Thread: Uneven/ineffective performance with one razor

One of my SRs, when I use it seems to not evenly/fully effective remove hair. It's the one I didn't actually set myself, but it looked pretty good and I just touched it up. It doesn't tug or pull or anything when I use it, but I seem to end up with patches of not fully cut hair. Could it be that the bevel is not even? What would be the best approach? Reset it? Or work down grits first?

That would indicate a serious problem. Touching up won't fix that.

You need to examine the bevel first and see what it looks like. Some magnification will help. If it looks good then you can play with the grits however if patches aren't being cut that sounds like a bevel issue to me assuming of course you aren't new at this and it's a user issue.

This may be a blade issue but maybe consider also a technique issue. When you say the blade doesn't pull but leaves patches of partial or uncut whiskers i have to ask if the blade is cutting at all? Just parts of the face as you make the stroke? My face has some hollows under the cheek bone, some days if im not attentive the stroke over the cheek results in heel and toe cutting well and the middle riding over the hollow and not cutting so well. Why ? In my case i need to either puff my cheeks or stretch to raise the skin to the blade and then I get a uniform cut. Just a thought and maybe it will help maybe its your blade after all. Something to consider.

Sorry, just to clarify - I have a number of other straights, all of which I set and progressively honed, and they all work fine. It is just this one that giving me this particular issue.

Is the blade warped by some chance?

OK well if technique is not issue then inspect for uneven sharpness or incomplete bevel and especially check for a frown. Look straight down at the blade with a loop check for reflections or flat spots and lay the blade on a known flat straight edge and see if light comes through the middle indicating a frown.

Either way I would reset the bevel on this one to be sure maybe some pics might help but Rehone and make sure it has no frown.

Yes, I think simply resetting it will be the best bet.

It appears to be smiling slightly, so I don't think a frown is the issue. Doesn't appear to be warped either.

I'll try resetting it first, and then try to get some photos if that doesn't work. (Actually, I'll try to get some photos in any case, as it's a nice-looking stub-tail.)

Reset the razor and went through a complete honing progression and it's shaving beautifully now.

[Photos here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ml#post1617764 ]