Thread: touch up after about 15 shaves

^^^excellent advise there. If your stropping is effective, then you just need touch up on the hones sooner than some shavers. I'm like you MD, I only get about three shaves out of a DE too.

I have a paddle strop with balsa on two sides. With powders on them. That does an ok job.
I do use a loop. And have read probably every and post on here regarding false edges,chipping,jointing,secondary/micro bevels. Honing tutorials. Stropping tutorials. And believe that there are no major issues with my technique. I could be wrong. And we never stop learning. I am open to new ideas. I have also loaned and given honed and stropped by me, razors to a coworker to get his opinions on their edges. And to see if he gets more life out of them. It is a fun quest. Come to think of it. I used a Gillette Fatboy since I was 20. And those blades would start to pull after approx. 8-10 shaves.

What is on the paddles and are you using them?

Balsa has a reputation for harsh edges, if you look at them under 60-100X you will see, micro chipping, especially if too much pressure is used.

Chrome oxide and iron oxide powder. On the paddle. I prefer the results I get from the 20K stone.

As I recall, when I started out and had either CrO or some basic 8K hones I'd get around 15-20 shaves before needing to touchup. With more experience and some better honing materials I can go way longer than that now. The razor also makes a difference.

My thinking is that my learning curve has flattened out. And now my improvements are measured in much smaller incriments. As with a lot of things the subtle nuances are what makes everything click. I will continue to experiment with my routine and see if I can equal the longevity that others attain. Even if I don't. I am happy with present results.

I had the same problem until I started stropping a lot more & much lighter strokes. Now I am going very long periods between touch up. In my case it was stropping to aggressivley

That is one of my recent areas of focus. The SRD Red Latigo strop has a heavy draw. And I may be using too much pressure on my strokes. Thanks for the testimony that I may be looking into the correct issue.
P.S.cubancigar2000 Ex Army grunt here. Thank you for your service. Spent some time at Camp Lejeune back in the early 90's.

Re lap your SG20, some do not stay flat and smooth, bevel or round the edges, make sure all the previous stria is removed prior to going to the 20K. there should be no deep stria on the bevel.

Make sure your Chrome Oxide is razor quality, only a few are, quality Chrome Ox is not expensive. Try pasting a piece of cardboard and leave the balsa out of the mix.

Look at your edges, the vast majority of edge issues stem from bevel setting or lack thereof. The edge is only as good as the prep.

Improper stropping on a weak edge just compounds the problem. The problem with razor honing is to build a good strong edge, every step matters.

I haven't used the balsa and crox since I received the G20K.
It's only been a couple of days since I modified my stropping pressure. Time will tell. Seems As if I wound up hijacking this thread. Apologies to the OP.
Rather than changing multiple things. I prefer to keep it to one thing. So as to get a clear result from the new routine.
I am also aware that each persons standard for their razors sharpness. Is extremely subjective. Meaning that I may be a snobby high maintainance straight razor diva. And once that is confirmed. The authorities will raid my house. Confiscate my razors and hones. And lock me up. During my incarceration the only means of removing hair from my face will be a Bic disposable that I have to share with Bubba my new roomie. That should cure me.