Thread: Professionally honed - need advice

Greetings all.

Vendor names have been removed to protect the innocent since I might just be messing up

A few weeks ago, I purchased a semi-no-name vintage straight from a reputable vendor and it was my first straight. After awhile, I became very comfortable with using the blade (4/8ish) and decided to upgrade to a new fancier razor. Not for any real reason, I just wanted something that was nice and was mine from the start. I bought a new razor from another site which has a solid reputation and was labeled as being professionally honed.

Well, long story short, the razor I bought which is 5/8, is yielding terrible shaves in comparison to my vintage razor.

One thing of interest which I have noticed is that the vintage blade is much much thinner and feels more like a razor blade (DE razor type blade) than my newer razor. I should note that the new blade as well as the vintage blade is hollow ground, not wedge, near-wedge, or other.

So, my question is this. Am I just getting used to a new blade? I feel like the acclimation period should have elapsed to where I am comfortable handling the razor but I still find myself getting sub par shaves with the new razor. Could it be that the professional honing just wasn't right?

I've kept the sameish stropping technique, lather hasn't changes, soaps, preshave ritual, etc. are all the same. So any thoughts on what gives? If it helps, I can get great shaves with the vintage straight about 95% of the time. With the new straight, I can only recall one shave (out of maybe 15) which have been comparable.

Thanks!

If you had great shaves with the first razor and not so good ones with the second, I'd think the razor is not quite shave ready.
Grind differences do not result in a new learning curve, it takes a few shaves to get used to pressure , but shaving angles should be the same for all razors, for your face and beard.

every razor is different. All of mine shave, but my 4/8 is slightly different than my 5/8. If it is you, maybe try a few more passes than normal on the strop. pay closer attention to your technique. You could always contact the vendor, But I know when I first started shaving. It was not my shave ready razor that was the problem. It was me.

"One thing of interest which I have noticed is that the vintage blade is much much thinner and feels more like a razor blade (DE razor type blade) than my newer razor."

'Sounds like your first one might be an extra hollow? I've not seen a 4/8 EH, but maybe it is. It will have a really diff. feel - flexible blade at the edge. On the newer blade, perhaps contact the vendor if the shave continues to be disappointing. Many guys hone here, and there would be several that would do so for free. PM me if that has interest.

You can go out and purchase the best of match rifles, have it sighted in by the best in the business, but that doesn't mean you'll hit any targets with it. Marksmanship is more than rifle accuracy, starting with how well you can shoot. It's the same with razors, the technique being extremely important. Having said that, if I were you I would sent the questionable razor out to have it honed. When you get it back, you'll be able to tell if your problems were blade-related or technique was an issue.

Using a razor is like driving a car. Once you are competent you can drive anything and it's the same with a razor. You very quickly acclimate no matter the size or grind difference. I would be looking at the razor and see if it needs some work.