Thread: What am I missing?

I bought three new Dovo razors, I stropped them a few times each and got nice shaves from them, all of a sudden, the quality of the shaves degraded after a few shaves. I figured I would hone them following the pyramid technique. They are sharp enough to shave with but fail the hanging hair test, my face feels as if it has been rubbed with sandpaper after shaving. I stropped properly on leather with 35 strokes in either direction. Has anybody got an idea here or does anyone live in CT that would be willing to show me what I am doing wrong? Did I strop too much? Hone too much? It takes hair right off of my arms but leaves stubble on my face after going WTG and ATG. Help please!

Good timing on your first post.

Try 5-7 more strokes on the 8K and then strop and see if you get some improved cutting and smoothness.

If closer but not there, try another 5 and see what happens.

Lynn

And you don't have to do your whole face for a test shave.... once you've put a few more laps on the 8k as Lynn suggests, just do an area that is less prone to irritation, i.e. your cheeks. Usually for me shaving just one small area lets me know if I want to shave more or not...


much luck,

Welcome to SRP. Have you taken a look at the honing tutorials in the SRP Wiki ? Here is that section. Since you have three you might send one to a honemiester and have it pro honed. This would give you one to shave with and also something to compare your own honing to.

Since you've been shaving with the three and had been getting smooth shaves I assume you're an experienced straight razor shaver and your technique is not the issue ? You'll also find tutorials and videos in the SRP Wiki illustrating shaving technique, preparation, stropping. As you know incorrect stropping can dull a sharp razor.

Thanks for the advice, I appreciate it and will let you know how it goes.

One more question, I forgot to mention that these are Inox razors, how will that affect the honing process or time?

Originally Posted by mwillsher

One more question, I forgot to mention that these are Inox razors, how will that affect the honing process or time?

Some say that Stainless Steel is harder to hone. Not sure that I agree but haven't really had enough experience with SS blades to be certain. May take a little longer but more difficult? Not so far. As to the process, IME the routine varies from blade to blade. More experienced than me will chip in though I'm sure.

What hones are you using? I have a lot of dovos brandnew and older ones. like jim said send one out and practice on the others if you have the norton just do a pyramid of 3laps 4k then 5 8k then 1/5 1/5 strop and test and repeat untill your happy use light pressure on strokes or enought to keep edge on the hone make sire your hone is flat just be patient it will come and you will be surprised. I remember my first atempts and i yhought this is'nt that easy but i stook at it read every thing on srp. If your razors wre shaving and all three are now not you must have done somthing not quite right.

I am using the Norton 4/8K, I tried it again today and cannot get it to pass that hair test, although it will shave, my cheeks and side burns are exceptionally smooth, I just feel that it can be better. I am sure that I buggered up the edge while learning to strop, I believe that I have that technique down pretty well now as I have been practicing on a cheapy blade. But once it comes off of the 8k hone, it just wont cut a hair by touching it, if I move the blade at the hair, it will cut it but not without motion. I am determined to get the hang of this and have no intention of giving up, just getting frustrated by my inability to put a decent edge on the razor.

I use 4k 8k and very rarly it will pass hht of the hone after a good stropping i find if its going to pass then it does what i do is after 8k n i go 30 passe on bbw s then 30 on yellow coticule water 50 linen then 50 leather and then i pass hht no probs just try and finish on the 8k extra light strop and test shaving is the real test especialy on the tash and chin area if your razor glides round chin your blade is sharp just try pyramids strop and test hht and go back i think when my razors passhht they are normaly exallant all though can be gritty as over done slightly you need sharpnes and smoothness all my pro honed blade pass hht but if they don't it does'ntmean they won't shave mine will never pass hht of coticule or 8k but after correct stropping then if ready they do test after stropping