Sharpness of razor compared to Feather disposable blades

Hi guys

I'm new to shaving with razor, and other stuff like honing, stropping etc...
I have quite a strong facial hair.
I'm sure it is my fault, and I have long way to go, but the razor I'm preparing pulls my hair when shaving against the grout.
The feather disposable blade does not.
Can You sharpen your blade using Norton 4/8k stone to be as sharp as the disposable blades ?
do I need 12k stone for that ?
Is stropping actually sharpens the blade, or just smooths the edges ?
Thank You for help
Lucas

Experience with honing razors helps to, it's a different skill set than knives, and until you understand what a real razor edge feels like you might not get it, as to the feather they are sharp, but if your edge that you prepared is dragging then it's your edge. And getting another stone won't make a difference unless you have it right at the 8k level, Tc

First, what razor do you have and where did you get it?

Do you know if it was competently honed before you got it?

Have you successfully done wet shaving with a safety razor? I ask this because pre-shave prep is critical.

What strop do you have?

Are you confident in your stropping ability?

Do you have a Norton 4/8? Please do not bother buying any other hone until you can master your Norton, if you do in fact have one. Buying more hones will NOT (repeat NOT) in any way improve your ability to hone.

Stropping re-aligns the edge. When you shave the very fine edge is bent over. Stropping is done to bend the edge back into a (relatively) perfect "V" shape.

Hi.
Thank you for getting back.
It is a new dovo 5/8 micarta.
I Just feel like it is not as sharp as the disposable blades, and this is frustrating.
So as far as I understand your opinions, it is achievable to get the sharpness of feather blades with 8k stone..
I need to practice more..
Thank You.


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Technique is a HUGE factor for straight razors. Feather blades are really sharp and relatively stupid easy to use. Straight razors require more ability.

That ability both is in the shave and in the honing. I assume that you are new to both. Have you honed the razor yet?

Hi.
Yes i have and this is what I was comparing it to.
So straight razor I have honed and stopped, and the disposable insert to feather straight razor.
And I must tell you, feather wins..
I used piramid technique to hone the blade...


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OK, then how did it shave before you honed it? Do you know if it was honed beyond the factory edge before you honed it?

I'm no hone expert but I am going to add my 2 cents. First my findings were that straight razors are not as sharp as DE blades I was using the same ones in my shavette and de razors. That being said, I am now finding this was my fault. I am getting better technique with my straight razor, I am slowly improving my honing both in understanding and skill. I can't say anything about feather blades as I have never used them cheaper blades work fine for me. So skill with the straight over time will get you as comfortable as shave as I would assume any blade. Honing takes a lot of time, my experience is not repeatable every time but I learn every time. There are lots of variables and difference from straights to other methods I wish you luck.

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ejmolitor37, I think that you got it exactly right.

Oh, and about 15 years later, I too am "slowly improving my honing both in understanding and skill."

I have had 2 blades honed by great guys, Lynn and Glen. And having those to base a shave ready razor off of makes a big difference. I think my stropping is what is really making a marked improvement. But comparing DE blades to a straight is not apples to apples my opinion.

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Send you razor to Lynn at SRD or Phil at classic edge or someone here on the forum. When you get it back you will know what you are trying to achieve when your honing.

Then go get some clunker vintage razors to learn in and try to duplicate their edge. You will get there. Both shaving and honing take time to learn.

Are you using magnification? What tests do you perform other than shaving?

Do lots of research here. Read posts regarding honing, stropping, shaving, everything you can. Lots of good info and opinions wade through. If a member is close, face to face help in all of those would make improvements faster.

And lastly don't compare a DE or SE blade to a straight. The DE is a machine made blade with coatings which is what really gives it the shaving ability. After a few shaves with the DE you throw it away. A straight will give you shave after shave and even then only require a touch up honing.

In evaluating the straight shave the question is does it give you a clean, close and comfortable shave with the blade effortlessly gliding down you face.If the answer to any of those is no then it needs to be honed.

Thank you for your answer. And the conclusion is that the dovo is not giving me as effortless shave as the disposable blades.
I used the described technique of piramid honing.
I payed attention to technical details, and did everything as precise as possible.
Where do I go from here?
What do I change in my honing to achieve smooth shave?

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by Lucasso

Thank you for your answer. And the conclusion is that the dovo is not giving me as effortless shave as the disposable blades.
I used the described technique of piramid honing.
I payed attention to technical details, and did everything as precise as possible.
Where do I go from here?
What do I change in my honing to achieve smooth shave?

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I have read this thread through and have some questions for you.

Is this Dovo the first straight razor that you have shaved with? If it is then your shaving technique may not be very good yet.

Did the place where yo bought the Dovo from hone it before sending it out or was it supplied as it came from the factory? If it has the edge the factory put on it there is a possibility that it was not quite good enough.

Have you honed a straight razor before? If you have not chances are good that you did not get it right. Very few people get a really good edge when they first learn how to hone. It really does not matter how many vids you watch it really is a matter of time and lots of practice to learn the art of honing.

Bob

If you were using a shavette and now trying to use a straight that makes quite a bit of difference in technique. Alot closer angle. BobH has good points as well.

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Hi guys.
Thank you for your replay.
I totally agree with you.
The edge I hot on my razor is not good enough.
It is a factory new blade.
And it was not as sharp as the disposable blades.
Therefore I was trying to hone it, so it becomes as good as the disposable one.
I'm just not getting it.
What should I do?
I payed attention to technical details, and done everything as on instruction video of 4/8k stone piramid honing technique.
With regards to my shaving.
I'm not very skilfully at all, but i feel huge difference between straight feather razor and dovo. They both straight cut throat razor.
I'm using very similar technique.
The dovo pulls, and require quite a lot of force to share against the growth, and feather does not.
Can you please give me hints and tips what to change, how to experiment with honing, to make it razor sharp??
☺
Thnx
Lucas

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As said, first look at the edge with magnification, chances are the bevel is not completely set.

While the pyramid can get an edge on a razor, you cannot hone a razor by formula. You have to do what the razor needs, and unless you look at the edge at various stages you will not know what or when, to do next. In essence you are honing blind.

Sharpness comes from, COMPLEATLY setting the bevel, then you refine/straighten the edge for comfort and add keenness by polishing the bevel and reducing the stria so the edge becomes thinner and straighter.

Here is a good post of a new guy honing a razor from start to finish, with great micrographs of his edges. Second try at Honing.

Get some magnification, a 60X lighted loupe, $2-5, or a Carson Micro max 200, at 10-15 bucks.

As said, stropping is critical, and learning to strop properly can take some time, one missed stroke can ruin and edge.

Also posting a photo of your razor might help, both sides.

Lucas you are gradually giving more information and it is helping to provide a better sense of what is going on. Now you have revealed that you are comparing a feather shavette with a Dovo straight. Do you know that you need to use a lower angle for the straight razor? The spine need to be closer to your face when shaving with it.

Also, are you stropping the razor and if so, what strop are you using?

Lucas

So, you have not used a straight razor before but have some experience with a shavette, your straight razor has a factory edge and this is the first time you have tried to hone a straight razor. What you have created is a recipe for a disaster, unfortunately.

I'd start from square one again. Send your straight razor to a recognized professional to have it properly honed to shave ready. If you add your location to your profile somebody might be better able to tell you where to send it.

After you have done that and have your razor back, shave with it WITHOUT stropping it. That will show you what a shave ready edge feels and shaves like. It also eliminates the possibility that you are dulling the edge with poor stropping which can happen with a beginner. Strop it before your second shave and if the edge feels duller then it is an indication that your stropping is dulling the blade.

I would get a second used vintage razor in decent condition to learn to hone on. Honing is an acquired skill/art that is more than just following a technical method. It simply is not that easy. Again if you add your location to your profile there might be someone close to you that will be able to give you some personal one on one instruction on how to hone.

Bob

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Hi.
Thank you for your reply.
I really appreciate all of your opinions.
I really liked the scientific approach of the guy with microscope.
I guess I'm gonna get myself one and see what is going on.
There are the two razors I'm using, and a feather on top of these.
Strop is made by Parker...
I been in touch with a guy locally who hones razors.
I'll try to get some tips from him.
Thank you all.
Lucas

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Please make sure that the guy who hones razors uses razors himself. You do not want to take it to someone who usually only hones knives. You should confirm with him that he will not be using any powered equipment for honing them. This is because a lot of beginning straight razor users have taken them to knife sharpeners who have absolutely ruined them. The blade of a razor is much thinner than a knife and it heats up very fast on power sharpeners and so the steel's temper can be ruined very quickly.