Thread: Discouraged, Depressed, Disgusted, Damn near Done wit it all!!!

1) Did you have any abrasive on the paddle? If you did you would have overhoned and ruined a shave-ready edge. If not, you could have placed too much pressure and rolled the edge.
2) To get rid of the chip, you'd need to use a faster-cutting abrasive like 1000 grit wet-dry sandpaper, equal number of strokes and pressure on both sides. Then you need to take it to the Norton and do the pyramids until it gives you a pull-free shave before taking it to the abrasive paddle surface. Make sure you tape the spine with electrical tape to avoid honewear-galore.

MAKE SURE THE NICK IS COMPLETELY GONE BEFORE STARTING TO HONE!!!

Man, what a bummer?!!! It is so easy to mess up a good razor. I dropped my TI 6/8 Blond Horn Silversteel the first week I had it. Fortunately it must have landed on its back as there was no damage to the blade.
If I were you (I know, I'm not) I would give sending the razor to a honemeister another try to save your investment and to reintroduce you to a really fun "hobby". I know straight razor shaving isn't for everyone but I feel you haven't had much chance to give it a good try. There's a real possibility you'll end up really enjoying it. Lot's of people get off to a rough start. It's not an easy art to learn. You know the old cliche..."if it was everyone would do it." I'm no honemeister but let me know if you have any questions or if I can be of any help. Also Lynn Abrams, from this forum, is about as knowledgeable as they come regarding straight razors, is a really nice guy, and is a tremendous resource for new straight razor users like you and me. Shoot him a PM or email. Once you get a good shave you'll be hooked.

Tom

You're not the first to have trouble out of the gate and lessons learned the hard way are often the ones that make the greatest impression. I suspect you knocked the edge off your razor when you stropped the first time. This is a common occurrence for the initiate as stropping should be done very slowly, gently and carefully. Not knowing about honing would also mean you are NOT going to get a satisfactory shave once you touch it to the hone. That's going to take some practice and some patience. This is perhaps your greatest challenge right now. If you're ready to give up after these stumbling blocks now, I'd strongly encourage you to take a bunch of deep breaths and consider how best to solve your problems and not run from them. It can be a very empowering experience getting all your straight razor ducks in a row, not to mention a terrific shave.

Do you have any pics of the 'chip' or can you describe it? If it's not bad and you're willing to take my advice on the patience and persistence, you can ship it to me and I'll see if I can't get it back into shape for you. Just PM me.

In the meantime, I recommend you practice stropping with a butter knife, imagining there are a perfect row of flees sleeping in a single file on the edge and you don't want to wake them up, but must tuck them all into bed neatly with the stropping.

X

Ok another hour on the coarse stone, fifty laps on the medium arkansas fifty laps on the hard arkansas, and two times through the aggressive pyramid and it feels close by the thumb test to where it was yesterday, not there but close. any guesses as to how many more pyramids before it is even worth a shave test? BTW the HHT never did work for me, I can't get it to work reliably with my shavette either.

Yes I do get frustrated very easily and will probably need to vent every so often. Partly it my personality and partly its doing a job where getting a bigger hammer and swinging it harder is usually the right answer.

Originally Posted by Wildtim

... any guesses as to how many more pyramids before it is even worth a shave test?

One is all you should need, but I often start small and end up having to work my way up to bigger pyramids, going up to 15/5 or even 25/5 for big jobs and you've got a big job.

Don't succumb to speed on the hone. If you're getting impatient, walk away for a few minutes until you are ready to use your tiome on the stone wisely. Otherwise you're bound for more frustration.

X

By 25/5 you mean

25/5
15/5
10/5
5/5
3/5
1/5
1/5

or so. correct?

I've been using my shavette as a benchmark for the thumb test. How close should I be able to get to that? Also when shaving, how close to the feel of the shavette will i get? It cuts close but sort of scrapes my skin more than I want. The first actual straight shve Pulled the hair bad but left the skin cool and comfortable in comparison. The sking of the straight with the cutting of the shavette is what I am really looking for and expect I should eventually get. Realistic?

Originally Posted by xman

If you're getting impatient, walk away for a few minutes until you are ready to use your tiome on the stone wisely. Otherwise you're bound for more frustration.

X

I guess I can see what you mean I won't have to shave for twenty hours or so anyway

Tim...

If it gets too frustrating, send it to me. I will fix it for free and send it back for free.

Wildtim,

I tried to hone my razor when it probably didn't need it in the first place. I spent 2 solid days just trying to get it back where it was and came close but no cigar. I put it away for 6 months. My interest rekindled last month so I sent it to Lynn and he got it sharp again and I'm back in business. I got so pumped I've ordered 3 new razors within the last month. I am going to get a razor to practice honing on though so when the new ones need it I'll be ready this time. Hang tough.

Tom