Thread: New guy with a question

Hi all. I've been checking out this fourm for a while and finially registered. I'm new to using a straight razor. I've been interested in it for a while and never got into it until I past a shop in Charleston that sold straight razors and accessories. I started with just using a brush and soap to see if I'd like that. After about a month I went ahead and got a Dovo razor, strop and stone. I tried to shave with it and it hurt extreamly bad. It obviously wasn't near sharp enough. I had a Col Conk Stone and tried that. The stone was too thin and I was having a hard time keeping the razor flat on the surface of the stone. I decided to send the razor to classic shaving to get a good edge on the razor. I also invested in a 4000/8000 Norton stone from them as well as some more pastes and some pumic stones. When I got it back it was missing the case I had sent with it. Oh well, that's still being sorted out.

The first time I shaved with it I was extreamly impressed. I didn't feel any pulling and the hair was comming off without any trouble what-so-ever. I waited a couple days to give it another go (I only shave every 3 days when I go to work). This time it wasn't so good. I stropped it about 10 times on the linen side as well as the leather. I made sure that I was pulling the strop good and tight. There was a significant amount of pull this time.

Is it possible that the razor was over honed and the fin broke off when I was stropping it? I guess it's always possible but would that be usual for the classic shaving sharpening service?

Last night I put the razor on the 8000 side of my stone and ran it about 20 times. I shaved after stropping it on the Leather side and it's a bit better but not near what it was the first time I tried it after getting it back. I did get a pretty good shave from it but there was a little discomfort. The only part I couldn't get to was my upper lip... Besides that everything went pretty good. Should I just run it some more on the 8000 side?

I did get some older razors to practice with but it seems the blades are somewhat warped. I can see where the blade is having more contact with the stone that the end of the blade...

I guess the question is: What do you think I need to do about the razor? Will there always be a little discomfort when using a straight razor?

Thanks
Magoo

Welcome aboard. There isn't supposed to be any discomfort when using a straight. Zero pull with the grain and miniscule to zero in tougher areas when going against. I have 2 explanations for you:

1) You ruined the edge with your stropping. You were probably pressing too hard and bent it. You will need ot re-establish it on the Norton. Read the help files, especially the one that covers the Pyramid method. That one is GREAT for a newb.
2) Your honing issues are probably from bad honing technique. Either try doing the x-pattern on the hone or a heel to toe pressure distribution to keep the bevel even.

Good luck and don't get discouraged. It takes a while to pick up the necessary skills and there is always something else to learn and experience.

Hi Magoo, and welcome to the forum. I'll leave your questions to be answered by some of the more experienced members here. In the meantime, I get to Charleston a couple of times a year, and I was wondering if you could post the store name and location that sold you your razor. I'd like to visit next time I'm there. Thanks!

Jordan

Originally Posted by jnich67

... In the meantime, I get to Charleston a couple of times a year, and I was wondering if you could post the store name and location that sold you your razor. I'd like to visit next time I'm there. Thanks!

Jordan

The Smoking Lamp
189 E Bay St
Charleston SC

It was a neat store. They didn't have a huge selection of razors of accessories. I think at the time I went they only had one razor but plenty of soaps, brushes and dishes. It's worth a visit.

Magoo

I'll check it out. thanks.

Jordan

Welcome Magoo! The same thing happened to me last week. I know how to hone and strop very well but I finished honing a Conk razor and stropped it. The shave was close enough but a little uncomfortable, ie:it pulled. I checked it the next day by light reflection (future topic when I get time) to and it looked OK but still the shave wasn't what I am used to. I thought it might have been overhoned (not to be confused with a wire edge) so I went back to the 4K/8K Norton and did several passes on the 4K, then spent time on the 8K just (checking often) until all the edge reflection was gone. Then only several very light pases on a coticule. At this point I usually go on to the 15K Shapton Pro but did not. After stropping I did the same good prep and shaved. From the first stroke on it seemed like a different razor. A truely perfect shave with no pull or irritation. Concusions:

1. The first time honing the razor I probably overhoned it = too thin. I may have broken the fin minutely while stropping.
2. Time spent on the 8K should only go to very sharp and not beyond. The coticule should be only for polishing and not for making the edge thinner by any appreciable degree.
3. Some razors will not take an extreemly thin cutting edge but will still shave as well as others that will.

I do use the X pattern because very few razors are perfectly straight. This allows for the entire edge to be reached by the hone.

Monte