Thread: Hart steel and tears?

It looks like the angle you are holding the razor is too steep. The spine of the razor should be just above your skin. The space should equal one to two spine widths. Yours looks to be a lot more than that.
When you rub your skin to test how the razor has performed only rub it in the direction you have just shaved. In your video you run you fingers down and then up the shaved area. These whiskers that you feel might need an ATG pass to remove them.
Keep the faith. With all the collective knowledge on this forum we'll figure this out.

Don't give up whatever you do, normally it takes about 30 shaves to get the hang of it. For some, that means that it may take a couple of honings during those shaves as many edges get killed in the first dozen or so shaves from shaving and most commonly stropping. We will get you through it, no worries...

To piggyback on a few other comments here, yes, step back and don't attempt your entire shave with this new blade. Do the easy bits with it and use your feather for the rest, expanding your range as you get more comfortable with the new set of angles etc.

Here's some stuff I wrote a couple of years ago about calibrating a controversial sharpness test, whose name or acronym I won't even utter in this fair thread. But explore it with a feather blade and again with your Hart. It will give you a sense of how much wear and tear a single shave causes to a fresh edge, or how much more you can degrade a tired edge. It'll also probably show you that the feather blades are insanely keen. Take up Shooters offer of a honing... I bought one of my favorite blades from him years ago and it arrived with a wonderful edge. And believe everyone who tells you not to strop your blade when it arrives from its honing. If you muff the stropping then you'll never know how good it can be.

For me, a properly sharp edge shaves when I only apply enough force to remove the lather. It feels like magic. I have enough experience now that I can push a tired edge through an effective, harmless, but uncomfortable and unmagical shave. But you can get that second kind of shave anywhere... we choose this slower, more contemplative approach to enjoy the feel of doing magic.

Good luck and best wishes.

Originally Posted by roughkype

To piggyback on a few other comments here, yes, step back and don't attempt your entire shave with this new blade. Do the easy bits with it and use your feather for the rest, expanding your range as you get more comfortable with the new set of angles etc.

Here's some stuff I wrote a couple of years ago about calibrating a controversial sharpness test, whose name or acronym I won't even utter in this fair thread. But explore it with a feather blade and again with your Hart. It will give you a sense of how much wear and tear a single shave causes to a fresh edge, or how much more you can degrade a tired edge. It'll also probably show you that the feather blades are insanely keen. Take up Shooters offer of a honing... I bought one of my favorite blades from him years ago and it arrived with a wonderful edge. And believe everyone who tells you not to strop your blade when it arrives from its honing. If you muff the stropping then you'll never know how good it can be.

For me, a properly sharp edge shaves when I only apply enough force to remove the lather. It feels like magic. I have enough experience now that I can push a tired edge through an effective, harmless, but uncomfortable and unmagical shave. But you can get that second kind of shave anywhere... we choose this slower, more contemplative approach to enjoy the feel of doing magic.

Good luck and best wishes.

Excellent info thank you for your comments!

Originally Posted by shooter74743

Don't give up whatever you do, normally it takes about 30 shaves to get the hang of it. For some, that means that it may take a couple of honings during those shaves as many edges get killed in the first dozen or so shaves from shaving and most commonly stropping. We will get you through it, no worries...

Thank you for your encouragement

Originally Posted by Anthony1954

I think this may be a mis-type but you need a shallower angle, that's the spine closer to your cheek.

Thank you for the correction I do realize how important terminology is, I really appreciate it.

Just showered and took the Hart 7/8 for a test drive, but before I do I will give you my inspection report: I wiped down the razor and looked at it under some strong sunlight. I couldn't see anything of concern at all. The maker, TV, did a great final grind on your razor as the bevel is quite small. Under magnification I could see some micro-chipping and what I thought was a bit of erosion at the edge, but the only test that works for sure is a Shave Test. I did my normal prep like any other day. Shower & shave. My beard was a bit longer than usual as I had shaved the day before with a DE and they just don't get that close for me. The shave cream was a green tub of Proraso, my baseline on any shave soap. If it's better, great...if it's worse it goes in the can. I fully expected the first stroke to be a hair puller after seeing the video's and hearing the report from Eric. First stroke cut well, so I keep on at it with a three pass shave...my norm. If a razor isn't pulling, the final test for me is the alum block. How did it feel...I felt nothing. That bit of erosion on the bevel's edge that I saw was slurry erosion. From what I recall, Hart honers use Escher to finish their edges and what I saw does appear just like a medium Escher slurred bevel without diluting.

Was this razor as I would keep mine? It's close & wouldn't take much to get there, just needs a slight touch-up for my taste...but it was most certainly shave ready. I will get with Eric and see if he wishes for me to touch up the razor or if he wants it left alone.

What is the moral of the story? Learning to shave & identifying what is going on/wrong. The first 30 shaves are the toughest. Learning to properly strop, prepare your face, proper skin stretching and facial contortions, proper razor angle, proper pressure, and so on. What Eric now knows is that he just needs a bit of practice and he will join the ranks of a straight razor shaver. I commend Eric on his first wobbly steps and encourage him to continue...just as I do each and every one of you guys learning this new sport. Have fun & "faceterbate" in private...

The thread title caught my eye so I've been lurking.

I have two Harts and both shave wonderfully. My go to razors out of the 6 I own!

Originally Posted by shooter74743

Just showered and took the Hart 7/8 for a test drive, but before I do I will give you my inspection report: I wiped down the razor and looked at it under some strong sunlight. I couldn't see anything of concern at all. The maker, TV, did a great final grind on your razor as the bevel is quite small. Under magnification I could see some micro-chipping and what I thought was a bit of erosion at the edge, but the only test that works for sure is a Shave Test. I did my normal prep like any other day. Shower & shave. My beard was a bit longer than usual as I had shaved the day before with a DE and they just don't get that close for me. The shave cream was a green tub of Proraso, my baseline on any shave soap. If it's better, great...if it's worse it goes in the can. I fully expected the first stroke to be a hair puller after seeing the video's and hearing the report from Eric. First stroke cut well, so I keep on at it with a three pass shave...my norm. If a razor isn't pulling, the final test for me is the alum block. How did it feel...I felt nothing. That bit of erosion on the bevel's edge that I saw was slurry erosion. From what I recall, Hart honers use Escher to finish their edges and what I saw does appear just like a medium Escher slurred bevel without diluting.

Was this razor as I would keep mine? It's close & wouldn't take much to get there, just needs a slight touch-up for my taste...but it was most certainly shave ready. I will get with Eric and see if he wishes for me to touch up the razor or if he wants it left alone.

What is the moral of the story? Learning to shave & identifying what is going on/wrong. The first 30 shaves are the toughest. Learning to properly strop, prepare your face, proper skin stretching and facial contortions, proper razor angle, proper pressure, and so on. What Eric now knows is that he just needs a bit of practice and he will join the ranks of a straight razor shaver. I commend Eric on his first wobbly steps and encourage him to continue...just as I do each and every one of you guys learning this new sport. Have fun & "faceterbate" in private...

Scott you are a true gentleman thank you for all your help!!!

Your nice Hart razor is truly shave ready and going into the mail tomorrow. Please give us a shave report, an honest one, when you receive your razor. When you receive it, please do not do anything to it but wipe the oil off it before mow down your full day old beard as mentioned in the PM. The edge is finished a little different, but still a very nice crisp edge that the G20 will give. Enjoy.