Testing a razors sharpness.

Disappointed in my first attempt with a straight razor.
I have numerous straight razors that I have collected over the years. I decided that with the high cost of safety razor blade replacement, it was time to put these razors to good use.
I purchased a Norton 4000/8000, and a flattening stone, after watching numerous videos on the subject by Lynn Abrams and others. I spent a lot of time, slowly and meticulously honing a 5/8 Beau Brummel Werk, a 6/8 DD Pearlduck Goldenedge, and a 5/8 Solingen Tuesday using both sides of my new stone. Then stropped each to the point that arm hair was no contest for any of them.
I prepped for a shave by showering first, shaving oil second, heavy lather third. The Beau was my first choice due to the comfortable feel it has in my hand. I was able to shave both sides of my face from the sideburn to the jaw line, and my cheeks down to my chin. However, when I moved to my neck the razor would not cut. The blade would hang on my beard and lift the skin on my neck. I tried my chin area next, but it was over. It just would not glide. I moved on to each of the other razors, only to find the same scenario. I used short deliberate strokes. The spline approximately a 1/4" off the skin. It started out good, but that was it.
Any suggestions ?
:banghead:

Thanks in advance,
OneFunMudder

Well I have no specific answer, however there are a lot of experienced shavers in your area that you could meet with. It is never a good plan to try to learn to use a straight and sharpen it at the same time. You have way too many variables to even know where to start. I would suggest that you get a couple of blades pro honed and or meet with an experienced member to go over shaving and stropping. Work out the bugs of your honing after you know the rest of the essentials.

+1 to what RezDog Said... :tu

Rezdog is right. There are many variables. For one you may have set the bevel wrong and the edge was too fine so it rolled or bent under pressure. Facial hair is very different from arm hair. Lay the edge flat on your thumb nail and pull it across. Does the edge flex? As far as testing sharpness. My wife has very fine hair. I use a hair from her hair brush for a hht. Not foolproof bet better than arm hair.

You took the right test...shaving. Nothing else really is definitive. Is there a chance your lather just dried out too much?

When you attempted to shave your neck were you going WTG. When shaving your neck, tilt your head back and stretch your skin. Skin stretching turns a ho-hum shave into a great one.

I'll echo what others said, honing and skin stretching. Also, the chin and the neck are difficult areas to shave. You can always get one of your razor honed by someone else as a measuring stick for future honing endeavors.

As has already been mentioned, send out a razor to be professionally honed. It's hard to hone if you don't know what truly shave ready edge is. Eliminate as many variables as possible.

Yes, I had to keep dampening is some and work it around a bit. But, there seem to be excessive drag.

Yes, WTG, Skin pulled firmly.

A lighted loupe is a great way to see if your bevel is set completely across the blade. Also helps to identify any deformities or imperfections along the shaving edge.

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Well, I am going to go with what RezDog said. You did not say but I take it this is your first attempt at shaving with a straight razor which you attempted to hone without ever having honed a straight razor before. You could not get a better recipe for failure to launch.

This is what is recommended you do in our library section First straight razor shave - Straight Razor Place Library .

Bob

So, have you looked at the edge with magnification?

Chances are either the bevel was not completely set or you used too much pressure when stropping and rolled the edge.

Both are common novice issues. Looking straight down on the edge will tell you. And as you found… hair test are unreliable.
As said, eliminate the razor as an issue, have it honed and learn to shave.

Or get some magnification and start over honing and use lite pressure when stropping.

A hands on mentor will cut your learning curve… dramatically.

No I have not. I ordered a loupe but it hasn't arrived yet. I am anxious to take a look at it. I'm sure it will reveal part of my issues.

Suggestion? Don't give up on the hobby. I will go out on a short limb and say many of us have been there before.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by OneFunMudder

No I have not. I ordered a loupe but it hasn't arrived yet. I am anxious to take a look at it. I'm sure it will reveal part of my issues.

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Your best bet is to have one pro honed and when you get your loupe you can compare the two edges and more easily see what may not be right with the ones you honed. That will also give you a reference on how a shave ready razor feels to shave with.

Yea, Steel is right, I have been there before too.

Bob

One other chore all SR shavers should do is map the beard.
The way you think the hair grows is not necessarily correct.

Sketch a face and start rubbing. Use arrows to show the WTG direction.

Now you will know which way to pull. ie the opposite direction.

Good luck and keep us posted.

I would send one of those razors out to be professionally honed. That would give you a benchmark in both shaving and in honing. I was very stubborn when I began and suffered a great deal of razor burn as a result.