Thread: Any particular reason razor would feel dull and shave great..

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Photos of your razors would be most helpful in advising you.

Any of a number of issues could cause problems, some of which could be the razor. The razor in the photo, assume it is the Torrey, appears to have a slight frown, though it could be the photo. Put it edge down on a flat surface and see if you can see light under the edge. If you can, that will need to be repaired.

The smiling razor, probably just need a rolling X stroke honing. Some ink on the bevels will tell you when you get that stroke and are honing to the edge. The steel should be of good quality.

All of your issues are quite common in learning to hone. Coticules and Chinese Natural stones are each different and will produce differing edges. The Coticule does have a steeper learning curve.

And then, there is stropping. Learning to strop can be challenging and is where most new shavers have their first challenge in maintaining a straight razor. A good shave ready edge is very fragile, just one errant stroke can ruin an edge.

It sounds like you now have a good plan, and a good synthetic set of stones will go a long way to making your learning curve much shorter.

Put aside the Coticule and Chinese stone for now and once you have a much better understanding on honing, then experiment with them.

Also some good magnification will allow you to look at your edges and see exactly where your problems are and better track your progress, maintaining your razors.

The Gold Dollar is a whole other kettle of fish, once properly set up they can be maintained and give a good shave, but each has its own issued. Begin by checking the razor for warp on a flat surface.

The 12k Super Stone is a great choice for maintenance.

I cannot seem to add photos from my phone but if your still around Monday ill be home and upload one of the wester, the Torrey's edge is flat but it does look like its frowning until you hold it to a straight edge (machinist rule) I think it looks that way because the spine tapers slightly at the end it really messed with me honing it the first time. I do appreciate the advice and thanks for all your input!

I just would add, at this point, if you have one razor you favor, I would stick with that razor and the progression suggested above (adding your 12K). Focusing on one razor would, historically speaking, put you in a lot of good company, as I believe the majority of men who used a straight razor, throughout time, would have one razor. This is a fun thing to do but there are a lot of land mines that can take that fun away. Addiction and obsession abound....beware of constantly looking for the next level, especially if you don't have your feet firmly planted on the one you are on! All the information you need is on this site as is an active pool of members with time tested experience who will patiently point you in the right direction. The mentors are a significant resource. And they say that one session with an experienced person on the hones, face to face, is worth 10,000 words and 31 videos. Good Luck!

The superstone came in today!



Touched up the razors, That stone is amazing.
some circles until i got a little blade stick, then light x-strokes, and some very light finishing strokes.

Im sure you all know how this stone performs, but i cant get over the difference it makes while shaving, i honed the wester really well, the torrey could maybe use a redo, i used no pasted strops, just leather. Threw some razorock on with the omega (im on a boar kick, badger is at work) gave it a swipe with almost no beard prep and it was already a whole other level! You guys were so right for recommending that stone. Clean polish, easy to use (and lap, feels soft), great feedback. You guys made a noobs day!

Yup, it is a nice stone, easy to use and gives consistent results.

You do have a smiler there, but looks like the stabilizer is hitting the stone and the bevel is smaller at the heel.

Put some marker on the bevels and the stabilizer, do a couple of rolling X laps, see if the ink is removed from the stabilizer.
If so the stabilizer will need to be ground, until it no longer touches the stone. Now you will be able to hone the heel properly.

Those are also some great scales that will clean up nicely with some Novus.

I've been doing the rolling x's on this one and avoiding that last bit near the heel, good to know you can grind that down a bit and get it sharp again. Also, what is novus?

You want to be able to shave with the whole razor. I use the heel almost as much as I use the toe.

More importantly the stabilizer is keeping half the edge off the stone. The extra wear on the toe end of the spine, is probably from the previous owners using more pressure, to try to hone the heel half of the razor.

Ink the stabilizer and do a couple of laps, note where the ink is removed. Take a Dremel with a fine sanding drum and lightly touch the bottom of the stabilizer with the drum on slow speed to the wear marks, blend the grind up to feather the grind marks. Polish with a cratex or flannel wheel with polishing compound or sand with 600-1000 grit wet & dry.

Keep inking and test until it no long hits the stabilizer and you are cutting the heel end of the edge. You will get a much nicer, even and sharp edge.

Sometimes you can hang the stabilizer off the edge of the stone, with a heel forward stroke and do a rolling X stroke, ink on the bevel, will tell you if this will work.

But grinding the stabilizer is easiest and best.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

You do have a smiler there, but looks like the stabilizer is hitting the stone and the bevel is smaller at the heel.

Yup, because that razor was never a smiler & the stabiliser has been all but ground away, maybe to match the excessive wear at the toe.
This is however how a razor should look when approaching it's use by date. Excess wear at only one end or in the centre (frown) would indicate a history of bad honing.

After you get the 12k figured out try doing a few laps with your pasted crox after the 12k. For me it's the bees knees as far as sharp and smooth go.