New straight vs restored vs beginner!

Let me start by saying I have been wetshaving with safety razors for about 6 years +. I just decided to jump into straights, and Now I think what took so long? I got my first Straight razor almost 2 weeks ago. It's a Ralf Aust 5/8. I bought from Lynn's store along with a Latigo strop. Shave ready, I began hacking away, adjusting technique for the past two weeks starting with cleanup with a safety razor. I am able to do 3 passes, wtg, xtg, and atg now. I watched all the videos and stropped before after shaving. This week the blade was missing on the shave so I took the .05 micron crayon and coated the nylon, 25 passes then 50 on the leather. Still not good. How could this blade be wearing on the second week already. I do have a coupon for free rehone but I am stubborn, motivated, and like to be self reliant. I am awaiting my belgiums, and picked up a 12k chinese from woodcraft. I taped the spine wet the stone and had at it. Then back to the strop, and much better shave. Until my restored shave ready smith brothers 11/16 arrived. I get a much smoother shave with the smith brothers. A lot closer, less time.

So the reason for my post. Should I assume that I am not caring for the Aust correctly send it back for rehone, or will I truly get different closeness on shave across brands? I am kind of second guessing myself, but then my beard always got bbs with feather blades only no other brand. I could get a good shave with a derby with 4 passes but my 5 o'clock will appear around 330 LOL! I have a third razor coming off ebay that is probably going to need to some honing, and it's a lot cheaper so I figured it would be good to play with the belgiums. All I know is I am hooked and can't imagine using a safety razor for anything but sheer speed in a hurry. Any input is appreciated.

Ron

Welcome to SRP! I don't own an Aust myself, but they have a very good reputation. Stropping technique can dull the edge. You might get it rehoned and try stropping on a flat surface, rather than hanging. This helps eliminate things like too much pressure, slack in the strop, etc.

I am a stubborn man and have always believed that what one man can do another can do (forgot what movie I heard that). So I took my 12k chinese stone, lapped it real good with a dmt 325, and then created a slurry and slowly honed. Then I laid out the strop on a table, put the cromium oxide on the nylon, did about 15 passes, then 50 on the leather. Back to an amazing edge, great shaver! I have a paddle ordered now with balsa wood and wool. I am getting the diamond spray next. I think getting the strop flat on a table was the key to my success. Thanks!

I had a similar problem when I started with a straight as well and it was due to poor stropping technique. I was putting too much pressure on the edge of my blade. What I used to fix my technique is the srp wiki on stropping.

> have always believed that what one man can do another can do (forgot what movie I heard that).

The Edge, with Anthony Hopkins and Alec Baldwin!

74d34h, I went through shave-ready blades much faster at the beginning than I do now, and sometimes never could tell whether it was stropping errors, poor shaving angles, mishandling the edge while cleaning/drying, or a combination of these and more. When I eventually started getting 3+ months out of a 2-razor rotation, and then even longer, I almost didn't trust myself to believe it. It did take time though.

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Originally Posted by 74d34h

have always believed that what one man can do another can do (forgot what movie I heard that).

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Yep the "Edge" and probably the dumbest saying ever, as it left out the most important aspect "Time" time to practice, and learn the technique involved to possibly develop the talent required ...

Heck if that saying was even semi true I guess I would be Playing Golf for a living or some other sport that pays really well and doesn't damage the body too bad :rofl2:


Liked the movie too :p