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I bought a shave ready TI about two months ago. Last evening I felt more tugging than usual. Is it possible that my razor is already in need of a refresh on my 12k? This would be the first time I will have done anything but strop it. I usually shave 3 times a week.
Before we get out technique dialed in we tend to beat the edge up a little with bad angles and bad stropping. After two months I am surprised that is is only just starting to tug now. The sooner the better on touch ups. The idea is to keep it sharp so if you wait too long you may be in for a little more than a touch up.
It sounds like this may be your first and only razor, so I have a feeling we will need to walk you through a touch-up. Before I give advice, what is the mfg of your 12K? Has it been lapped? If not, lap it with a diamond plate like a DMT8C or 400 grit wet or dry paper on a flat surface.
LOL, Rez was quicker on the draw than me. Not surprising, first cup of coffee...
Two months is, indeed, a long run for a new shaver. You're doing something right.
I'm ambivalent at best on whether a new shaver should dive into stone work. That may just be my own dumb decision to try to learn to shave and hone at the same time. One thing that might be good to ponder is how nice/fancy your TI is. If its a beauty - do you want to make all your learning mistakes on it? If its your only blade, perhaps a stable mate that shaves well, but is nothing to look (and priced cheap) at would be a better candidate for your learning.
You're not that far from other members that would be happy to help or do the touch up. Guys learning to hone are hungry for blade to practice on & usually do it for just the cost of return postage. If you choose to dive into the rock pile - might I suggest doing so face to face w/ an experienced member near you? That face to face time can really save you some learning curve.
Best of luck.
Quixoticshaver:
I would be happy to help you with your TI, I'm over in Olympia and can either hone it for you or walk you through a refresh, if that's all it needs.
I just honed a brand new TI for David (apipeguy) back in Michigan and because of a bad spot of steel in the edge it turned into quite a job.
I think it's best to start out honing on razors that are not expensive, that way our inexperience will not negatively affect our high quality razors.
Shoot me a PM if I can be of help.
FrankC
Take Frank up on his generous offer, you will learn more than you can reading a month of how too’s and videos.
Get some 60x magnification 2-5 buck on line and take a look at the edge. This is always the first step. Never just jump in blind.