Thread: When shave testing to evaluate a razor isn't an ideal answer.

Somebody on another thread wrote:

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Consider that it can take months to become proficient with a straight so there are many possibilities. Pretty much everything from bad angle, bad stroke, bad pressure, dull razor.

This has me thinking. How do you know a razor is sharp? Shave test it, is what I read. Easy to say, when you know how to shave. But how can you rule out the razor when you are not yet confident in your shave?

Ideally, I'd like to have an objective way to know if my razor is sharp enough. The hanging hair test looked promising, until I brought it up.

So, should a straigh razor be as sharp as say a feather platinum coated blade? Or sharper? Because the feathers don't even pass the 1/2" hanging hair test (at least it didn't for me). And neither does my razor.

So, I think we need a way, in general, other than a shave test, to objectively determine if the razor is good for beginners.

The only objective way for a beginner to determine if a razor is good is to have someone who knows what they are doing evaluate it. Sorry, I don't see any way around it.

I think I asked this of you in another thread. Where are you in Minnesota? I'm in Rochester now and there are lots of people in the Twin Cities who can help you. Getting help in person would be ideal. Alternately, you could send the razor to someone to evaluate and/or touch up the razor.

For me it was discovering that the edge of the razor actually felt sticky on my thumb pad when it was really sharp. Although I must say stropping and light stroke technique are equally as important as one could get a great shave from a razor that isn't 'sticky' if his technique's are honed. (pardon the pun).

Originally Posted by Utopian

The only objective way for a beginner to determine if a razor is good is to have someone who knows what they are doing evaluate it. Sorry, I don't see any way around it.

I am planning to try to meet with somebody, communicating privately.

Meanwhile, I have a leather strop and a felt pad. I read the wiki on stropping, and also watched some videos (one was particularly bad--flipping the razor on the sharp side--good thing I don't believe the first thing I see).

The leather strop is wider then the blad, as is the felt pad. The wiki has a video where the razor is pulled off the edge of the strop as it is stropped.

The point behind this would be good to know. In other words, can this be skipped if you have a wide strop?

Also, which is best to finish on? The felt or the leather?

Thanks.

The leather is last. In response to bringing the razor off the edge, one would do that using an X pattern on the strop just as if the strop wasn't wide enough for the blade. The X pattern would be to strop in the same direction as the cutting edge that is established on the bevel of razor. You should master bringing the blade straight down first though so as to minimize the cuts in your strop you will inevitably get on your beginning strop.

As with everything else in this hobby, that is a thing one has to learn as well!
I think many buy and keep a truly shave ready razor, without actually using it at first.
It doesn't have to cost much at all. 25-50 bucks will ensure you a true reference
This is to have a reference to what that sharpness actually feels like. Be it for the Thumb pad test or the hanging hair test or the shave test.
Utopian gives an excellent tip. Hooking up with someone in your area who have the experience is priceless!
If I were you, that would be my way to do it. This community is full of people willing to give that kind of assistance
As you have already seen from Utopian in this thread!

The technique you describe is usually for when the strop is narrower than the blade. The x-stroke or some variation on it. It is described well in the wiki. If that's not doing it for you I highly recommend plunking down a few bucks for Lynn's DVD. It has pretty much anything and everything in it.

Even though your three inch strop would allow you to leave the razor on it, the leather likely is not flat so it is better to do the x-stroke to cover all parts of the blade. Some may disagree with that and even I might disagree with that for a beginner, but I still think the x-stroke is better even on a wide strop.

Use the felt first, then the leather.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Even though your three inch strop would allow you to leave the razor on it, the leather likely is not flat so it is better to do the x-stroke to cover all parts of the blade. Some may disagree with that and even I might disagree with that for a beginner, but I still think the x-stroke is better even on a wide strop.

Use the felt first, then the leather.

I appreciate it. I have been going straight back only, no x-stroke, because I want to keep the blade level, and not put too much pressure on the blade if I see-saw it laterally while doing the x-stroke.

Another question: I was wondering if the x-stroke, since it is always in the same direction, not only pulls the micro-serrations together, but pulls the micro-serrations toward top (opposite the monkey tail), making the edge more compact.

This is the reference I've been using.

YouTube - Straight Razor Sharp Tests