice suction effect from the razor as I performed the laps, which to me would indicate that the razor is sharp - I easily gave it another 200 or so laps - copying Lynns technique from one of his videos (circular motions) - followed by 20-30 x-strokes. One thing I will say is, watching the water as it hits the edge, I can see a breakup of the water - almost a saw tooth effect - that is something I dont see on my other razor. If the edge does have a microscopic saw-tooth, then that would also explain the scratching sensation.

I think it probably needs a new edge honing on it, instead of just touching up. Something I will work on next week with the coticule.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

How many laps did you do on the Chinese hone? Many report that it can take many, many laps for an effective touchup (talking in the region of 100-200 laps due to the stones hardness). Also be aware that, being a natural hone, not all Chinese hones are the same; some could even be lousy for SR use.

All of the above is assuming that a) the razor was indeed previously shave-ready (as in honed by a honemeister), and b) that the edge is still responding to touchups. If the answer is no to either it will probably require some sharpening beyond what a touchup hone is capable of.