Thread: Scraping skin but not cutting hair

Hello, so I don't know whats wrong with my razor other than it stopped shaving yesterday. Let me explain more though, I shaved with this razor 3 times and the 4th time it would only scrape skin. I strop it before and after each use and I just used my balsa wood strop with abrasives. The blade looks sharp to me but maybe I did something wrong and I don't know it? The one thing I can think of that may have done something is, I rubber banded my razor shut when I put it in a case and it was shave ready at that time. Then I get to my destination and my dad washes it under water after I showed it to him, then I tried to shave the next morning and it would just go over the hairs but not cut them.

tl;dr: Razor worked 3 times 4th time won't shave even with stropping and I've only had it for two weeks.

I would say that you need to check the angle of your attack, or you rolled the edge stropping, Or if you are using CrOx on balsa it is possible that you have dulled it on too much past. just ideas

Stropping is a vital skill which takes time to develop. Slow deliberate strokes without rolling the edge against the leather. You should after only 3 shaves have no need to use the balsa strop. It could maybe be brought back to life by an experienced hand with no more than the strops you have but likely you need to send out to be honed now.

Originally Posted by Bl33p

Hello, so I don't know whats wrong with my razor other than it stopped shaving yesterday. Let me explain more though, I shaved with this razor 3 times and the 4th time it would only scrape skin. I strop it before and after each use and I just used my balsa wood strop with abrasives. The blade looks sharp to me but maybe I did something wrong and I don't know it? The one thing I can think of that may have done something is, I rubber banded my razor shut when I put it in a case and it was shave ready at that time. Then I get to my destination and my dad washes it under water after I showed it to him, then I tried to shave the next morning and it would just go over the hairs but not cut them.

tl;dr: Razor worked 3 times 4th time won't shave even with stropping and I've only had it for two weeks.

I see 3 possibilities with the first most likely.
1. You damaged the edge with the strop
2. You damaged the edge with the abrasive paddle
3. The edge is rusty after the "washing"

Originally Posted by alb1981

you rolled the edge stroppings

I'm agree with alb1981, I think now you need to try to strop on clear leather, it may help

Yeah, I've tried stropping it over and over but I think it's just dull now so I'm going to have to get it honed and sharpened. Thanks for the responses guys!