Thread: I could use some more experienced help

I have been shaving now for about a year, and I just had a few questions:

I started touching up my own razor with a polishing stone about 3 months ago, and have been very satisfied with the results. I have found though, that I am having to touch up my razor after only about 3 to 5 shaves. Is this normal? it seems that I am having to touch it up on my stone more than I should have to. I shave about twice a week, and have coarse facial hair. When I do touch up my razor, I do approximately 75 passes in order to get that nice edge on it, but it seems to go away very quickly. should I take my razor in to get it professionally resharpened periodically still, or is this a problem with my razor or stone?

Also, I have gotten very good at shaving all parts of my face, except for my neck. My neck is ridged, the skin seems to be very thin, and the facial hair there is the coarsest on my entire face. It is to the point that I rarely can do a single pass without bleeding or receiving razor burn in some way. I have tried multiple techniques, but none seem to work, are there any tips or pre shave prep instructions that I could do to either toughen that skin in some way?
I shower and condition the hair before I shave every time, as well as build lather on my face. I have tried starting with my neck as well as ending with it. Could this possibly have to do with the same problems that I'm having with my razor? I usually let my face rest for about 3-4 days before I shave again in order for that skin to heal. Please help, I love this hobby, and this is the only discomfort that I feel, but it is a major one.

IMO 3-5 shaves is too often, it is possible that the edge degraded past the finishing stone stage and needs a bit more work to get back in top shape.

If the edge just needs touching up, 75 laps on a finishing stone is way too many. Ten laps should do the job if that is what your blade really needs. I think it has become rounded at the bevel and requires honing.

+1... You need to get the blade optimally honed to eliminate it as a problem.

Strop more, grind less. You are probably leaving a bur on the edge. A bur is sharp but breaks off, eaving a dull, ragged edge. Avoiding making a bur while honing is preferable, but careful stropping after honing can often remove the bur gently and smooth the edge. As your experience with shaving with your straight razor increases, you will eventually go months, perhaps a year or more without needing to hone it.

thank you very much all for the assistance. I also stop a minimum of 60 times before every time that I shave. Keeping in mind that I have been trying to preserve the edge of my razor just with my one touch up stone for the past 4 months, I think that the largest possibility is that I just need to get it rehoned. I wasn't quite sure how mong it could go without a pro rehoning but it seems like about 2 1/2 to 3 months is tops. As this is my first razor it is obviously meant for some experimentation. I do not think that I hav been leaving a bur, as I have been on the lookout and very cautious to make sure that I didn't, but as a newb it's very possible that I have. thank you for your input.

hey there field...as for the honing I am not your guy. But I also had thin skin on my neck and had to go with some different options in the beginning. I turned to cold shaving rather than using hot water and lots of prep. when you get your face hot it opens all the pores and in my opinion makes the skin alot softer and more prone to irritation. maby you could try using medium cool water so that the pores don't fully open while shaving. it may help a little to reduce irritation. I am pretty sure a few others on here use that technique as well. just a thought. hope you figure it out

You never mentioned this - what type of hone are you using for touchups?

If it's a natural then 75 laps isn't beyond the realm of possibility. But if it's a synthetic I agree with the others, that's way too much.

Ryan82-

I got it at my local cutlery shop, because they said that it would be the best for touching up a razor. I believe that it is actually a surgical hone, but I am not quite sure whether it is a natural or a synthetic. They told me to use an oil they had with it instead of water, if that gives any indication. I would think that it is a natural stone, but I am sorry I could not be more help in that.

Originally Posted by fieldbarren

Ryan82-

I got it at my local cutlery shop, because they said that it would be the best for touching up a razor. I believe that it is actually a surgical hone, but I am not quite sure whether it is a natural or a synthetic. They told me to use an oil they had with it instead of water, if that gives any indication. I would think that it is a natural stone, but I am sorry I could not be more help in that.

Mystery stone, huh? That's rarely a good thing. If you want to go the easy route you may consider sending your razor to a pro to assess the edge, and then buy a forum approved hone for your touchups. It may turn out that it's the hone itself that's causing the problems; at least with a known hone (nice rhyme ) you can eliminate some variables.