Thread: Average Number of Shaves Between Honings

Originally Posted by Maximilian

Besides the honing, stropping and bad technique the main issue why a person will dull his razors faster than someone else has to with with beard coarseness. I personally know a few that have such a coarse beard they need to use a diamond or cro-ox pasted strop before each shave. They went nuts in the early stages trying to figure out why their razors turned dull so fast. After extensive testing we found out it was their wired, tough, coarseness of their beard. Just a thought.

I'm really glad you posted this. As I mentioned in a previous post in this thread, I've got coarse, dense beard (before straight shaving, my wife used to get terrible razor burn from kissing me), so I had suspected that this might be playing a role in dulling my razors. I've noticed also that some razors (like my 5/8 full hollow C-Mon blackie) just get beat up after even 3 shaves, whereas others (a Klass 7/8 full hollow, TH 6/8 carbonsong 35, Joseph Rodgers 7/8 1/4 grind) tend to last longer. I remember seeing recently a photo of a Robeson sure edge marked on the scales "For tough beards and sensitive skin": while it would not appear that modern manufacturers make blades with these sorts of distinctions, I would be curious to know exactly what sort of grade of steel, grind, blade geometry etc. would go into producing a razor like that. Not really a comment appropriate to this forum, but since the subject has come up...

To answer your question, without quoting. I have done everything imaginable, and some things beyond the surreal and even logical to a strop to study the art of straight shaving. When I visit a straight razor vendor on the Internet the strops seem to wiggle and convulse when my mouse hovers over the strop, fearing that I might purchase it, and tie it up in the shave dungeon!

That particular strop is very smooth and I would apply soap to it without hesitation. I might even consider even more extreme ideas. But, I have no fear of such things!! I might also just consider trying, for a bit, doing 100 passes on the strop and see if that helps, first. Then maybe a hard soap. There are so many potential options with a strop.

The TM strops are fabulous, but they have a unique feel to the and they prefer a light hand when running a razor. Since using an ultra light touch is so common, you are probably doing well in that regard. If the razor loses some draw, then that is a clear sign of trouble.

I don't like to recommend applying soap. But, I will say, that is exactly what I would do. I'd give it a try. keep in mind that applying soap has it's own learning curve just like everything else; you'll not likely achieve instant success, but you may see some immediate benefits.

Originally Posted by riooso

I often hear the 2 months between honing comment but I seldom hear if they "touch up" an edge with a barbers hone or the like. I would believe the 2 month if that also included "touch ups". I have CBN on a felt strip that I keep in the bathroom that I do about 10 laps on after about 3, four pass shaves or when I feel a drop in performance. For me, it is necessary and does an outstanding job of keeping my razors smooth and very keen. After a couple of months I go to the hones with my main razor and lightly hit the bevel and work up. I find it a lot easier to not let the bevel go to absolute hell between honing sessions and it doesn't take long to whip a razor into shape.

Take care,
Richard

I can vouch for the cbn on felt doing some really nice work on an edge. I couldn't feel it at first, and Richard recommended a few strokes just before ATG pass. It made itself quite clear at that point - and the smoothness is intact.

I find myself jealously listening to Al on stropping. Its an area where we don't seem to have recovered very much of what was once more common knowledge.
I've gone back to warm latigo after stones, before going to the lighter draw strops. The edges have responded well.

Keep asking the questions, Gringo. I think you're tying into some good stuff.

I got inspired by this thread, and my strop is sitting on the sink all lathered up.

Not to be picky but if you are using pastes on a strop...you are doing a "touch up". I can keep an edge going almost forever with pastes but it get to the point that going to the rocks just makes sense.

Later,
R

Yes, you are correct. But we are not using pastes. I am trying to redefine what a strop is. Would you prefer that soap is defined as a paste? What about sanding the strop down to raise it's nap?

In my redefined definition, ALL stropping is touch-up.

if you insist that a strop does not have the right to affect the edge, then you don't really understand what a strop actually is. Then your stuck in the common paradigm with every one else. You might be in good company, but the strop has a function, outside of your rules.

Originally Posted by ace

I got inspired by this thread, and my strop is sitting on the sink all lathered up.

Warren, keep in mind that I am addressing one person, with a specific problem. Those people not experiencing this problem may not need, or understand any of this advice. The art of diagnosing and correcting problems, without being able to examine the equipment isn't an easy or well understood skill. Remember your reaction when you ran your hand over my strop for the first time, and your eyes practically lit up?

Originally Posted by Maximilian

Besides the honing, stropping and bad technique the main issue why a person will dull his razors faster than someone else has to with with beard coarseness. I personally know a few that have such a coarse beard they need to use a diamond or cro-ox pasted strop before each shave. They went nuts in the early stages trying to figure out why their razors turned dull so fast. After extensive testing we found out it was their wired, tough, coarseness of their beard. Just a thought.

Dammit, I was afraid of this. I was hoping Straights might tame my beard, but it sound like it will be much work keeping the razors sharp. Maybe DE/SE is a better choice for us without the girly beards?

Originally Posted by yohimnbe2

Dammit, I was afraid of this. I was hoping Straights might tame my beard, but it sound like it will be much work keeping the razors sharp. Maybe DE/SE is a better choice for us without the girly beards?

You speak heresy!

I have a heavy beard and I can only get about 3 good shaves out of a DE before the shave degrades to a place that I left a long time ago..... Straights give me great shaves every time in about 15 minutes, start to finish. One thing has heavily defined my procedures... the killer app. "TIME"! I shave with a straight every day and even block my neck twice a week. Outstanding feeling!

There are many techniques that one can use to get what you want out of shaving. I use the fore-mentioned CBN felt technique. Many use a barbers hone, pasted strop, and the list goes on. These guys are a 100% right about leather strops. No matter what I do with my razor whether it be hone, paste, or felt no razor touches my face without at least 30 laps on the leather. I begin the shave with at least 50 laps most of the time.

The techniques that are indicated here using a strop are just one example of the niches that abound in this forum. I am sure that they are masters with a strop but for us mortals some techniques are just going to be different. Not that one way is better than another, necessarily, because everyone has a different way to the endpoint!


Take care and thanks,
Richard