Thread: Hello from Dallas

Hello all,

So I have been learning to shave and have a few questions.

1st: Nicked the hell out of my strop and need to know if it's still a go on using it or should I get a new one (using a Dovo strop).

2nd: Can't get a real close shave going with the grain; I have really corse hair. I have begun to go against the grain but the blade really pulls against the hair and I get horrible razor burn. I go through all the pre-shave drills (hopefully correctly). I just had my blade (a Dovo 6/8 hollow ground) sharpened but I'm afraid I dulled the edge by stropping the blade incorrectly. Is there a good way to tell?

Finally: Can anyone recommend a place in Dallas to have my blade sharpened.

Thanks,

Jon

Welcome Jon; Can't say anything about the strop with out pics. If blade was pro honed you may have messed it up if the strop is cut bad. Try stropping 50 laps on the linen if you have it and strop is not bad and about 100 on the leather. Also you may have to do a XTG before the ATG. In the worst situation the blade may have to be touched up or rehoned depending on severity of dulling.
I'm sure others will chime in with more and probably better advise.
Good luck. With a name like Fontenot it sounds like you should be from around here.

Originally Posted by Fontenot

Hello all,

So I have been learning to shave and have a few questions.

1st: Nicked the hell out of my strop and need to know if it's still a go on using it or should I get a new one (using a Dovo strop).

2nd: Can't get a real close shave going with the grain; I have really corse hair. I have begun to go against the grain but the blade really pulls against the hair and I get horrible razor burn. I go through all the pre-shave drills (hopefully correctly). I just had my blade (a Dovo 6/8 hollow ground) sharpened but I'm afraid I dulled the edge by stropping the blade incorrectly. Is there a good way to tell?

Finally: Can anyone recommend a place in Dallas to have my blade sharpened.

Thanks,

Jon

Ok, first, welcome to SRP. You have found the right place for ALL things straight razor.

Regarding your strop, you'll really need to provide a photo of the damage if you want an accurate assessment and recommendations for repair. If at all possible, avoid the damaged region until you can fix it.

Regarding your shave. It doesn't matter how coarse your hair is, your razor should be able to cut it. I suspect that your razor is not adequately sharp. If that is the case, the last thing you want to do is go against the grain. You are better off with 2 or even 3 passes with the grain or across the grain but it you are getting irritation against the grain, then don't do it.

Did you get the razor sharpened by someone you know beyond a doubt knows how to sharpen a razor? The fact that you suspect your stropping dulled the edge and you did not think to have it re-sharpened by the same person makes me suspect that you consider your honer to be suspect.

If you think your stropping dulled the blade the way to tell is if your shave quality worsened. I'm guessing it did since you are asking about it.

As far as having your razor sharpened in Dallas, do not have someone who sharpens knives do it. They will ruin it. The hones they finish with are the hones we start with. If the person you ask to hone it does not shave himself with a straight razor, DO NOT let him hone your razor.

If someone in the Dallas area does not volunteer, I'd be willing to touch up your razor for the price of postage. If you want to see it done in person, you might be able to find a forum member by clicking on the Community button at the top of the page and then checking the member map. It only represents a subset of the members, but it might help you find someone locally.

yeah I was born in NOLA. Haven't lived there since I was a kid though.

Thanks for the honing advice. Yeah the guys was a knife sharpener and the shave got worse with each successive use (not sure if it was the hone or my inadequate stropping. I've attached a photo of the strop.

I live north (15-20 min) of Paris TX if you would like to meet...could touch up your razor and give you some tips on shaving...I'm off tuesdays and wednesdays.
Scott

Those nicks in your strop don't look too bad from your photo. Try sanding them with some xtra fine or fine grit sandpaper to smooth them out. Start with the xtra fine. Then wipe off your strop really good to remove any excess grit.

As for your shave...I would go XTG on your beard before going ATG. WTG and XTG may be all that you need to get a decent shave.

As for your razor, I would go with the advice already offered.Get your razor expertly honed by somebody who knows how to hone straight razors.

A hello here from Arlington, Texas...

i know its late, but i'm about to buy my first straight razor and I wanted to see if you actually found a place that can do a decent honing job in dallas (i'm in Plano)

thanks

also any words of advice would be greatly appreciated

I know a guy just north (15 mi) of Paris, TX..., but am sure there are some closer for you to visit.