Thread: New to Straight Razors, What am i missing ?? Blade not sharp

In my opinion, I would have asked for another razor after that salesman cut the paper. Take Ace's advice, get it professionally honed and get used to using a properly honed razor before trying to learn how to hone it. Take it one step at a time. Also, when I touch up my razors's edge, nothing comes in contact with that edge except the skin on my face.

Other members in this forum may disagree with me, that's fine, but from my point of view, a straight razor's edge is more delicate than people realize.

You have gotten all the advice you need so far and it looks like you get the point.

Only thing that I might add is to see if there is a fellow srp member in your area that is willing to meetup. An hour with a mentor from here is worth about 100 hours of you tube video and frustration. You can get your razor honed learn a few things and have him look at your stropping. If the AOS sales person was willing to cut paper as his sales pitch I was willing to be they do not use a straight razor so their stropping instruction may have been as helpful as the paper test.

Good luck and welcome to SRP. It really is not that hard, just a lot to take in at once.

Originally Posted by jaswarb

Well it seems logically the next step would be to cut up some printer paper and shave test the edge. I have done it already. Razors aren't for cutting paper. Try it.

Respectfully, that's a fair suggestion. After cutting this 20# printer paper this morning, my razor shaved great - without even stropping:

Originally Posted by JeffR

Folks, cutting a piece of writing paper or similar won't likely harm an edge. At least not in a way that couldn't be fixed by stropping it. Think about it - whiskers are far tougher than paper and one can shave for months without needing to touch up a razor.

Think about how many hairs you would have to line up to equal the width of that paper. He probably put a months worth of wear on the edge with that one slice.

Carl,
since you are near dallas i would suggest contacting larry at whippeddog ... you might even be able to get some pointers in person that would definitely speed your progress.

jim

Well stated Morty. Excellent post!

I got my first SR from SRD and got great start. However, I did botch my edge stropping, but that was part of the learning curve. Lynn Abrams gave me some advice, heeded and stuck to it and I have added razors to my line up and I consistently get great shaves.

On another note, interesting that Gillette owns AOS; wow, I never would have guessed.

We alll different lessons and share them. I personally hope that other newbies reading this thread learn from it. Use the razor on the face and nothing else.

Originally Posted by Morty

+1 for the recommendations to send your razor to someone who advertises honing services in the SRP Classified section. You have enough on your plate just learning to shave.

It's clear to me that the AOS salesman you bought your Dovo from knows nothing about the straight razors he is selling. They aren't knives you use for whittling sticks. I've never tried this myself and I don't recommend anyone else try this with a prized razor, but it's my understanding that were you to take a razor that was honed shave ready sharp and gave you a comfortable shave, then used it to slice a piece of paper, it would no longer give you the same comfortable shave until the edge was touched up.

I went to the AOS store one time because I wanted to try their shaving cream. I noticed the straights they had for sale and asked the salesman what brands of hones they carried? His face took on a doe-in-the-headlights expression. I then asked him who he recommended his customers send their straight razors to when they needed honing? He again did his impression of a deer about to be jacked. No surprise, given that Gillette owns AOS.

Should you ever be moved to purchase another new straight razor, might I suggest you purchase it from a vendor like Straight Razor Designs? Every razor they sell is honed shave ready sharp for you at no extra cost. You're guaranteed to get a good, comfortable shave (once you've developed your technique, that is).
Namaste,
Morty -_-

Originally Posted by JeffR

Respectfully, that's a fair suggestion. After cutting this 20# printer paper this morning, my razor shaved great - without even stropping:

No disrespect taken I like differing opinions as their resolution is for me the best teacher.
Well this isn't one of those issues I would believed YMMV. I have done the paper trick as well and the edge was not kind to my face. I have very abrasion sensitive skin. Edge smoothness is a very big factor for comfort when I shave. Now it looks as though with such divergent results we need a double blind study.

I am curious as to the method you chose to cut the paper. Since the slice is so long and straight may I correctly assume you cut it on the backer board in the photo while guilding it with a straight edge?

Is it me or is this thread drifting out to sea?

Jaswarb,

I agree with you, this paper-cutting exercise is very subjective and not something to recommend people do. Especially razor salesman.

You know, that surprised me; I cut that printer paper by holding it up in my left hand and cutting it from the top downward in one smooth stroke on the first and only try. I'm not sure that I could repeat that!


carl16732,
My apologies for diverting this thread. The suggestions given by the other guys to meet with an experienced straight razor shaver and to have your razor professionally honed are good ones. They no doubt earnestly want you to have success and enjoyment with wet shaving.

Sincerely,
Jeff

Doesn't copy paper contain minerals like calcium carbonate and titanium dioxide to make it look whiter? SMI: Why are Minerals Used in Paper?

On honing, have you tried putting black marker on the edge of the blade (carefully from the side)?

greetings,

i am new to this club...have used the straigt-edge from feb of 2011. i have a se dovo inox; also, i have a strop but i tell you, i have gotTen to one of the points of your comment: I HAVE LOST THE !EDGE! OF MY LITTLE DARLING. it just doesn't cut like it used to cut and therefore i have been relegated back to using a cheap triple edge safety razor and i dont think i have to tell you how much, after shaving with a straight-edge, i am impressed with the cut. the strop kept the edge for awhile but because of inexperience i couldnt maintain the precision edge needed to avoid defacing the skin getting shaving bumps and in-grown hairs. i am in the caribbean but i wanted to know if you know of anyone of reputable character that can bring the edge back to little missy? i want to eventually become proficient at honing a blade but i am willing to start by paying a professional to do it. will probably buy a new blade, honing stone, strop and work on restoring the edge of the blade i already have.
Can anyone guide me along these lines?