Thread: how sharp should it be?

I just had my razor professionally honed and it seams a little dull. My shavette cut more hair off my arm then my honed razor does. am I missing something is a shavette that much sharper or did my local guy do a bad job?

When you say "local guy", what do you mean? If it was a knife sharpener or something its quite possible that they put a bad edge on the blade. You should only send your blade to someone who knows how to sharpen straight razors.

How long have you been shaving? Its quite common for new guys to think their blade is dull when in fact it is poor technique thats leading to a bad shave. If you're on your first few shaves its quite possible that poor tehcnique could play a part.

Also, shavette blades have teflon on them to reduce friction, which is what can make them seem sharper than a straight razor blade. But a well honed straight should be just as sharp as a shavette, and will more than likely give a smoother shave as well.

I have been shaving for about 3 weeks now, I took it a straight razor shaving service/equipment place here in NYC (I would prefer not to say the name encase it is error on my side, no point in bad mouthing) I tried shaving the hair on my arm and the shavette took it right off. the razors had little to no effect, one of them wouldn't even take down the hair. I then tried the first pass on a shave and it didn't take any hair off my face so I shaved with the shavette just now.
I understand that I am new and may be doing something totally wrong, but I would not think it would be that big of a difference... or is it?

Originally Posted by georgebsummer

I have been shaving for about 3 weeks now, I took it a straight razor shaving service/equipment place here in NYC (I would prefer not to say the name encase it is error on my side, no point in bad mouthing) I tried shaving the hair on my arm and the shavette took it right off. the razors had little to no effect, one of them wouldn't even take down the hair. I then tried the first pass on a shave and it didn't take any hair off my face so I shaved with the shavette just now.
I understand that I am new and may be doing something totally wrong, but I would not think it would be that big of a difference... or is it?

try change the angle and see what happens.
when you are cutting hairs if you feel resistance and your hair jumps out then your blade is not shave ready.
Every single person makes mistakes try to contact person and let him know you have issues. He may accept and fix the problem.
this is the best solution . if he refuses then trust me you will get a lot help from srp.
hope this helps.

Thank you this is perfect, I just wanted to check and make sure I was not a totally wrong before I went back.

When you go back, ask if the person doing the honing shaves with a straight razor. If not, then walk away. If he can hone, then he would use one. If he doesn't use one, then he can't hone.

Originally Posted by georgebsummer

I have been shaving for about 3 weeks now, I took it a straight razor shaving service/equipment place here in NYC (I would prefer not to say the name encase it is error on my side, no point in bad mouthing)

Does a "straight razor shaving service/equipment place" actually exist in New York City. I live in New York and I would love to know about this place.

I also find it hard to believe that a place would hold itself out as a straight razor servicing establishment (whatever that is) and not hone a razor properly.

I've never been in one, but I have read that some Art of Shaving stores do honing. I wonder if any of them know what they are doing.

Several of the knive shops in my area sell straight razors, strops, and stones. They also offer knife and kitchen cutlery sharpening services (and do a lot of it). However, the stores are small, and none of the couple of people that work at the shops actually shave with a straight razor (I asked).

Also, I have been an "expert-level" sharpener of kitchen knives, woodworking tools, and fine carving tools for about 2 decades. I was suprised by the subtle differences in technique required to get a good edge on a razor. Freshening up the blade was relatively easy, but it took me several sessions to actually get it shaving well when I finally had to take it back to the bevel and start from scratch. Knife sharpeners typically raise a burr, and purposely don't form a fin at the edge. Razors are all about the having a fin, and no burr.

As a result, I'd also recommend only dealing with honers who actually shave with a straight razor on a daily basis. Most decent knife honers will proudly show how their pocket knives will easily shave the hair off their arm, sometimes a 1/8" above the skin. But getting a blade sharp enough to cut chin wiskers, and be "smooth" enough that shaving the same spot every day doesn't cause razor rash is an entirely different matter altogether.

Yes. Thank you.
Several knife sharpeners have come into this forum and insisted "sharpening is sharpening." It ain't.