Thread: Losing the Razor's Edge

I seem to find a few razors mostly American steel but some Sheffield which can be coaxed to take a decently smooth shaving edge but they quickly seem to dull with use. Half a shave and the razor is noticeably dulling. I can strop them back up but they just don't seem able to run the long mile.

Under the microscope the bevels are good and the polish is fine but I can only get them really sharp after a lot of leather. Most of the time 40-60 on leather off the stones and other razors have a great edge and will shave sometimes 3 times with seeing leather again and then another trip to the strop and they are back full swing.

Would a difference in grit progression or stopping at 8K help in this situation? One I worked on tonight really shaved well off the 6K. The 8K seemed to lose something until I stropped the blade more than usual then the edge jumped up a notch and when I finished on a Thuri I put 200+ strokes on leather to get that edge to improve. It was plenty sharp and creamy smooth but for only half a shave.

Next I am going back to zero and seeing how far I can get the 6K edge to smooth out.
Is it possible for a razor to have no benefit to be polished on finer stone or I guess what I am asking does the edge on some razors finish sharper and smoother at a coarser grit?

IS this crazy and the product of my lacking experience?

Originally Posted by jaswarb

IS this crazy and the product of my lacking experience?

I don't know the answer to that. I have never stropped a razor more than 50 linen and 50 leather. If it doesn't shave me real good after 8k I just go back to the hones until it will .... or put that one up and get away from it for a week or a month and go get another. Sometimes I've had to go back to the hones again and again on some of them. Like you say , other times it is a piece of cake. Keeps razor honing and shaving interesting ..... and frustrating sometimes.

Normally this can be tracked back to the bevel,

Here is a test plan for you

Set the bevel on the 1k as best as you possibly can, stop, now strop it and go shave, it should actually shave pretty good..

If that goes good, move to the next stone and do the same two days later..

Work you way through your entire system, you should find and solve the problem by taking the whole week to search for it

Originally Posted by gssixgun

.........Work you way through your entire system, you should find and solve the problem by taking the whole week to search for it

I am going to do that but forgive me if it sounds just like something my mom would tell me as a boy anything to get rid of me for just a little while.(there was a lot of us)

Improving the 1k bevel set is great advice, but with that what your doing IS going to help, practice, practice, practice. The 'Feel' of a decent X-Stroke, getting the razor to ramain flat on the stone while doing circles, those final finishing strokes needed before stroping and 1st shave, all this is the product of learning the 'Feel' of the honing proccess. Keep up the great work, you'll do fine in time.

tinkersd

Jas,

Other than bevel issues, the only time I've had an edge not last a shave is when it was overhoned - which is extremely rare. This is why you will likely join those of us that have spent months learning how huge an issue a good bevel is. Every time I thought I 'got it'. I found I had more to learn. Is it possible you've overhoned? Yup - but a very low probability.

There's absolutely nothing lacking in the existing vids on setting a bevel, but sometimes a slight variation in explanation or technique can unlock the door. Maybe this will help, maybe not. Our own Mrsell has a blog entry on it that is as good as any I've seen. I particularly noted the use of backstrokes on the low grit stones - which I've been using lately to good effect.
Honing help for newer straight shavers - Blogs - razorandstone

Some blades also just defy normal treatment. Glen can tell you about a dreaded sheffield wedge that I slaved over for more than 7 hrs and couldn't get a bevel. Blades that have seen indelicate use of buffers can also give fits. I don't know if either of these conditions apply.

They won't be the last blades that give you fits. I do suspect you'll break through the obstacles and find them worthy shavers.

Barber Hone. I have a great little Barber Hone- KeenKutter that I use when a razor starts to feel 'off'. 5 to 10 passes and i'm back in action.

Originally Posted by pinklather

Jas,

Other than bevel issues, the only time I've had an edge not last a shave is when it was overhoned - which is extremely rare. This is why you will likely join those of us that have spent months learning how huge an issue a good bevel is. Every time I thought I 'got it'. I found I had more to learn. Is it possible you've overhoned? Yup - but a very low probability.

There's absolutely nothing lacking in the existing vids on setting a bevel, but sometimes a slight variation in explanation or technique can unlock the door. Maybe this will help, maybe not. Our own Mrsell has a blog entry on it that is as good as any I've seen. I particularly noted the use of backstrokes on the low grit stones - which I've been using lately to good effect.
Honing help for newer straight shavers - Blogs - razorandstone

Some blades also just defy normal treatment. Glen can tell you about a dreaded sheffield wedge that I slaved over for more than 7 hrs and couldn't get a bevel. Blades that have seen indelicate use of buffers can also give fits. I don't know if either of these conditions apply.

They won't be the last blades that give you fits. I do suspect you'll break through the obstacles and find them worthy shavers.

Thanks for posting that, had never seen it before. Have just recently gone through the process of bevel setting and sharpening for the first time, and while it shaves pretty nicely I still feel like it's just a hair away from being perfect. Thanks again!

Originally Posted by chrisvine

............I still feel like it's just a hair away from being perfect. Thanks again!

This nagging feeling will NEVER go away it will ALWAYS haunt you to search for the "magic stone" and honemeister's secret chant.

Originally Posted by jaswarb

This nagging feeling will NEVER go away it will ALWAYS haunt you to search for the "magic stone" and honemeister's secret chant.

Hmmmmmm who told that there even is a chant??? that is part of "Hone Club" and the first rule of "Hone Club" is "We don't talk about Hone Club"