Thread: Does it get this sharp?

Originally Posted by fuzzychops

I think this absolutely true; however, some of us have whiskers that will reduce that well-honed blade to dull in short order.

This is what I have dealt with since day one of my straight razor journey. I have a fairly thick beard, so when I get a shave ready edge from a pro, it goes dull in a few shaves. So then I switch to another razor, same result. Then I started to invest in high quality strops, and mentorship from members here. The edges lasted a little longer, and I learned a lot and got a few more shaves out of my blades as my technique improved. After awhile longer the edges just didn't hold up and I moved into the honing world where I am still fairly baffled but learning every day, but that's just what is necessary for my beard, and every man has to figure out their own threshold. Good luck, I still send my blades out for professional attention when I can't get it right.

You guys with heavy beards, have you tried Double-taped honed?
What about Wedges?
Not really an issue for me, just throwing out some ideas.

Originally Posted by souschefdude

You guys with heavy beards, have you tried Double-taped honed?
What about Wedges?
Not really an issue for me, just throwing out some ideas.

I don't have any wedges, and so far only hone with one layer of tape, mainly to protect the spine. What is the benefit of a narrower bevel created from additional layers, versus the original un-taped (or single taped) bevel?

The edge would not be as thin/fragile.

Originally Posted by souschefdude

The edge would not be as thin/fragile.

So would that mean that a stronger edge would then hypothetically mow though stubble more effectively than a thinner, more fragile edge, particularly in a full or 3/4 hollow profile?

The Straight Razor Phenomena:

The newer a person is to this hobby,

The tougher their beard is
The duller their blade is
The weaker their edge is
The floppier their brush is
The harder their water is
The more cupped their strop is
Heck even their Aftershave stings more..

It always amazes me how these thing all seem to get better with time

Originally Posted by gssixgun

The Straight Razor Phenomena:

The newer a person is to this hobby,

The tougher their beard is
The duller their blade is
The weaker their edge is
The floppier their brush is
The harder their water is
The more cupped their strop is
Heck even their Aftershave stings more..

It always amazes me how these thing all seem to get better with time

I'm working through that stage as we speak. I refuse to buy hones until I'm sure that I can get decent shaves repetitively from at least one of my 3 new (in the last 6 months) razors from SRD. I have one that I'm best with...a 5/8 Ralph Aust; one that I'm ok with...a 5/8 Dovo Klang; and one that I'm awful with...a 6/8 R. Aust stainless. All were honed by you know who before I got them, so that isn't the issue. The common denominator among the 3 is ME.

I prep the same; lather the same; strop the same, but the 5/8 R. Aust still stands out, even though it has been used the most. It has to be my technique and confidence with it over the others. If I never get any better with the others, I'll use my re-hone certificates and sell them in the classifieds. If I do that, they'll be good bargains for someone.


The good news is I'm learning my beard (and face) with each shave, and I'm semi-confident that I'll find a routine, if I'm patient enough (big if) to last it out.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

The Straight Razor Phenomena:

The newer a person is to this hobby,

The tougher their beard is
The duller their blade is
The weaker their edge is
The floppier their brush is
The harder their water is
The more cupped their strop is
Heck even their Aftershave stings more..

It always amazes me how these thing all seem to get better with time

Glen, thanks for the perspective. As they say "a bad workman blames his tools". I'm getting to the point where I know what a great shave feels like, and if I have incomplete prep, or not up to standard hone job, or sloppy technique, I end up with a sub-par shave. No excuses, we learn and improve.

Cheers!

Originally Posted by RMarsh

So would that mean that a stronger edge would then hypothetically mow though stubble more effectively than a thinner, more fragile edge, particularly in a full or 3/4 hollow profile?

More effectively? Do you mean for those of us without redwood trees for stubble?
I have used a variety of grinds, sizes, thicknesses. A well honed edge is gonna mow through just about any beard/stubble. A thicker blades edge, more acute angle, will have less flex, less give, when confronted by thicker stubble. IMHO.

Here is my Tim Zowada 2H2H with the original edge that Tim honed:

By HHT probing, SEM imaging AND shaving performance, this edge was keener than a Feather blade.

Here is my mid-month-movember-moustache:


Here is the 2H2H blade after one use; however, that one use included the end of Movember moustache removal:
This edge is no longer as sharp as a feather blade, to say the least.

So, in my experience, even the toughest whiskers can be wiped off with a well honed blade. The edge may not last long, but it can be done.