Thread: How often do you touch up

I have been using a straight and am interested in getting a 12000 grit hone for maintenance. I was wondering how often does everyone touch up their razors during normal use. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Touchup times is something that depends on a lot of variables. Whenever you feel like the edge is no longer quite there, give her a touchup. How "not quite there" the razor is when you do the touchup will determine how much she needs.

Something to keep in mind - even if you do 10 laps after every shave, you'll hardly remove any metal from the razor, given how little a 12k takes off. I'm definitely not saying you should or need to touch up your razor after every shave, just saying don't be afraid to touchup when you feel the need. Once per seven shaves would probably be more often than required.

For me, the easiest two ways to test for the edge's sharpness is the easiest, simplest part of my face which is the flattest and the easiest to stretch and shave ATG and the most difficult part of my face, by stretchability and ATG unattractiveness. The sideburns and the hairs around the mouth. If it pulls or skips around the mouth I'm not happy (if I've been stropping right, that is..). If I can do the easiest ATG on the sideburns (not just stretchability but because that's where my hairs are growing in a truly uniform and common direction) and achieve a truly close shave then I know the razor is still "there". Either of those are not good then I know I'm using a razor that is past it's prime.

For me it's about two and a half, maybe three weeks for a typical razor. That's in the razor's life, not mine. If I shave every other day I can expect it to last five to six weeks.