Is it the blade, my skill, or the upkeep?

So I finally tried shaving again with my straight razor tonight, and the results were really unimpressive. Couldn't get it to shave my moustache, and though it was kind of nice to have it contoured to the shape of my jawline near the ears, I'm not sure that it shaved that area much better than my safety razor usually does. Felt flimsy the whole time I was holding it, and I'm not sure if it's because my hair is too wiry for the grind on this thing but I had to use a lot more pressure than I'm used to with the safety razor.

Thing is, I have an h boker co. extra hollow ground razor, and I didn't bother to strop it although it's been sitting (oiled) in a case for months. To be fair, I haven't used it since it was last professionally honed by a local seller/honer of sharp things who does sell shaving equipment, though I'm not sure what the opinion of others are regarding his skills with straight razors.

As things stand, I feel like the straight is too much work and maintenance for it to be worth it at this point in my life. But before I chuck it, any words of wisdom from you lot? Should I be more worried about not stropping before using a recently honed blade, or learning on a blade that's too thin? I'm on sabbatical, so not even a poor man's strop or cheap razor off craigslist for now.

Its easy to get frustrated and give up on a new thing that's not instantly easy. But its more rewarding in the end if you stick out this learning curve, which can be very short with a few good tips. This is a man's hobby, and it takes a man's dedication and perseverance to learn it and enjoy it. Would you have appreciated golf if you shot a 65 your first game?

Tip 1: mail your razor to one of the many guys on here who sharpen razors. A "seller of sharp things" is the wrong guy to get your razor sharpened by, even if he sells shaving equipment.

Tip 2: If you don't follow tip #1, forget about ever enjoying this hobby, because you won't have a clue what a properly sharpened razor can do.

Take tip # 1 from Sheffieldlover. While it is getting honed, read the Library section above, work on your preshave with your DE. Take your time when you get the razor back. Use it along with your DE. There is no hurry in wet shaving. Get a strop and decide on a way to maintain your edge. Use your DE until things are in line with the straight.

If it becomes disappointing or a burden, then don't use it. DE's are a great shave, I just had my first last week.

FWIW [and it's late, so forgive my terseness] --

I don't think my "full hollow" blades are less effective than my half-hollow blades. So I wouldn't blame the grind.

You don't have enough experience to judge whether the blade is sharp, or not. If you were using more pressure than you use on a DE razor, and you _didn't_ get cuts or razor burn, I'd suspect the blade is dull.

If it's dull, stropping (on plain leather) is unlikely to get it really sharp.

So you have two alternatives:

a) get an inexpensive but shave-ready blade from the "Classifieds" here or whippeddog.com, or a new razor from SRD or another vendor who hand-hones everything he sends out, or:

b) send your Boker to one of the guys offering honing services here.

In either case, you'll have a standard for future comparisons.
. .
. . Charles

Well, all of this is just my opinion, but...

There's no such thing as a blade that's too thin, not that I've come across anyway. I'd hazard a guess that it's not shave ready. You seem doubtful of the 'honer of sharp things' abilities. Even if it WAS shave ready months ago, depending on moisture in the air, it may not be now. You really should strop before shaving, but it's not like it won't 'work' if you don't.

I remember when I first shaved with a straight and it was mind blowing, I was way overexcited, there remains embarrassing posts on this forum to show how excited I was. If you are feeling a bit blasé about he whole deal at this point in time, maybe it's not for you?

We are all here to help you every step of the way, almost on a daily basis; you may find, but we're not here to 'convert' you at any cost. have fun and good luck with whatever way you go...

Oh, BTW, there's always DE's

As previously said it sounds like your razor isn't properly honed, so the first prioroty should be to get it honed by someone who knows how to hone a razor. You will also need a strop, that is a must to keep your razor up to shape, otherwise you will maybe get 4-5 shaves before it's pretty useless.

Another thing you have to keep in mind is that straight shaving isn't something you master the first time, or second, or third.... it is a learning curve you have to get through before you "master the technique" and start to get shaves that can be compared to what you are used to with your DE. It takes time and determination to get there, but when you do it will all be worth it IMO.

My first shave took about 1 hour, now a few hundred shaves later I can get away with 10 minutes if I need to.

But to get there you must be honest with yourself whether you are ready to spend the time needed to learn this, if you're not I'd recommend to stick with the DE for now, and rather get back to the straight when you feel you're ready.

Good luck :)

Maybe straights aren't for you & the DE is your option. Nothing wrong with that. You should strop before and after a shave & if the straight razor maintenance isn't something you have time for, then by all means set it to the side...just don't give up on it as a properly honed razor in skilled hands will give a fabulous shave. Now, as mentioned above, the razor doesn't sound like it's "shave ready". Before tossing in the towel, my advice would be to contact a person who hones from the classified's and have them to evaluate the blade and if needed to hone it. Ensure you find someone with a bit of experience as Bokers tend to be "chippy".

I would suggest that there are a lot of things going on here.

1. The honing is in question...hard to say, but it could be the problem.
2. You did not strop it. The blade was oiled, but perhaps whomever oiled it missed some areas, or oiled it after some scale or micro corrosion developed on the edge...regardless, it is a potential component of the problem. Stropping is a very important component of shaving, and anytime there is potential for minor deterioration/damage to an edge, stropping is the first remedy I employ.
3. You sound to be trying straight shaving either for the first time, or for the first time in a while....perhaps your technique is off. Too much pressure and the wrong angle can lead to cuts and poor shaves.

I am inclined to think that the problem may be all of the above.

1. The blade was dull, 2. you did not help it by skipping the strop, 3. it cut poorly so you used more pressure (Not advisable and I suggest that a skilled shaver would have sought other options).

Further, this form of shaving is going to require a bit of time investment from you to learn...mastery takes many years perhaps. That said, once you learn for a few months, it will not take that long to perform a good shave. I find I am getting things done in the morning at about the same rate I did before I started straight shaving. YMMV.

Just going by your last line you might wan't to reexamine your choice to use a straight. It's not for most. We live in a world where folks want instant results and using a straight is the total opposite. if you are willing to spend the time to learn you will be rewarded. Otherwise, as others have said try a DE it is simpler and easier to learn.

Once you make that initial decision then we can talk about straight shaving skills.

I know this sounds harsh but it is the way it is.

Just thought I'd let you know, that I liked it a second time too. Attachment 108103

My first month with a straight was about as yours and with the very same type of Boker Extra Hollow. I couldn't get it to shave well, so I honed it on my new Nortons. Still couldn't get a good shave. It would grab, dig and cut if I kept going. Finally decided the "blade was just too thin" for my beard. I went to heavier blades and progressed slowly on. I put the Boker up, and basically forgot about it for a year. Recently I was checking, cleaning and Renwaxing razors and came across that Boker. I pulled it out and looked at the edge with a lighted loop. Nothing more had to be said. I realized that the thinness of the grind had little to do with my prior troubles. The edge was terrible, I had really botched the honing, and prior had ruined the edge from SRD with poor technique.

I honed this razor a week or two ago and the shave was nothing short of excellent. None of my beginning problems were anything to do with the razor or grind. All me!!! That Boker has become my preferred razor since then.

Maybe get yours honed, work on technique (keeping the plane of the razor flatter to the face) and good prep. I promise, when it all comes together, I'll bet you're going to really like that razor!! :D

Regards,
Howard

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hirlau

Just thought I'd let you know, that I liked it a second time too. Attachment 108103

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This seems to be the norm around here today!

Here is my 2 cents.

A fine straight razor shave is not a result of just one thing - such as a properly honed razors. It is instead an orchestration of several things that come together in as perfect a harmony as possible.

So, first, as you have been directed already, get that razor honed by a professional and if you PM me I will hone it for you for the cost of shipping.
Second - strop strop strop. If you cannot strop yet, you must learn. Nobody I know takes a razor off of the stones and goes straight to a shave. Pressure is much more important than speed here.
Third - Prep that beard. You must have your whiskers softened before your shave. You are aksing for a pretty rough ride without it. Especially your upper lip.
Fourth - Mix good lather. This means have good quality soap or cream mixed to the right consistancy with the right amount of water.
Fifth - Know your whisker growth directions. A North to South pass is not necessarily WTG, and a South to North pass is not necessarily ATG. Get comfortable stretching the skin in the right direction as well.
Sixth - Practice shaving and be willing to have MANY dissapointing shaves to start with. We all had them and occasionaly still do. Light pressure and adjusting blade angles are key here.

When all of the above are correct, you have the highest probablility of a great shave. Notice I did not say you will have a great shave. There are many day to day factors, such as skin condition or how distracted you are that can affect the outcome. I get better shaves when my water softener just regened than I do when it needs to. I can't control that.

In addition, I did not say you need a $500 razor, with a $250 strop and $75 soap with a $275 brush. This just isn't the case. What you need is the skill to on each of those six items and the willingness to practice till you get it.

I hope this helps.

I think alot of guys see the shaving with a straight as bad ass, and I could do that and say oh yeah I shave with a straight razor; then they actually breakdown buy the razor a strop, and whatever else they might want, and go for it. Then they realize crap that sucked...this razor sucks, the shave sucked, it's the razor or strop or hones or whatever! They google and google and then come here and everyone says time and patience and practice. That's where decision time comes, either: 1. I want to learn to do this the right way and do it the best I can, or 2. stick with what you got, or DE's. But for the love of all that is holy, if you don't want to learn and take the time....PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE sell your razor to someone who wants it or wants to learn! Don't throw them in the closet or wherever to collect dust and rust! It just kills me to hear that! :cen

Just thought I would share my experience. I'm really new to SR shaving too. I understand that you are on sabbatical and can't afford much equipment. I totally get that! I have been unemployed myself. In fact two years ago I wanted to get into the hobby but was overwhelmed by all the different tools and prices for the tools that were out there. This spring inherited some vintage blades, and a strop. I had bought a Wal-Mart brush.

The first thing that I did was give the blades to a woodcarver who said he would hone them for me. This turned out to be a mistake because while wood carvers know a think or to about keeping their tools sharp, those tools go on wood and not on your face. I learned the hard way that there is really no way around getting around a truly professionally honed razor.

Now a strop is non negotiable. Although I have heard about guys stroping on newspaper, I have never tried it. I have seen some strops out there for $15-$20.

The Wal-Mart brush was a boar's hair brush and is a little scratchy, but I had fun experimenting with my wife's bar soaps until I bought some Bigelow on sale from Bath and Body works, and got a badger brush for my Birthday. (you can get stuff for free on Birthdays and Christmases if people know what to get you), My advice is to send it to the gentleman who offered to hone it for you for the price of shipping, if you can get a strop for cheap. You won't want to spend much money on one until you know you can use it anyway. I think you can be up and running for under $30 bucks, but I know sometimes even $30 is hard to come by. Just collect your equipment over time and in the mean time study as much as you can. BTW all of the advice on this thread is great!