Thread: Possibly Over-Honed?

I'm a relative newb to straights. I've been using a shavette for the last couple months to try it out and finally bit the bullet and bought a used razor off the classifieds. It was shipped shave ready and I did not strop it before my first shave. I lathered up and went for it and it was so much smoother than my shavette I was amazed, unfortunately it's so smooth because it's not actually cutting anything. I get a sort of scraping sound but it doesn't ever cut down the hair. I've tried arm hair etc and it just glides right over it regardless of angle. The edge feels very sharp on the thumb pad so i'm not sure what's going on.

I've read that it's possible to over-hone an edge which results in the edge feeling sharp but not cutting and i'm wondering if that's what's going on here. I just wanted to get some thoughts and feedback from anyone that might've run into something similar.

First step is to contact the person you bought the razor from. If, after that, you still believe it is the razor and you don't think that person can hone it properly, then take a look at the Member Services section of the classifieds and choose someone else to hone it for you.

While it is entirely possible that the edge on the razor is no good, it is also possible that it is your shave technique or some other factor.

Also, did you feel the edge before you tried shaving or after?

I'm not sure what's up with your edge.
Holli's advice seems spot on.
I would, however, like to share with you my start into wet shaving.
As you, I started out with a feather dx, using their professional and super-professional blades.
The shaves was great, albeit a bit harsh on the skin.
A month or two later, I bought my first straight from a reputable vendor who assured me it was shave-ready.
My first few shaves was pretty much exactly as you describe yours.
It didn't cut anything, and compared to the feather it was quite underwhelming.

I guess by now you probably see where this is going.
The blade was plenty sharp, I just needed to adjust my technique accordingly.
Now, I am not saying your technique is off, or that your blade isn't dull.
But we seem to get stories like yours(and mine) all the time here on SRP.

For me, it turned out to be simply the differences in techniques using the two different systems.

What I suggest, in addition to Holli's good suggestions, is to take extra care in your preparations, play around with the angles of the blades, and really focus on stretching the skin.
God luck, I'm sure you will be fluent in this in no time

If you have survived shaving with a Shavette for months, your technique has to be at least adequate.

I've bought a bunch of "shave ready" razors off Ebay that were not shave ready. I bought one that was supposed to be able to pass the HHT, and when it arrived it had little microchips all along the blade. I bought that one just for the fun of it. However, when I bought the "shave ready" blades, I fully expected to have to hone them when they arrived, and I did just.

On Ebay, people have figured out that the description "shave ready" sells razors. It's much like used cars supposedly driven only by old ladies on their way home from church. If you want to sell a Wade and Butcher wedge, you call it a "Meatchopper". Ebay is a market and in markets claims become exaggerated. In Latin, the advice is 'Caveat Emptor', and in English it is 'Let the buyer beware'. When the market consists of digital/computer information and carefully orchestrated photographs, then it is easy to get misled. Worse than that, we really want to believe what we read. "Shave ready" on Ebay translates in English to "this will have to be honed if you have any intention of shaving with it".

Originally Posted by ace

If you have survived shaving with a Shavette for months, your technique has to be at least adequate.

I've bought a bunch of "shave ready" razors off Ebay that were not shave ready. I bought one that was
supposed to be able to pass the HHT, and when it arrived it had little microchips all along the blade. I bought
that one just for the fun of it. However, when I bought the "shave ready" blades, I fully expected to have to hone them when they arrived, and I did just.

On Ebay, people have figured out that the description "shave ready" sells razors. It's much like used cars
supposedly driven only by old ladies on their way home from church. If you want to sell a Wade and Butcher
wedge, you call it a "Meatchopper". Ebay is a market and in markets claims become exaggerated. In Latin, the
advice is 'Caveat Emptor', and in English it is 'Let the buyer beware'. When the market consists of digital/computer information and carefully orchestrated photographs, then it is easy to get misled. Worse than that, we really want to believe what we read. "Shave ready" on Ebay translates in English to "this will have to be honed if you have any intention of shaving with it".

Your ebay advice is good, but the OP said the razor is from our classifieds.

"Your ebay advice is good, but the OP said the razor is from our classifieds."

Roger! In that case, your advice kicks the crap out of mine. I would just say that 'shave ready' really
refers best to a range of sharpness because beards differ greatly, pre-shave storage and stropping do as well, and then of course there is technique, as you pointed out. What might be shave ready for me might not work for someone with a really stiff growth of whiskers. Sorry, my bad!

I agree with Ace that we are not all equal when it comes to the whiskers we're cutting but it ought to cut as well or better than the shavette AFAIC. if it doesn't I wouldn't call it 'shave ready.' I would contact the seller as holli4 suggested. Also, if you are adept at stropping do some linen and leather and try again. Might make a difference.

I've got to add to the advice here that if you bought it off of the classifieds here whomever you bought it from will surely stand behind the honing and be willing to give her the once over for you. I remember a while back someone was in a similar situation (wish I could remember the details) and it turned out that the member who sold him the razor had sold several around the same time period. That particular razor had accidentally ended up in the "honed" stack and the seller truly thought he'd honed it. As I recall, he took the razor back, honed it, and the buyer was very happy afterwards.

I'd say the odds of that happening are pretty slim and require something of a perfect storm, but it's within the realm of possibility.

Double check your technique, angles, etc. (I know you said you had tried several angles, and it can be frustrating to hear guys tell you what you've already tried, but it's really the first step.)

If you still have trouble, hunt down someone with a jeweler's loop, or microscope (local science/biology teacher, professor/student at a local college, janitor at top secret military lab ) and take a look at the blade under 50x magnification or better. Chips, blunt edges, etc. will show up easily.

Keep at it.

Originally Posted by Dukietown

The edge feels very sharp on the thumb pad so i'm not sure what's going on.

The edge can feel like the sharpest thing you've ever touched , and still not shave worth a crap . That is why actually shaving with the razor is the only true test . I've honed plenty of razors that felt like they were ready , and when it came time to shave with them they would either pull or ride over the whiskers without cutting them . +1 on the advice to contact the seller . I'm sure they'll be happy to make good on the razor . If not , there's always the feedback button .

Thanks for the advice all! I'll keep working at it and see if maybe it's a technique thing and if not contact the seller.