Thread: Frustrating problem--razor turns into butter knife

Hey all, I'm a refugee from Robert's forum. I've been shaving with a straight for about 2 years, even shaved my head twice. I have a frustrating problem I can't seem to get to the bottom of.

I start with 1000 grit sandpaper on glass, then progress through Tilly's 3-hone beginner set, then 60 strokes per side on a plain loom strop. I get great shaves, my face is like a baby's butt, and I strut around going "I have MASTERED the straight razor! Lesser-shaved mortals, behold your baby-butt-faced king!"

But then things start to degrade, and eventually (within a month) I need to go all the way back to the 1000 grit to get my bevel back. I can no longer hone the razor on the Lithide hone, or even the Gem hone, & get a satisfactory edge.

Anyone else have this problem? I have a working theory, but I don't want to bias your input. Here are a couple relevant facts:

-- My beard makes barbed wire seem soft & fluffy
-- One of my razors is significantly softer than the other, and it seems to degrade faster.


Thanks in advance,
-Johnny