Thread: A frame of reference?

Hi everyone. I've got my new blade and it's seen some strop/stone action. It's improved a little, I just had my 2nd shave, it was better than the 1rst, but still not great. Can someone describe to me what a truly, truly sharp and shave ready blade feels like to use? I'm just looking to get a frame of reference for my experience so far. Cheers.

Well, a truly sharp razor, should feel like nothing almost. There should be no pulling, and glide very smoothly across your face.

Sharp is smooth, smooth is sharp.

If you have more than one blade send one to a honer guy and use it as a reference.

Originally Posted by AbrahamSandwich

Hi everyone. I've got my new blade and it's seen some strop/stone action. It's improved a little, I just had my 2nd shave, it was better than the 1rst, but still not great. Can someone describe to me what a truly, truly sharp and shave ready blade feels like to use? I'm just looking to get a frame of reference for my experience so far. Cheers.

I'm not sure if one can put that into words. I think to know it, you really have to experience it.

To me a shave-ready blade will feel smooth, it won't tug, it will remove hair with little resistance and very little pressure. It won't feel like you are fighting with the blade to get it to do its thing, and most importantly, it will just do its job really well with little hassle or irritation.

To really know, I personally think it's well worth the cost of having your blade professionally honed. Even if you only send it out once before learning to hone yourself, it will at least give you a benchmark by which to judge other edges. It doesn't cost much, but you'll probably learn a lot from it.

It's like asking:

. . . What does really good sex feel like?

The answer is:

. . . It's hard to describe, but you'll know it when you have it.

I worked quite hard honing my first (antique-store) razor, and finally got it sharp enough to shave with. Then I got a Dovo from Straight Razor Designs, and experienced _really sharp_.

My own edge wasn't anywhere near as good.

So I'd agree with everyone else -- get a blade that's been honed by somebody who knows what he's doing, and use it as a standard.

Charles

It feels scary. It feels threatening. It feels exhilarating. It's hard to deny and not easy to please.

If you can feel the blade doing its job, it's not as sharp as it should be.

Improving your shaving technique goes a long way in determining what a sharp razor feels like.

Have fun.

My first really sharp razor had no feeling at all. It was wiping lather from my face and the whiskers were rolling up and darkening the foam without any sense there was a blade cutting. The memory sticks with me and every shave gets compared to that experience. One element was the technique I had developed but when I used a different razor the differences were astonishing.

Own at least one blade which someone has prepared truly shave ready.

My big indicator is no pulling like mentioned above. If the blade isn't shave ready it will grab and rip hairs vs cut them clean.