Thread: Trouble Shaving with the SRP Wedge Razor and Other Wedge Razor

I think I need some help here I own to Wedge Razors one I had made and one that I brought which was one of the SRP limited edition. I am having a bit of trouble shaving with both. Let me explain I own about 20 straight razors and 26 DE razors I use them all which means it takes a bit of time to get round the razors. But when I get round to shaving with my wedge razors I seem to be having a problem which is when I shave with these two razors they do not seem to give a good shave. where all my other Razors are fine. I make sure I strop them every time I when I use these two razors & I also check the edge of the blade and they are very sharp indeed but when I go ahead and use them it does not seem to cut the hair on my face and afterwards I then have use a de razor which then cuts the hair fine. After use I clean the blades and put Revistol on the blade to protect it. The blade I know is sharp when it goes to my face so why is it not cutting my facial right. I must admit when I first got the SRP Razor & the other hand made wedge I had done they where scarey sharp.So what has happened Is there a special angle I have to use ? or is the stropping I am doing is wrong I will also admit I do not use the cloth side of the strop is this wrong ? and now does this mean I have to send them off to be resharpened again.Can someone tell me if it is the angle I am doing is wrong or my stropping. Thanks Ps I only use these two razors every Few mths if that helps

I have the SRP wedge and about 15 others wedges/near wedges , and they are very different to shave with compared to hollow grinds. Everyone is different, but I found that I need more of an angle (spine further away from my skin) when I shave with a wedge. I think this is because of the lack of flex maybe? Also, unless I stretch carefully my shaves aren't quite as close, again I credit the lack of flex in the blade.
As for stropping, I only strop my wedges on a bench strop. This is my personal preference because I felt that I couldn't get the full edge (specifically with a smiling blade) on my hanging strop. I strop my wedges on both felt and leather.
When you test the edge with a wedge, the hairs won't "pop" like with a hollow grind. Instead, the hairs just get mowed down I think to really get the feel for shaving with wedge, you need to shave with one exclusively for at least a couple of weeks. This will give you the chance to develop a bond with them and figure out what works!

Happy shaving and don't give up

I have a theory. It goes like this: If you get a new razor, use it for a fortnight, preferably longer.

Now, this does not comply with the ubiquitous "branch out, get more razors" adage often quoted here.

But it will work. Especially if you are a beginner. Advanced users can adapt to new razors quickly. Beginners cannot. Therefore, "branching out" will make your learning curve both steeper and longer.

Instead, use that wedge. Do use the cotton side, and use it a lot. Razor stropping - Straight Razor Place Library is something you have probably perused, but if not, do that. It is the single most helpful source of information on stropping on the internet.

Additionally, do not expect miracles from the razor. Any razor. Stropping, and proper preparation play a far more important role than a "scary sharp" razor. If I had the choice between a "professionally honed" razor and a mediocre soap, and a so-so razor and a very good soap, I would choose the latter. If in doubt, make a pasted strop for under a quid, and see if that helps.

Originally Posted by ECD

I think I need some help here I own to Wedge Razors one I had made and one that I brought which was one of the SRP limited edition. I am having a bit of trouble shaving with both. Let me explain I own about 20 straight razors and 26 DE razors I use them all which means it takes a bit of time to get round the razors.

Well owning 20 straight razors and using them all indicates to me that you know how to shave. I'd also assume you know a shave ready razor when you feel one. Ordinarily I would attribute the source of the difficulty to stem from a poor shaving edge. Since it is the two wedges, and since you know what a shave ready razor feels like, it might be the difference in the grind.

I've got two of those SRP limiteds and both are stellar shavers so far. I've also got other wedges, vintage Sheffield, and some custom pieces. All of them shave well if they're shave ready. It has been so long ago that I dealt with my introduction to shaving with wedges that I cannot recall any difficulty just because of the grind. I stretch the skin and shave the whiskers.

Honing wedges can be more work than honing hollow grinds. There is more metal to remove. If you hone your own maybe give them a touchup, or if not, send them out to Steve Dempster at the Invisible Edge. There may be other honers in UK you can send them to. Now that Neil is passed on Steve is the only one whose work I've personal experience with. At least that would eliminate the possibility that they are not ready for prime time.

It took me a while to adjust to the first wedge I used. There is a very slight variance in technique, and it is not much. When I started switching razors around to different grinds as I rotate through the ones I have, I will shave with my razor of choice for around a week. Sometimes I do not get the best shave attainable on the first shave with a blade I have not used for some time. No worries. They can be like that. If you are sure the blade is properly prepared for the task the remainder lies with you.

I have tried different angles with the blade and different directions as well to see if that was the problem but it is still not cutting the hair. but rather pulling the I will try re stropping again with the above instructions. Maybe it is different with the wege razors . I have tried cutting body hair that does it no problem. If all else fails will send it to " Invisible edge to be honed and ask him to look at the blade and ask him if my stropping was ok before he does it I must be doing something wrong but what

It sounds to me like a sharpness issue. Once you are competent with a straight the differences from size to size and grind to grind are not that different. it's just like driving a car. When you go from one to another even if it's going from a compact to an SUV you quickly get used to it just by driving.

I have a WB wedge and I find it to be a fine shaver, and I'm not particularly experienced. Perhaps the edges aren't as sharp as they once were.

Originally Posted by ECD

I have tried different angles with the blade and different directions as well to see if that was the problem but it is still not cutting the hair. but rather pulling the I will try re stropping again with the above instructions. Maybe it is different with the wege razors . I have tried cutting body hair that does it no problem. If all else fails will send it to " Invisible edge to be honed and ask him to look at the blade and ask him if my stropping was ok before he does it I must be doing something wrong but what

I'm in the same boat. I've honed my share of razors and only have trouble with wedges and 1/4 grinds. I have one that i've managed to get to a level I'm happy with, but the other two, I've checked the bevel, reset the bevel, tried dropping back down to 8000# for twenty strokes then re-polish, then drop down to 8000# and re-polish testing each time to see if there's any improvement. I've tried slurry, pasted strops, less stropping pressure, more stropping pressure, you name it. I always seem to end up at the same place: a sharp razor with what in my experience is a well developed and polished edge that just doesn't shave as well as hollow razors

Does everybody Strop on the leather & the felt after each shave and then again before you use the razor again or do you just strop the once or do you leave it for a few shaves then strop. The reason I ask this is I Recently brought a "THIERS-ISSARD" Spartacus Straight razor and in the instructions it gives with the Razor says there is no need to strop until after 7 shaves later am i stropping to much ???? Like I said at the beginning once I stroped these wedges I use they are sharp but just do not take the hair on my face it is just like shaving with a very blunt blade or no blade at all. It looks like I have to send it to Steve to find out where I am going wrong