Thread: still feels dull...

i'm pretty new myself, only been at it for a year or so. I had a few subpar first shaves and hated the experience. so i sent my razor to get professionally sharpened because i heard that new razors often are not shave ready. after i received it back and shaved (without stropping) i was also less than happy with the experience. but i still kept trying. the shaves did get better after a while even though it was not freshly honed. recently i just honed the razor myself on a norton 4/8 and had the best shaving experience yet.

now i do not think it was because my very novice honing was the sharpest the razor had been, lynn honed it originally. i think it was because i needed the time to learn my face and also how to handle the razor. im sure if i sent it to lynn again it would be even better. my suggestion would be to give it time. somewhere on this forum i read that a dull razor in the hands of an experienced shaver is better than a sharp one in the hands of a novice.

As a recent straight razor shaver, my first shave I thought tugged a lot as well. This was a DOVO shave ready, no stropping. But I came to realize I was overestimating what 30 degrees is. I would say that is probably your culprit there. Really try to go for 1 or 2 spine widths and I think you'll see it'll work out better.

Originally Posted by jgrease

my suggestion would be to give it time. somewhere on this forum i read that "A dull razor in the hands of an experienced shaver is better than a sharp one in the hands of a novice".

Say that just one more time please

I was just having a discussion this morning about the fact that a 1k bevel set will produce a shaving edge,, One of the remarks made was "Wow that certainly makes me re-think the term "Shave Ready"
The truth of the matter is it should make you re-think the fact that there is much more importance placed on the Honing then the Shaving by beginners..

I think there is a very humanitarian reason why some members who hone razors will offer several free re-hones if the rookie pays for shipping both ways. I also had a razor professionally honed and was told when I received it to wipe off the oil and shave with it....it worked. But I almost immediately found a less than satisfactory shaving experience after my stropping. I followed as closely as I could the recommendations for stropping. But, guess what....blade was 'Shave Ready.' I wasn't. My solution was not to drop the coin on further professional honing, it was to purchase a 12K Naniwa and a 325 plate....and I had to refer back to the 12K more than a couple of times after one shave. Finally, the stropping skill is getting better. I have also 'discovered' the shortcut of the TPT. All of this, by the way was not frustrating but fun...yep, expect it to get more fun. The Tiger right above me has said that a lot of things have to come together for that mythical shave. Having a shave ready razor is just one of them.

If one of the pros on this site honed the blade,he also stropped the blade before sending it back,It will be in perfect condition,shave ready out of the box (do not touch it) Shave with it,it will be perfect in all respects.
Than go thru your newly aquired/Learned stropping regimen,Than shave again,if the shave is not as good,what have we learned here??,just sayin

This brand of razor is normally one that I will not hone. They are not very good razors in my opinion. I have tested them annually for improvement the last few years and there has not been much. I also met with the owner of the company who makes them and so far still no improvement. They usually can eventually become able to shave, but I find the shave uncomfortable and the edge not to last. YMMV

Sorry.

Have fun

Timor blue steel? where are they made??

I'm pretty sure Timors are made in Solingen, aren't they?

Originally Posted by Ian2051

. . . My razor is a Timor Blue Steel 6/8. . . .

Do a search for "Timor" on this Forum. As I remember it, the new Timor's have a very mixed reputation.

. charles