New boker 1st shave

[mjsorkin]

I got my boker "Tree Brand" 3 months ago new from a popular wet shaving vendor who isn't a member here. So for one reason or another I had it sitting til now. Today I decided to give it a go. So I lathered up and the shave.... Lasted about 3 seconds before I switched to the DE. I can't say that the razor was dull, it cut hair, but it pulled a lot and was not comfortable. Guess it wasnt Honed so well after all I'm just glad it wasn't my first razor, to show me what shave ready is like. At least I have the hones and the ability to improve on that edge.

Michael

[JeffR]

How disappointing! Did you strop it first? The reason I ask is that if it's the vendor I'm thinking of, I was considering getting one of those Bokers also. I have a lot of faith in the ability of the strop to remedy dull edges, even the "factory edges" often maligned on this forum but the vendor I'm thinking of vendor actually will hone on a coticule to smooth out the edge for his customers. I'd be very surprised to receive a poorly honed edge from him.

Thanks, Jeff

[mjsorkin]

I finally got my act together and honed this razor last night. I used my Verte coticule. First I taped and did the MMT and found a stroke that covered the whole edge. Next were some strokes on plain water. I looked under the loupe and the edge was looking VERY torn up, microchipped, rough. So I made a slurry and started doing circles. I wound up diluting slowly and for the most part doing circles, but as I started to dilute I alternated circles with pigtail strokes. As I reached a medium slurry, I switched to x-strokes and diluted faster. When I got to a very light misty slurry I stopped and checked. Bevel was bright, narrow, smooth, and even. So I wiped the razor, and rinsed the stone well. Finished up with 35-50 strokes on plain water. Then stropped on modular paddle with plain leather.

I just shaved with the razor tonight and I have to say it was a success. Some razor burn in the tricky areas of my face, but I'm blaming that on the user. I easily shaved my whole face, and did a second pace on the upper half. Now my face is sticky smooth. Certainly my best work on the coticule and one of my bigger successes overall on the hones. Very pleased with this razor, and it's about time. I've only had the thing for 4 months!

Michael

[Magpie]

Never Give Up! Never Surrender! Both your hone skills, and your shave skills, will improve with practice. Good Job on both getting a decent shave with such limited practice. =)

[RoyceH]

Michael, if the vendor you're talking about is whom I suspect, I recently bought one of the Boker 6/8 "Silver Steel" with faux tortoise scales from him. It was definitely shave-ready, although not quite as smooth as my Dovo Ebony from SRD. I'm not sure if he hones all the Bokers or not. IIRC, at least one of the razors he sells is only unpacked and honed at the buyer's request.