rolled? razor

Hey guys, I've had three shaves so far and today was the worst. It wasn't close even after two WTG passes (what I've been doing). And it felt like more of a pulling action like I hear others talk about. The culprit I believe is my stroping technique. I'm hard headed so instead of stroping with the spine leading and then rolling over one the spine to start going the other direction, I lift the razor and turn it around and go the other direction. Also I think I've been using too much force. So I have to work on it, but my problem now is its my third shave in and I don't know if I should send out the razor to get honed, buy another one, or just by a hone and start learning that side of this hobby of mine. How hard is it to sell a used hone, I really want to just get a hone 4/8, and just bring my razor back to shave ready with the 8K.

Also I've put a long handle brush and a 4/8 hone in my cart at KnifeCenter and the shipping is 9.99 which I can wipe out if I just spend $26.10 more. Should I get something else. So far I own:

Whipped dog razor/strop/pasted strop
synthetic brush
the art of shaving starter cream kit
Cella Cream De Barba soap
Glycerin
and I'm about to pull the trigger on a Schwarzweisskeramik

Also my whipped dog set came with the pasted strop, will that be enough to bring back my razor to shave ready. I have a 30X microscope similar to this

30X HAND HELD MICROSCOPE w/ CASE,ILLUMINATED FREE SHIP! | eBay

can I use that to tell if I need a rehoning, or..........

I doubt your razor is dulled too much to be resurrected.

Try stropping 30 passes on the green (chromium oxide) side of the balsa strop. Clean blade and strop 30 times on the red (iron oxide) side of the balsa strop. Clean blade and strop 40 times on the leather strop. You should be good to go!

Remember, especially with the leather strop... "Hold tight. Strop light!"

Another possibility to consider is that your razor might be nicely sharp even now. Probably not, since you seem to indicate a degradation in sharpness. But, keep in mind the possibility that newbies often conclude their shave ready razors are dull because they have wrong expectations about the razor performance. There are tons of threads about "dull" blades that aren't dull. Search the forums.

Let us know what happens, and maybe we can help further.

As an aside, give it your best shot with the balsa and leather strops. If you can't get it back to shave readiness in your opinion, feel free to send to me for a free honing. PM me or email me at LarryAndro@GMail.com.

Hi Knife,

If you're still shopping, I'd suggest a DMT 325 plate for lapping your Norton. Like the Norton, it's a standard piece of gear and you should be able to resell it easily if you change your mind. Another important hone is a 1k, for setting bevels. Check out honing in the Wiki.

I use a 10x magnifier to monitor my edges. That's enough to tell what's going on, if you know what you're looking for and looking at. 30x will work too. Just be careful about not actually touching the edge as you focus in on it. It's microscopically thin and easy to damage.

Thanks Larry thats very kind. I'll try the pasted strop idea, that should do it. It has to be a little dull because my first shave was very nice, and my second was great too. Today was when it was just a little rough, it may also be my lathering. I'll you guys know.

Thanks

Post a picture of what your lather looks like. In bowl and on the face (close up). I'd be willing to bet it ain't right....

I'd go for a better brush and that scuttle you're looking at.

I'll look up how to post pictures and I will. My lather even with supposedly shaving soap from the grocery store and spending like a minute straight swirling and mixing the lather, adding soap and glycerin (today first time) it ended up like a little more than the suds in a bubble bath. I'm going to look at some videos on lathering and work harder at it. I'll do some practice sessions tonight. The problem with the morning is, while I take my time shaving I am on limited time and lathering is a one shot deal. I can see myself really spending more time on it as I see it being more and more important. But I'll check my edge with the 10X, I thing I have brushed my edge on the 30X like roughkype suspected. My problems might be multifaceted.

Thanks

I shave at night, which takes some of the time pressure off. I don't have to look that good for my work, so it's a good solution for me.

There's a good chance that the soap you found at your grocery store is adequate rather than good. PM me and I'll send you a sample of some good stuff.

Thats a good offer roughkype, but I got that Cella Cream De Barba soap I mentioned before, coming in the mail in a few days. That should be good right. I read it blurs the line between cream and soap. Should be good, what do you think.

I don't have to look good for work either, but with all the work I go through shaving I want to look my best for work (ie shave as close to date time as possible). Now that I think of it though, at least for the first few weeks or so, its a good idea to shave at night and take my time.

Thanks also for that plate recomendation. I thought you just by a stone and thats it. I got to start reading.

Yes, definitely read about lapping your hones. You can lap on wet sandpaper on a glass surface, but the DMT325 is also useful for deep repair.

I haven't used that Cella soap you mention, so can't comment. I have used only-adequate ones, though, which is why I said anything. I think someone already suggested trying bottled water (RO or distilled would be best), in case your tapwater is too hard to play nice.

If you haven't tried a cold-water shave yet, I recommend that. Every step of the way, as cold as your tap will run.

I'm long past dating, so I don't have to look that good away from work either. *Sigh*

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Knife

Thats a good offer roughkype, but I got that Cella Cream De Barba soap I mentioned before, coming in the mail in a few days. That should be good right. I read it blurs the line between cream and soap. Should be good, what do you think.

I don't have to look good for work either, but with all the work I go through shaving I want to look my best for work (ie shave as close to date time as possible). Now that I think of it though, at least for the first few weeks or so, its a good idea to shave at night and take my time.

Thanks also for that plate recomendation. I thought you just by a stone and thats it. I got to start reading.

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Tallow based soaps are the gold standard for lathering, and Cella is awesome. I use it occasionally. This is what your lather should look like.

As Larry mentioned, try stropping on the balsa wood, then back to your leather. How many passes on the leather strop are you doing after a shave? As you shave your beard will dull the razor, improper stropping technique or an inadequate number of passes will not bring back the level of sharpness you want. If that doesn't do it, then send it to Larry. A few strokes on a barber's hone will bring it back if you rolled it on the strop.