Shave-ready at last...

After several months of effort, I think I've finally taken an eBay razor and gotten it shave ready with my Norton. It passes the HHT along almost the entire edge, and the parts that don't cut the hair cleanly do catch it and split it most of the way through.

This razor proved challenging because it had a slight smile when I got it. I had to do some lengthy circular honing on the 4k side of the Norton to grind a fresh bevel, then use an X-pattern to get the smile sharp...

One thing I've learned is that the quality of the steel makes a huge difference. I spent a lot of time--hours, days--on a razor that turned out to be made of poor quality steel. This recent blade was German steel and honed up much more quickly.

Thanks to everyone who's offered suggestions. It's been a long, on-again, off-again journey for me. (I wanted to sock every newbie with three posts who says he just got his "minty" eBay razor, wiped the rust off, stropped it on his boot, and got the best shave of his life in one pass with Williams Mug Soap...)

Now I just have to learn to shave with the darn thing. I've taken a side trip into DE shaving just to get rid of my Mach 3. I was damaging my skin with my straight and then going over it again with the M3 just to get it to look presentable, and my face wasn't holding up well.

To all you newbies out there: It is possible. Keep at it!

(Watch: I probably just made a wicked sharp overhoned edge that will fall apart halfway through my first stroke tomorrow...)

Josh

Josh, stay positive! Lather up your face, gently take it to the strop and go get the best shave of your life. That's on order, soldier :nj

Congratulations, sir! You have managed a feat that still eludes me :-)

Super! Feels good, don't it? Seriously, take your time, and you'll enjoy the best shaves ever.

It's a process, I guess and we're all on our own path. Everybody's beard and skin are different and so must everybody's approach be. It's funny, but I've been at this for about 18 months now and I still get unsatisfactory shaves. I'd say almost half of them fit into that category and always have. I just keep raising my criteria for what constitutes satisfactory. I'm prepared to put up with less and less all the time it seems.

Keep at it and you too will have subtle degrees of acceptibility entering your value system.
I don't even know if I'm making any sense. :gth

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