Been reading through the FAQ's....

I've got a stainless steel SR. When it arrived about a month ago, it was "shave ready".

I use a 3" Artisan "New Standard" Strop by one Tony Miller before every shave, as directed.
I also have a Thiers-Issard Double-Sided Sharpening Strop that came as part of a kit with a green and red paste, to help sharpen my razor.

Since I've received my SR, I've never honed it. It came "shave ready" which means it was both honed & stropped. I've used it maybe only 3 or 4 times since I received it.

While I have been stropping it before every shave with the 3" Artisan New Standard Strop, I find the blade is not as sharp as I'd like it to be. I've done the single hair strand test (and yes I realize this test is not definitive as to whether or not your blade is sharp enough; some people like to either feel the blade with their thumb or even run it lightly over the hairs on their arms to see if it easily cuts them off) but it doesn't cut the hair. I've also run the blade along my arm hairs and it cuts them, but it also pulls the hair quite a bit before cutting them (that's not comfortable on your face; when it pulls the hairs).

I recently tried using the Thiers-Issard Double-Sided Sharpening Strop with a little of the red paste on it, in an effort to sharpen it but all that seemed to do was make a red messy goo on my blade. After supposedly sharpening my blade with this red paste on the smaller strop, I rinsed the red paste off (which also raised a concern of toxicity if some got left behind on the blade, and I started to shave with it and accidentally nicked myself.) :confused:

Is it time to hone my blade (I also have the Norton 4k/8k combo; a part of the kit I mentioned above but I think I need to lap it first according to the FAQ section), only after 1 month?

Bottom line is, it's not as sharp as when I got it. Something definitely needs to be done. Any ideas? :)

Hey YMS1975,

Bottom line is it's not shave ready. I'd also discontinue use of the sharpening paste; in the right hands it will work well, but if you're green at stropping there's a good chance you'll round the bevel.

It sounds like you have the tools to restore an edge on your razor, but I'd send it to a honemeister, especially if it's your one and only straight. Buy a cheap SR and practice honing on that instead.

that's why I bought these tools (so I wouldn't have to send it to a Honemeister).

How hard can honing it be? I've read the tutorials, I've seen the video. It's not rocket science. I'd like to learn how to do this for myself.

The real question is, is it time to sharpen it with the hone only after 1 month's worth of usage.

I hear you, man. I'm not saying not to try, by all means try for yourself first and if it doesn't work out then you can send it out. (BTW if it does come to that Floppy Shoes, a honemeister here, is based in Montreal, a lot closer to you than me). Just don't be fooled by how easy the pros make it look. I've had very reasonable success at mild honing, but of course YMMV.

As for the one months usage, well the time or number of shaves really doesn't matter, it's the quality of a shaving edge. An edge can last 2 shaves or 2 months, but if it's time to hone it's time to hone. Chances are your razor either wasn't sharp enough to begin with or you rolled the edge with incorrect stropping technique.

Question is how were the shaves for the first couple usages?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by YMS1975

that's why I bought these tools (so I wouldn't have to send it to a Honemeister).

How hard can honing it be? I've read the tutorials, I've seen the video. It's not rocket science. I'd like to learn how to do this for myself.

The real question is, is it time to sharpen it with the hone only after 1 month's worth of usage.

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I'm a bit newbie myself, but I think razor should last more than 3-4 shaves. If it was sharp when you got it, sounds like you haven't been able to maintain the edge. Can you detail how do you strop your razor so the experts can chime in?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by YMS1975

that's why I bought these tools (so I wouldn't have to send it to a Honemeister).

How hard can honing it be? I've read the tutorials, I've seen the video. It's not rocket science. I'd like to learn how to do this for myself.

The real question is, is it time to sharpen it with the hone only after 1 month's worth of usage.

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If the razor is pulling it's probably time to touch up or hone. Let us know how it works out. Real question answered.

Also, just so you are aware, there are several other reasons that your razor might not be performing. It might not be the quality of the edge that is causing you problems.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bill S

If the razor is pulling it's probably time to touch up or hone. Let us know how it works out. Real question answered.

Also, just so you are aware, there are several other reasons that your razor might not be performing. It might not be the quality of the edge that is causing you problems.

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...what else may be causing my razor not to perform as it should? :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by YMS1975

...what else may be causing my razor not to perform as it should? :)

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Well, it could be due to your shave prep, angle of the blade or speed of your stroke. Something amiss in any of those areas can make your blade feel like it has lost some sharpness.

I don't mean to discount the possibility of a sub-standard edge due to improper honing or subsequent damage. All I'm saying is that it is equally possible to pick up a shave ready razor and have it feel like it needs a touch up if there is a problem in prep or technique.

If you think your technique and prep are good but the razor won't shave properly...hit the stones, or at least a session with some CrOx or diamond spray.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Bill S

Well, it could be due to your shave prep, angle of the blade or speed of your stroke. Something amiss in any of those areas can make your blade feel like it has lost some sharpness.

I don't mean to discount the possibility of a sub-standard edge due to improper honing or subsequent damage. All I'm saying is that it is equally possible to pick up a shave ready razor and have it feel like it needs a touch up if there is a problem in prep or technique.

If you think your technique and prep are good but the razor won't shave properly...hit the stones, or at least a session with some CrOx or diamond spray.

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You guys have given me something to think about. Well, I'll do some more reading, and if need be...I'll hone it.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by YMS1975

You guys have given me something to think about. Well, I'll do some more reading, and if need be...I'll hone it.

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Take a look at Jimmy's post . Evidently, this has been a topic of conversation for a long time.

Good luck, and if you have questions about technique (or whatever) feel free to post them. There are lots of guys here who are eager to help and who have gone through exactly the same process you are starting. It's well worth it in the long run.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by YMS1975

How hard can honing it be? I've read the tutorials, I've seen the video. It's not rocket science. I'd like to learn how to do this for myself.

The real question is, is it time to sharpen it with the hone only after 1 month's worth of usage.

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My razors last about a month before needing a touchup as well.

Regarding honing, I was able to get a cheap double-arrow razor to practice on before trying it on my nice razor. The turorials are great, but it still takes some practice. If the blade is straight, evenly honed before, and does not have a frown, it is a pretty straight forward process. But if not, there are certain techniques you'll need to figure out.

I'd recommend getting a 4k/8k norton to start and go from there. There is a lot of satisfaction in honing your own razor.

-Chief

Quote:

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Originally Posted by BHChieftain

My razors last about a month before needing a touchup as well.

Regarding honing, I was able to get a cheap double-arrow razor to practice on before trying it on my nice razor. The turorials are great, but it still takes some practice. If the blade is straight, evenly honed before, and does not have a frown, it is a pretty straight forward process. But if not, there are certain techniques you'll need to figure out.

I'd recommend getting a 4k/8k norton to start and go from there. There is a lot of satisfaction in honing your own razor.

-Chief

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..I've got the 4k/8k Norton's combo as well (came as part of my kit that I mentioned in my earlier post). I've never used it, so I have to "lap" it first (or at least, that is my understanding).

I plan on buying some 400 grit 3M sandpaper to lap it; as outlined in the Hone Lapping 101 tutorial by JoshEarl (btw...thanks Josh!!!!).

It sounds like you were happy with the shave readiness when you first got the razor. So, since it's now a month later, it probably needs a bit of a touch up. There's likely no need to go to the 4k side of the Norton at this point. After you lap the stone, just do a handful of laps on the 8k side, strop and then do a test shave. If it's still pulling a bit, do a few more laps on the 8k etc.

You're right that honing is not rocket science, but it does take practice and a light touch. You've got the tutorials and the only way to practice is to do it. So, good luck and let us know how it goes.