Thread: Resting a Razor

Why refrain from the fabric?

Originally Posted by RezDog

Why refrain from the fabric?

Have not used fabric in 5 years,leather only.works for me,now fabric after a hone program may be warrented.

Originally Posted by RezDog

Why refrain from the fabric?

Fabric stropping does produce a mild abrasive action that is *technically* a sharpening act. So in effect if an edge off the hones is sharp but not smooth the leather only will help to bring out a smoother feeling edge.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Many report that their razors feel "duller" after being stored and rested for a period of time, perhaps that has something to do with it.

As for your other issue, I'm very surprised that chrome ox isn't taming your honed blades, usually that does the trick nicely. Oh well...

IMO it's just a matter of enduring that break-in period between the honing and the smooth comfortable shaves. For most I would guess it's within the #2-5 shave range. I would also refrain from using a material strop for those first few shaves as well - leather only.

Without a doubt, the chrome ox did the best job of taming the razor. By far!

I'll try honing it again after she dulls and see if just letting it sit again for a couple three months does it or not. But yeah, otherwise I'll use the chrome ox... excessively lol. This blade just likes it's keenness. .

Just curious. Do you use the same pressure & angles with a razor that is not harsh ?
Is it a vintage Boker ? Restored ? Clean edge, no pits ?

I have a Boker that always gave harsh shaves as well. Can't remember the model name but its the one with 'finest india steel' or something along those lines. I honed it as sharp as if not sharper than any other razor I owned at the time and it was always harsh. I also have 2 Red Injuns and they aren't harsh at all.

Chris

Found that you can't treat all razors the same. Some like a fabric strop with paste; some like a Barber hone; some like a regular stone. Like people each like to be treated a different way.
Resting, Fin, ...... Dark Matter. Yes, let it rest. Strop as a part of drying my razor after using. Then leave it alone.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Just curious. Do you use the same pressure & angles with a razor that is not harsh ?
Is it a vintage Boker ? Restored ? Clean edge, no pits ?

To be honest ominaru55, I don't much focus on my angles anymore. I might reduce the angle a bit, but that would be more subconsciously than anything. I certainly focus on the pressure though. I am pretty good at knowing if I am about to, or am getting a harsh razor shave going on.

As for how old the blade is and what condition... in terms of straights, its dang near brand new. A year? Maybe two.



Extra hollow 4/8.

If you sing to it it will be even smoother!

Originally Posted by earcutter

To be honest ominaru55, I don't much focus on my angles anymore. I might reduce the angle a bit, but that would be more subconsciously than anything. I certainly focus on the pressure though. I am pretty good at knowing if I am about to, or am getting a harsh razor shave going on.

As for how old the blade is and what condition... in terms of straights, its dang near brand new. A year? Maybe two.

Extra hollow 4/8.

I find 4/8 razors to be especially dependent on flat angle for comfort. I mean full belly contact & even spine contact at times.

Don't mean to sound like the Spanish Inquisition. Is it stainless ? Does it give you an awesomely close shave despite the harshness ?
Bottom line is have you exhausted all tweaks to tame it ?

I've just been mucking around with a couple of vintage razors that took several goes to get right. Very frustrating, but you expect that with a history of rust, frowns, etc.

New razors are usually more straight forward but sometimes they have their limits too.

I don't know if you use Jnats but I find finishing on a light or invisible slurry sometimes helps rather than just water.

Maybe this is just an opportunity to try new & different things.