Thread: Question re refreshing

So I purchased a wedge that was advertised as shave ready but needing a refresh.
Up front I am a complete new inexperienced honing.
So I took out my 12k ss stone and did about 10 or so strokes each way. Just weight of the razor flat against the stone and very slow. It didn't feel like any resistance to me but I figured it is a finish stone so it shouldn't feel so bad. So I did that and did stropping on a balsa treated with cromox and then a bunch of strokes on fabric and then leathers.
So this morning I went to shave with it. Itnshaves but it seemed very pulling. I had 2 days of growth but it was very hard to pull it through the beard. Not an effortless glide down my face.
So what did I do wrong and what should I do to correct
Thanks.

A little more info will help.

Purchased shave ready... from whom? Many advertise shave ready but they are not.

Needing a refresh... Was that part of the listing? If so, it is possibly a minimization tied to the statement above.

Do you have or have you ever had a straight razor glide effortlessly down your face on a two-day growth of beard?

How many different types of razors have you stropped?

Have you honed or touched up a razor to shaving sharp before?

Just asking the basics since your 'join date' is very recent.

If the razor was honed with tape and you didn't use tape you never would have got to the edge with 10 laps. Get out a magnifying glass or eye loupe and see if you can see a new shiny area above the actual bevel, if so add a layer of tape and retry the test. You could also contact the seller and ask if they used tape.

I would just go back to the bevel setting stage.

I would send it out. In the future, it will need refreshing, and you'll know it. Refresh it then. As it is now, you don't know what the razor needs.

There is a member that lives in New York who's screen name is Martin103. He is likely person to both help you get your blade shaving and help you learn to maintain your blade. Sending him a PM is likely a good start.

I was thinking it probably had tape on it.
I purchased it from a respected and trusted member of another site who said it was shave ready but likely needed a refresh.
I have had a straight glide effortlessly down my face. It was a fresh natural Japanese stone honed wedge. It was amazing. I need to experience that high again.

Take a sharpie and rest the razor on it, starting at the heel. The run the razor along the marker. Then do one lap, back and forth, to see where the stone is abrading. If you are not reaching the edge, put one one layer and repeat.

We used to have a section for member services where you could go to get a razor honed. Its a great resource but it seems to have disappeared. Send me a PM if you want me to hone it for you. No charge, you cover shipping.

I'd send it out to one of the jnat honers if you liked that edge and have them check it out and tell you how to keep it maintained going forward, tape etc. And give you another jnat edge!

Cheers, Steve