Thread: Is it just me

I've still been having problems getting my latest W&B and my Red Point to the point were I can shave with them. The W&B I can't even get to pass a HHT and although I can get the Red Point to pass a HHT it shaves horrible. So I pulled another razor out of my need to be sharpened drawer a Wester Bros I picked up off Ebay and gave it a try and got it to the HHT and shaved with it tonight and got a wonderfull shave. I'm not sure why I'm having such a hard time getting these two razors to shave. The Wester Bros makes the eighth Razor that I've been able to get sharp enough to get great shaves with. I'll keep working on the other two and maybe some day I'll get them to shave.

Ray I had similar issues and here are 2 problems with the same remedy:
1) If the edge contains oxidated metal, until you hone that stuff away, it will have a thin (sharp) but brittle edge that will cut individual hairs but won't shave.
2) If the bevel hasn't been established, you'll have to do quite a bit of honing to establish the initial bevel until you can get quick results from gentle hone work
The remedy: Tape the spine and establish the bevel on the 1000 grit wet sandpaper.

I'll second that. One theory is that the thin edge has absorbed oxygen over the last hundred years or so and is internally oxidized, when sharpened this oxidized steel is very crumbly, so you can't shave with the razor until you get deep enough to get past this layer.

I do have some 1000 grit sand paper and that was what I was thinking of trying next. Thanks

I used some 1000 grit and 2000 grit sandpaper and then went back to the hone. I've been able to get it to pass the HHT but the shave was only ok, went back to the pasted strop and now just waiting for it's turn in the rotation to see how that worked out. The red point has been getting better not there yet but has been getting better. I finally got to the point with my honing skills that I felt comfortable enough to pull the DD Golden Edge out and try honing it. I had a fantastic shave with it tonight one of the few razors that I have gotten right first try. My current trouble razor is a Monte Rosa wedge it’s getting close so may be any day now that I will have it shave ready. It will be my first wedge razor and I’m looking forward to see what the shear weight of the thing will be like shaving with it.