How sharp should a razor be?

Hey, I recently bought my first straight edge razor, two strops (one with two disposable straight razors and paste, the other with the regular straight razor I bought first) but I'm having some trouble knowing if the straight razor is sharp enough to use (given that I'm using the wrong technique) and if it is possible for it to ever be as sharp as a disposable razor.

Firstly, I was told that the razor would be shave ready as soon it arrived, but it seemed to be quite dull and would only manage to cut arm hairs with a lot of tugging. Since then I've tried to sharpen it using a taut strop and moving the blade along with an x pattern keeping it straight, on both the rough side and the smooth side of the strop with the smooth side last, which did very little to the blade.

I then tried using paste on my second strop (red and black), with the black paste applied to the rough side of the strop and the red to the smooth, using the same technique and then followed it by using my regular strop. This did help a little in the way that it tugs much less now, but it still isn't very close in shaving and any small stubble the blade just glides over.

However, using one of the disposable straight razors it managed to shave very closely using the same technique.

So my question is, is it possible for me to sharpen the blade I bought (Empire double hollow ground and round pointed, high carbon steel cut throat: http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/1336/dsc00640y.jpg) to be around as sharp as the disposable razors without having to buy expensive hones. And is it worth buying a new razor which is shave ready or just using the disposable straight razors instead?

Thanks.

Thanks, have you had experience with this brand before, and is it not possible for it to ever be usable? Also, would you suggest a budget starting razor for me to try, preferably a big brand so that I can get it in the UK. Thanks.

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Originally Posted by Litheon

Thanks, have you had experience with this brand before, and is it not possible for it to ever be usable? Also, would you suggest a budget starting razor for me to try, preferably a big brand so that I can get it in the UK. Thanks.

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Welcome to SRP. You are certainly in the right place to solve your problems.
The safest way for you to find a good razor, shave ready, at a good price would be to check out our SRP classifieds. You cannot go wrong there.

While I have no experience with that razor, unfortunately as Sham said, it is a sure bet it is a piece of kaka. Forget that razor and take it as a lesson learned.

On a side note, sharpness (or rather whether or not a razor is shave ready) is something that takes a great deal of time and experience to be able to gauge. Read the wiki. There is a lot of info on there to help you.

Good luck

Sorry to say there is no way you will get that blade shave ready stage.
what i mean by is you can get confortable shave from it.
What i say below is because of budget.
We do have members from UK enough of them. i am sure one of them can help you to choose razor from uk bay and sharpen it for you.
Another way is buy from srp classified shave ready blade. Ask sellers it is ok for newbies.
So many English made razor's out there you have plenty of choose
i just cannot say 1 brand they are a lot.
wade&butcher, joseph&rodger, frederick reynolds and so on on.
you make your choose.
Most important is get size of 5/8 or 6/8 and make sure round point or ask seller to make it round point for you. then you should be ok.
hope this helps.

I haven't seen that brand before however the known quality manufacturers are well known and that isn't one of them. They keep coming out with new brand names and for the most part is Pakistani made. As a newly made razor unless its made in Germany or France, well that's where the quality factory razors are made these days. it's not a custom type so that leaves out all the other known entities.

You can play around with it but I doubt you will get it truly shave ready or if you do it probably won't hold the edge. You would probably need some actual hones to even attempt it.

Next time buy from a known source so you get some quality. Check out our classifieds and our vendors.

Introduction to razors
www.strop-shop.co.uk - hand made straight razor strops, razor pouches, shaving accessories, vintage razors, razor honing and restoration
These are UK sourses i would trust, both have shave ready vintage razors
and theinvisible edge has links to (same vendor different websites) new ones as well

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Litheon

Thanks, have you had experience with this brand before, and is it not possible for it to ever be usable? Also, would you suggest a budget starting razor for me to try, preferably a big brand so that I can get it in the UK. Thanks.

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I've just bought a "Classic" model razor (brand new) from www.theinvisibleedge.co.uk. I've had my first shave with it and it was certainly well worth the money I paid for it (cheers to Steve at IE, by the way!). There are links to other sites (Dovo & TI) from Invisible Edge too.
I think someone also mentioned Strop Shop (search for that in Google). They have some good blades on there and Neil has an excellent reputation.
If you see one you like the look of, ask some questions! People here (and the vendors) are happy to help!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Litheon

Also, would you suggest a budget starting razor for me to try, preferably a big brand so that I can get it in the UK. Thanks.

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I hear great things about Neil and the edge he puts on his razors.

But, if you want budget, buy one off the classifieds. I've bought razors from most of the guys restoring and selling there from very inexpensive to high end. I've been happy with everything I've received.

Personally, I don't care what my shavers look like, all I want is a good shave. So if it has some scratches, light pitting, or patina, etc., that doesn't bother me at all.

But, I've also bought some really nice restorations and NOS razors, and these I plan to put into a display so I can admire them throughout the day.

I'd suggest going back to page 7 on the classifieds and go through each ad working your way up to what's currently available. Look at what's offered, the price, and who's selling so you can get a feel for what's available, as well as in your price range.

Tonight I shaved with a $40 razor I bought off the classifieds and it mowed through my 48 hours worth of stubble, and gave me as good a shave as my DE (and I have an expensive DE!). Though, it's taken me a lot of shaves to get to this point (my first attempts were pretty dismal--so just keep at it and eventually you'll get there).

International shipping might be extra, so remember to add that to the prices you see in the ads.

Depending on how much you want to pay for retail, you could get 2 or more razors from the classifieds for the same price.

Kent

Most dealers, and customers, believe straight razors come shave ready from the factory -- not true. Shave ready razors are sharpened by the dealer before they are sent out to you, like Straight Razor Designs.

Some razors, and I have one, cannot be sharpened well enough to get a good shave, and you can waste a lot of time trying. A good rule of thumb is that while not definitive, you should be able to do a hanging hair test with a sharp razor, and another good test is a thumb test where you slide your wet thumb along the blade "gently" and see if it feels sticky. The only real test is to actually shave with the razor, and any pulling or tugging is a bad sign.

Get a nice razor either here or from reputable dealer and you'll see the difference. Also, get your stropping down. If you buy a new razor use it before stropping it. That way you'll know what a fresh razor feels like and you'll also know if you are dulling the razor stropping it.

Litheon,

+1 on Janivar123s' suggestions of Mr Dempster (www.theinvisibleedge.co.uk) and Mr Neil Miller (www.strop-shop.co.uk).

They are most fine chaps to do business with, and both are superb honers :)

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Try Introduction to razors
they are helpful beyound the call of duty,and have some nice vintage, shave ready razors at a good price.I had the same trouble bought a crap razor that was never going to be shave ready,got a vintage from the invisible edge at not much more cost wise,was very pleased.