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

Welcome to SRP!

Wow, that is a puzzler. IMHO, it might be beneficial to use a .5 paste on a strop first then leather before each shave. It sounds as if your beard might be the monster of razor nightmares. I think you would benefit from the .5 or a few laps on a barber's hone before each shave or at least every other shave. I feel it's easier to keep a razor sharp then to keep taking so far back to 1K and losing so much steel.
I'm sure some of the other guys will jump in with great ideas, right guys? Guys are you there!

I can't help you on this one either, but welcome to SRP!! Once some of the other guys start stopping by I bet you'll get some ideas contributed.....

Considering your beard thickness and that you said one razor is much softer in terms of steel (carbon I'm guessing), have you tried using a stainless wedge? Just thought it might give you different results. Only other thing I could think of is maybe it has something to do with your hones? I'm just not familiar with them, so I don't know.

Another possibility? Razor is oversharpened. Too fine an edge deteriorating in contact with tough beard?

OK I have to agree with some of the above posts, if I am understanding what you have written you are using Barbers hones to refresh on a regular basis.. This might lead to an overhoned or too fine an edge... Or possibly you do need to go to a heavier grind razor... If it were me I would stay away from trying to get to fine an edge on the razor, and stay with this progression... establish your bevel using electrcal tape on the spine( gives a slightly steeper bevel ie: stronger) then a 4k grit stone to sharpen that bevel, then go to a 8k grit for polishing... Then a linen strop then a leather strop, and stop there... (no tape for stropping) Try this and see how the edge holds up... If this still doesnt work then it might be time for a different razor with a heavier grind or maybe SS or a "Ice" hardened edge....
Hope that helps out and welcome to SRP