Thread: Razors that stop taking an edge?

The other day I was in a discussion with a local barber, an older gentleman who still uses a straight to do neck shaves and the like, and he was telling me he has a collection of close to 100 razors but that some of them will no longer hone to an edge. Is there a reason for this to happen or is it likely his honing technique?

If the steel has been compromised, where it has pitted through, aka swiss cheese edge.

Or if the razor owner has little skills or inclination to do the work involved to bring it back.

Ok thats about what I figured, im asking because he offered to hone my razors. But if his razors look good as he claims and "just don't sharpen any more" than I dont really know if I want him honing them.

Tell him to box them up and send them to me if they won't take an edge anymore. I will take good care of them.

Originally Posted by robellison01

Tell him to box them up and send them to me if they won't take an edge anymore. I will take good care of them.

No kidding! If he's serious about it though you should be able to pick the razors up off him for a fair price. Let the SRP crew decide whether or not it will take an edge

Thats about what I was thinking, Ill have to ask him about that the next time I drop in for a hair cut.

I have talked to a few barbers, and about half of them said that they use pasted strops. Stropping using pastes creates a convex bevel which prevents the very edge to touch the honing surface and that's why even touching up on high grit stones/natural finishers won't help.

This might be the case. It's relatively easy to find out, all you have to do is re-establish a clean, flat bevel.

It might not be his honing technique, but rather his stropping and honing regiment.

Originally Posted by Pithor

I have talked to a few barbers, and about half of them said that they use pasted strops. Stropping using pastes creates a convex bevel which prevents the very edge to touch the honing surface and that's why even touching up on high grit stones/natural finishers won't help.

This might be the case. It's relatively easy to find out, all you have to do is re-establish a clean, flat bevel.

It might not be his honing technique, but rather his stropping and honing regiment.

But you should be able to drop down to a 1000 gritstone and re-establish the bevel correct?

Originally Posted by OCDshaver

But you should be able to drop down to a 1000 gritstone and re-establish the bevel correct?

that would be correct IMO