Performance and Usability

Ok. . .Here's a dumb question, or maybe it isn't so dumb and will generate some good discussion a newbie like myself can learn from. Besides, like they say in the military, "there are no stupid questions, just stupid people."
Anyway, here it is: what is this you all speak of about shaving performance and usability? Bill Ellis even goes so far as to rate his. I actually just got one of his blades (morley and sons) with a usability rateing of 7 or 8, I don't remember wich. Obviously this is much more "usable" than my brand new Dovo Inox that I dulled out trying to hone it when I got it.
So, really, what attributes contribute to high performance marks (let's make the assumpion of all things being equal in starting with shave ready sharpness)? I've only been shaving with a straight for a few days now, and I don't really know what I'm looking for, you know what I mean?
On the other hand maybe I just shouldn't worry about it right now, as things like honing, stopping, lathering, and general shaving are enough to keep me occupied for a while.
Discuss:

That is a tough question to answer. In terms of a razors performance and usability, there really is no scale to measure that. All the factors which may be used to determine such a scale may all be debated, and, performance for one person differs from another. Some may like a razor because it does something or performs in a manner some other person might hate.

There are, however, a few things that may be agreed upon for the performance of a razor. One is honeability, how easy it is to put a good shaving edge on the razor and how keen an edge may be achieved. Another is edge retention, or, how well the razor will be able to keep a good keen edge once established.

Some of the more subjective criteria would be the comfort of the shave. How well the razor will shave, how close it will shave, and how comfortable the razor will shave. Ideally, a razor would shave off all the hairs it passes over as close to the skin as possible, without any tugging or pulling, and no irritation or razor burn what so ever; in other words, you wouldn't even know you'd have been shaved, except by exceptional results :) But of course, such a perfect world (or razor) doesn't exist. So we just do out best to describe how well or how close a razor might come.

Hope I described it well, it really is a rather subjective and oppinionated topic. But, I do what I can, and hope this helps.

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Originally Posted by danno

So, really, what attributes contribute to high performance marks (let's make the assumpion of all things being equal in starting with shave ready sharpness)?

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I think these are good things to think about and to discuss whether or not you feel it's too soon to take action on the information it brings forth. You'll use it someday and somebody else may use it today.

The short answer to your question is engineering, but that gets broken down. Some things which are important to me are;

1. Steel quality. With lead hardened crbon steel and ice tempered stainless steel there is clearly more than one way to skin a cat. The importance is quality and then preference.
2. Geometry. There are as many shapes as can be imagined (can you say Big Dipper?) and all that also falls into preference, but there is also the excellence of construction. If the grind is even, the shape and balance comfortable, the spine even etc.
3. There is also wear. A well used old razor might only have one lifetime left in it and be a tricky honing job at that.

That's all I can think of right now. What am I forgetting?

X

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Originally Posted by xman

That's all I can think of right now. What am I forgetting?

X

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hmmm..maybe...mentioning that you are the spawn of satan??? :roflmao

Awwwww even I can feel the love between X and Josh. Maybe you guys should dump your wives and marry each other :D

It is a tough question to answer since there are so many aspects of straight razor shaving that it's hard to pick one, as all the others have answered. For me, its shaving, how comfortible the razor shaves, how close the razor shaves.

All straights have to honed and stroped, some a little more than others, ther all different.

I have a couple that are a pain to hone, so why do I do it? It gives a good shave.

Just my thoughts.

Consistent shaving results should count as well. I have been shaving daily with the same razor for 2 weeks now. Initially I had great results, gradually the razor burn increased. However the razor kept passing the HHT without problems time after time. Yesterday I rehoned it, used it again today, and had razor burn again.

Tomorrow I am going to use my other razor and see what happens.

Have any of you guys experienced the same? Using the same razor daily but getting worse shaves after a while? Any thoughts what might be the cause?

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Originally Posted by Kees

Using the same razor daily but getting worse shaves after a while? Any thoughts what might be the cause?

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Uhm, because the razor gets duller after each shave? It's normal, and you have to decide when it is time to hone... At some point, 5-10 laps on fine stone should be ok.

Nenad

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Originally Posted by Kees

Initially I had great results, gradually the razor burn increased. However the razor kept passing the HHT without problems time after time. Yesterday I rehoned it, used it again today, and had razor burn again.

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If it shaves badly it doesn't matter what tests it passes. It's not a test-passing razor, it's a shaving razor.

Thats sounds like overhoned, you familiar with that?