Time for refreshing?

I've been shaving with a straight for a year, about 2 times a week. Today I noticed that my most-frequently used razor doesn't perform the way it used to. I have a rotation of 4 and I feel that all of them don't perform as well. I realised that they all had about 20 shaves (with only stropping) under their belt and they need a refresher.

I have 2 choices:

1. I have a strop pasted with CrOx I got from from 'The Invisible Edge', I never used and I don't know if the amount on the strop is good.
2. I also have a small (1x5 inch) vintage coticule, which I've used on some test razors, but I've been unable to get then shave ready (but they are sharp).

I don't want to destroy my razors while refeshing them... So what is the best way to refresh my razors? X strokes on the coti, or Y strokes on the pasted strop? And how many strokes (minimum) would be needed for a refresh?

The third option is: sending them out.. But I would like to try refreshing them first (without thrashing them)...

My suggestion would be that you send one or two out for professional honing or find a member close to you who can help.
The reason for this is that you need to have a baseline to compare your results to.
It has been my experience that it is so difficult to know when you have a shave ready razor without having one to compare it with. (Don't rely on your memory)
If you wish to try it yourself with the other two (or three) look on YouTube for hi_bud_gl (Sham) and look at his honing technique with a coticle.
It is (IMHO) a great video to ensure that you only use the lightest pressure when honing.
I have changed my honing technique to his method after watching this one and am getting very much better results.
OTOH you could use the pasted strop and see if it helps.
I have never used one so I can't really comment, however if the strop came already pasted, I would think it was ready to use.
The vendor you mention is very well respected.
I hope this helps.
Hang on and enjoy the ride

Try to refresh, then, if you fail, send it out. Use the Coticule on one and Crox strop on the other. Try 10 passes on Crox and test shave. Try 6 passes on a clean, no slurried, Coticule, and test shave. Then if you want follow that up with 10 passes on Crox.

Test shave away.

So had a few shaves now. One razor done on the coti and the other one on the CrOx. They seem sharper, waaaaay less pulling on the ATG pass on the moustache. I still have to send a few out for comparison. But I am really happy with the results of my first refresher. Thanks guys!

How many laps did you do on the coticule?

Some are so hard that it may take as many as 50-100 laps with water to achieve a great edge. Don't be afraid to try additional laps and test shave. Experimentation is what it's all about. :) I would however recommend going easy on the pastes. I would test after every 5 laps or so. For a chrome ox touch up I find 10-15 to be ideal, without the aid of a hone. Eventually the chrome touch ups become less effective, so I typically do 3 paste touch ups and then go to a hone.

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

How many laps did you do on the coticule?

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Around 20 with very little pressure (enough to keep the razor flat), water only.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

I would however recommend going easy on the pastes. I would test after every 5 laps or so. For a chrome ox touch up I find 10-15 to be ideal, without the aid of a hone.

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I did about 8 laps, shaved, didn't like it, did it another 8 times.. It was good.

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

Eventually the chrome touch ups become less effective, so I typically do 3 paste touch ups and then go to a hone.

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When it comes to that, I'll send the out. I want to send out a few anyway, for comparison. Just looking for a honemeister in The Netherlands.