Hello I'm new to this forum and straight razors

[Porl]

Hi everyone, my name is Paul and I am from Penistone near Sheffield in the UK.

I have been using DE razors for a few years and made the jump to straights about three weeks ago. I got a shave ready Dovo Best from The Invisible Edge here in England. My first shave was free of blood but not particularly close. I have found that less is more when it comes to pressure and my shaves have been steadily improving. I have drawn blood just a handful of times so happy so far.

This morning things went south pretty quickly though, when I was stropping and dropped my razor! I didn't try to catch and still have all of my toes (and everything in between) I looked at the edge and could see nothing wrong, but when I took it back to the strop it scratched the strop but not deeply so I guess I have chipped the edge! I had a go at shaving and it still shaved fine, but I guess the edge travels in the opposite direction on a strop as it does on the face.

I don't really know what to do at this point, I don't want to take the razor back to the strop as it cost more than my razor (it is a 3" Premier strop from shavenation) and I don't want to ruin it assuming I haven't already.

I have found a few threads with similar things on here and think that I may have to send it out to refresh the edge. I am starting to look at the kit that I might need and am getting a little bit discouraged with it all. Partly because my wife does not see the need for it. Hopefully once I have perfected my technique she will start to appreciate it more.

Not sure that there is any advice that anyone can give, but that is my journey so far. I have been reading this forum for sometime, but after this morning's catastrophe I thought it was time to say hi. Who knows in years to come I may be the one offering advice to the new guys like me.

Paul.

[bouschie]

First inspect the entire razor with a magnifier. If it is on the spine lightly hone it our spine only. If on the edge send it out to be professionally honed.

[Porl]

Thanks for that bouschie, I hadn't considered that it could be the spine. I will have a good look when I get home later.

I really want to stick with this, after 30 years of hating the daily shave with an improvement when I discovered the loast art of DE and actually looking forward to it now with a straight.

[tcrideshd]

No need t be discouraged, this all takes time to learn and keep your razor shaving. If not the spine send it out, then really concentrate on your stropping, after you learn how to strop and shave it will all be worth it. Stones cost money so try and resist for a while till your shaving well, then maybe get a finisher to do touch ups, you might never need to rehone again u less you drop it, but a hone guy is only as far away as your mailbox. Stick with it and maybe find a nice used ra or to keep shave ready as a backup in case of sending your razor out. Tc

[Porl]

Thank you tcrideshd, I will inspect it when I get home under better light with more time. Thank you for the encouragement too, I guess my razor might be going back to the invisible edge for a repair. I still have my DE razors to fall back on until it comes back. I am not sure at this stage if I can convince the wife that a "backup" razor is needed. Happy wife, happy life works well for me too

[dinnermint]

Welcome to the forum!

I'd make a joke about your town, but I imagine

[hrfdez]

Welcome to SRP and enjoy it!

[Porl]

Thanks dinnermint, I have heard the odd joke or two about the name of my town. Thankfully despite the spelling it is pronounced Penny-stone.

[eddy79]

Hi and welcome. All good advice so only other thing would be see if there is someone local who can help you out. Good luck

[MedicineMan]

Welcome.
check out the library here on the site. It's is a great source.