Thread: sharpness question

I've been hesitant to post this, but I'd really like the opinion of you gents.

I recently purchased a Boker from SRD. (fyi, with the current combo deal, you can get a 2" strop for $10 above the price of the Boker alone, and it comes with lifetime honing until 12/31. what a deal!)

I was super excited to see what a razor sharpened by Lynn would feel like. This is only my second "shave ready" razor and I wanted to compare it to the Bengal I bought from the classifieds here. The Bengal shaves as well as can be expected in the hands of a beginner, but I always had a lingering question about just how sharp it was. The Boker was to be my reference point.

Well I shaved with it on Saturday for the first time and it didn't seem better then the Bengal. I'm sure my expectation were a little inflated, but I was a little disappointed with the Boker. I didn't strop it before use. I figured with my limited stropping experience my poor technique might do more damage then good. It pulled pretty bad. It wouldn't pass the HHT or pop arm hairs (the Bengal won't do either also FWIW). On Monday, I shaved with it again along with the Bengal to compare them side by side. This time I stropped the Boker. It definitely shaved better this time, but I wasn't sure if stropping improved the edge or if I just got better using the razor (the Boker is a full hollow while the Bengal is not as hollow). I've decided they are both about the same in terms of sharpness.

Based on what I read here, I hold Lynn and SRD in very very high regard. Was I expecting too much? I hate to sound like I'm disparaging Lynn or SRD. Honestly I don't know enough to judge them positively or negatively lol I realize that we're all human, so perhaps my Boker was honed on a "bad day" or something. Maybe it's actually as good as it gets and I have unrealistic notions of what "sharp" is.

I'm happy with the razor all in all and will be purchasing another from SRD before the "Priceless Offer" runs out, so I'm not trying to be negative towards them at all. I'm just trying to gain a more informed perspective with the help of the more experienced members here. Is my Boker sharp enough or do I just need to continue improving my technique?

Thanks for your input gentlemen

Sounds like your problem is not with the razors but with how you use them. That's pretty typical, so I wouldn't worry about it too much. Using straight razor is very different from using a mach3 where you can just press it as hard as you can to your face. You have to use light touch, proper angle and smooth and confident stroke. That takes time to learn and build muscle memory.

I very much doubt your razor was honed on a 'bad day', as Lynn says that he tests every razor before shipping it out. Of course, if you're not convinced you can always send it back for rehoning, that shouldn't be an issue.

First let me emphasize that I don't know the answer. Diagnostics from this distance is impossible in most cases for me.

I still stand in a little disbelief at the whole honing by proxy concept. The idea of honing, shipping, and then shaving with a razor reminds of someone sighting in a rifle, shipping it to me, and then me trying to shoot an impala at 1,000 yards with it.

I would guess though that the problem might sit in the stropping and shaving area. Not that you are doing something wrong, but more in the using it a bit and stropping it with more passes. Even when I hone a razor up myself there is usually a few days where I need to do extra stropping (and even shaving) to get the razor to smooth out a bit.

I'm going to suggest just trying it for a few more days, do more stropping, and only send it back after you've spent some time with it. That would be my current advice. After a week or so I might send it back.

If you just got your first drivers license today and bought yourself a new Porshe 911 do you think you would really be able to judge the performance of the car or would you first need some driving experience?

No difference with straights.

Thanks guys

I am reluctant to think anything ill of Lynn, so it's great to get some affirmations of that feeling.

I plan to keep using the Boker. I was mostly unsettled that the razor won't pass any of the common sharpness tests. ie HHT or popping arm hairs. Granted, my Bengal won't pass either also

Maybe the hair I use for HHT is too soft. I use my wife's hair from her brush. I'll try my hair next time. I have long hair, so I use a comb. None stays on it typically

Maybe my arm hair is too tough for the razor lol
/e does a mightly flex pose LOL

I have a number of Lynn honed razors that I've bought from SRD, Classic, and Vintage. Some were slightly 'better' than others but all were stellar shavers. Follow the advice given in the previous posts. If it works out that you have to send one back if I were you I would send them both. Get the Bengal pro honed along with the Boker and you'll have two guaranteed to deliver the goods.

The finest edge will pull with a poorly prepped shave.
Tell, us how you prep your face for shaving...what creams, hot towel treatment, after shower etc...

Many thanks,

Mac

Prep is most important. Also you might try shaving with the spine of your razor one spine width away from your skin [ shallow angle ] and holding the razor with as little finger force as you can.

I also have a tendency to use a scything motion and I think this motion helps me shave a little tighter to my skin. Just my opinion.....

Keep shaving no matter what !..... JERRY

Originally Posted by Hayduke

Thanks guys

I am reluctant to think anything ill of Lynn, so it's great to get some affirmations of that feeling.

I plan to keep using the Boker. I was mostly unsettled that the razor won't pass any of the common sharpness tests. ie HHT or popping arm hairs. Granted, my Bengal won't pass either also

Maybe the hair I use for HHT is too soft. I use my wife's hair from her brush. I'll try my hair next time. I have long hair, so I use a comb. None stays on it typically

Maybe my arm hair is too tough for the razor lol
/e does a mightly flex pose LOL

the only HHT test that will give you definitive answer for the sharpness of your razor will be with your own beard hair.

I used the Boker again this morning. The shave was pretty nice.

While I'm still new to straights, I've been wet shaving, with a DE, for awhile now (a year or two?).

I always shave right after taking a shower. While in the shower, the brush soaks in my mug which is in the sink filled with hot water. After the shower, I make my lather and apply it to my face. I let it sit on my beard while I strop the razor. This morning I did a dozenish passes on the webbing then ~30-40 passes on the leather. I have been experimenting a little bit with different creams and soaps recently (I got a ton of samples a few months back that I'm still working through). For several shaves prior to today, I've been using cream and a tallow based soap (Monsavon), but this morning I went back to just cream. I tried Nancy Boy signature this morning. It produces great lather, but I don't care for the menthol smells.

There was definitely less pulling this morning and I don't think I made any new cuts There was a small amount of blood from shaving over old cuts though

I guess I'm still learning what "sharp" is. I'm starting to think the difference between the hollower Boker and the Bengal is what caused me to question the sharpness. The razor just shaves different. I won't say if it's better or worse yet until I develop a preference.

I appreciate everyone's feedback. I'm pretty confident the Boker is plenty sharp, it's just my inexperience that caused me to question it. I have little to compare too, so it helps to benefit from other members' experiences

Thanks again gents