Thread: having trouble with TI 6/8 1/2 Hollow

Hi guys,

Fairly new member here on the forums. Have been doing SR shaving for just a little over a month (DE for over a year). So I'm a rookie at best.... and already I own 2 straights; a Ralph Aust 5/8 Full Hollow purchased from SRD and a TI Spartacus Festonne 6/8 half.

I've goten some pretty amazing shaves from the Aust already. No nicks or cuts yet. On weekends I let the facial hair grow and just line up everything... which a SR is amazing at. I strop it before every use (20laps on the hard pressed felt and 40 on the latigo leather). passes all the HHT etc with flying colors and is just overall pretty awesome.

The TI, is a beautiful razor. Feels more significant in the hand. But it just doesnt' seem to shave as well. It doesn't pick up hanging hair like the RA does (not that is the end all be all test). Now is this something that is just common with bigger razors with heavier grinds? Or is this simply a case of me having to learn the nuances of this particular razor.. OR, should i do a few strokes on the naniwa 12k to refine that edge?

any comments are welcome... even ones that tell me i'm a moron

Is it a factory edge on your TI or did you get it from a retailer who hones them before sending them out?

Bob

Bob, thanks for the reply.

I got it from Stephen of Invisible Edge who has a stellar rep. I believe the guys there hone it before sending it out. Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.

NinjaP

Well that answers that, I am also under the impression they come honed from the Invisible Edge. Just thought a factory edge may have been the difference. No I don't think it is common for bigger and or heavier grind razors, they should shave as well as a hollow ground. You May want to try adjusting your angle/technique a bit to see if that makes a difference before resorting to doing a touch up on 12K Nani. That is all I can think of doing.

Bob

Originally Posted by ninjaplease

Hi guys,

Fairly new member here on the forums. Have been doing SR shaving for just a little over a month (DE for over a year). So I'm a rookie at best.... and already I own 2 straights; a Ralph Aust 5/8 Full Hollow purchased from SRD and a TI Spartacus Festonne 6/8 half.

I've goten some pretty amazing shaves from the Aust already. No nicks or cuts yet. On weekends I let the facial hair grow and just line up everything... which a SR is amazing at. I strop it before every use (20laps on the hard pressed felt and 40 on the latigo leather). passes all the HHT etc with flying colors and is just overall pretty awesome.

The TI, is a beautiful razor. Feels more significant in the hand. But it just doesnt' seem to shave as well. It doesn't pick up hanging hair like the RA does (not that is the end all be all test). Now is this something that is just common with bigger razors with heavier grinds? Or is this simply a case of me having to learn the nuances of this particular razor.. OR, should i do a few strokes on the naniwa 12k to refine that edge?

any comments are welcome... even ones that tell me i'm a moron

The difference could be in the honing , your stropping or your technique with different grinds or all of the above.
You can alter all these things yourself. Let us know which worked.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

The difference could be in the honing , your stropping or your technique with different grinds or all of the above.
You can alter all these things yourself. Let us know which worked.

Thanks guys, ya, could be any of those factors or all of the above. Will give it a few more go's before deciding to send it in for a hone. (Though I haven't touched it up on the 12K yet)

Originally Posted by BobH

Well that answers that, I am also under the impression they come honed from the Invisible Edge. Just thought a factory edge may have been the difference. No I don't think it is common for bigger and or heavier grind razors, they should shave as well as a hollow ground. You May want to try adjusting your angle/technique a bit to see if that makes a difference before resorting to doing a touch up on 12K Nani. That is all I can think of doing.

Bob

Hi Bob,
Steve from The Invisible Edge always hones his razors before shipping unless you ask him otherwise, so the TI you bought would have been shave ready.

Originally Posted by jodypress

Hi Bob,
Steve from The Invisible Edge always hones his razors before shipping unless you ask him otherwise, so the TI you bought would have been shave ready.

Thanks guys. As mentioned before. It does shave. So i believe it is shave ready. It just doesn't seem to shave as well as my RA full hollow. But again, this might have something to do with my technique on a larger and heavier grind. Some people say that it takes a few shaves after a fresh hone as well.

Yea, that is another point too, the second or third shave sometimes seems to be improved after I hone a blade up. If you eliminate the other possibilities first it might just boil down to needing a light touch up on your Nani 12K. Be sure and let us know what the conclusion is.

Bob

Originally Posted by jodypress

Hi Bob,
Steve from The Invisible Edge always hones his razors before shipping unless you ask him otherwise, so the TI you bought would have been shave ready.

I haven't had the pleasure of ordering a razor from The Invisible Edge shop yet. Good to have confirmed what I have read elsewhere that their razors do come honed though.

Bob