Thread: Question? Can one side of the razor be sharper than the other?

This has been a recurring thought I've been having for some time, usually when shaving, and I think to myself, "I'm going to ask this question on SRP...", and then forget.

There have been many times I've wondered, is it my technique, my face, or can the edge be somewhat sharper, or maybe that's the wrong word, "different", from one side of the blade to the other?

From my perspective, I have absolutely no clue if this can be the case?

Any thoughts on this?

Did we not already have a recent thread about this

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Did we not already have a recent thread about this

Huh, well spank me and call me Sally, you're right, there is, will delete this thread!

edit: only other thread I found was from 2009, last post 2010, apologies if I've missed a recent thread.

Actually a good question Andrew...Assuming a proper bevel and shave ready blade, the answer is IMO no, however it may seem so sometimes. Usually the difference is in technique especially for us 'single-handed' shavers. My blade sometimes seems to shave better on the right side of my face...I'm right handed and I always start with that side.

Try this experiment: whichever side of your face you normally shave first, start with the other side first on your next shave with the same razor. It worked for me...

Originally Posted by Wolfpack34

Actually a good question Andrew...Assuming a proper bevel and shave ready blade, the answer is IMO no, however it may seem so sometimes. Usually the difference is in technique especially for us 'single-handed' shavers. My blade sometimes seems to shave better on the right side of my face...I'm right handed and I always start with that side.

Try this experiment: whichever side of your face you normally shave first, start with the other side first on your next shave with the same razor. It worked for me...

I shave using both hands, but I'll give it a try and go left first.

What's interesting in what you say though is "proper bevel and shave ready", what if he bevel is good, but not perfect or perfect enough, but still shaves well, could one side in fact be "different" than the other?

Is a bevel ever perfect ? I mean 3 or 4 extra passes on 1 side and well........

How about : are you rolling the edge a little when you strop ? Wouldn't take much and you would notice the difference.

Or is it just half way to needing a strop again.

Or is it all in your head ?

The answer is :::: yes

Originally Posted by 10Pups

Is a bevel ever perfect ? I mean 3 or 4 extra passes on 1 side and well........

How about : are you rolling the edge a little when you strop ? Wouldn't take much and you would notice the difference.

Or is it just half way to needing a strop again.

Or is it all in your head ?

The answer is :::: yes

Great answer 10Pups, still laughing...yes, that all makes perfect, non-perfect sense...

Originally Posted by Phrank

I shave using both hands, but I'll give it a try and go left first.

What's interesting in what you say though is "proper bevel and shave ready", what if he bevel is good, but not perfect or perfect enough, but still shaves well, could one side in fact be "different" than the other?

The answer is yes IMO. I may be wrong, but logically...If the bevel was not a 'perfect' (understanding that absolute perfection is almost impossible to attain for a host of potential reasons pertaining to the blade...i.e. warping, hone wear, etc. etc. etc.) triangle, then the shaving angle of attack would be different from one side to the other. I THINK...!!!

It's a real 'brain twister'...but I would guess that probably everyone has experienced this situation when shaving???



P.S. You're a funny guy Pups!

Originally Posted by Phrank

Huh, well spank me and call me Sally, you're right, there is, will delete this thread!

edit: only other thread I found was from 2009, last post 2010, apologies if I've missed a recent thread.

Your question is not out of place.
The way I see the problem is one side of the bevel is set properly the other not quite.
The well set side upon further honing will polish as expected and then will shave well when facing the cheek, the other side will not shave well when facing the cheek.

In that other thread I think I probably posted that ....... I noticed early on, shaving with the dominant hand only, that the left side of my face never was as close on the first pass as the right side. This with any and all straight razors. Never noticed with a DE, but never really occurred to me to take notice.

I think it had to do with a slight variation in stroke and/or blade angle. I never was able to come to a conclusion, but I never really considered it a problem I needed to solve. After all, I was doing a second pass, and that took care of the closeness. So with me, it was with any and all straight razors. I don't know if that is the case with you Andrew, but you might take notice if it is, or not.