Thread: bad shave

had yet another shave that let me down bad. I also think that I have two chipped razors. I have a norton combo 4/8K stone coming, and I am trying to fix up a swaty. Once again I am looking for some advice and encouragement. I am going to tend my face.

Also, I bought a strop from a member here that is showing some nicks and am wondering if this could be the cause of a poor shave. It is a horsehide barber strop. It is my first hanging strop and I like it alot better than the paddle. It fits almost the entire razor. I ordered the stone from Howard at theperfectedge.com. I read on here that it came flattened. Can anyone attest to that? Here are some pics of my wapienica and strop. The razor has a small chip right in the middle. Maybe to small to see here. I smudged it up with my finger close to where the chip is. What I think is a chip








Ill talk to you guys tomorrow.

Hi Matt

You have no luck at all.

Nicks in the strop mean you are catching the edge, no question. That will ruin your edge. If the strop came with those nicks, then the best thing would be to take a pumice stone and smooth them out.

Stones are not hard to flatten, and I would recommend any stone is flattened whether you think it is or not. A simple grid marked out with a pencil, and a quick lap on some 1000 grit paper on a glass or otherwise smooth surface will soon enough tell you if its flat.

I don't know how one guy can have so much tough luck with this hobby - as for encouragment I can only tell you that since switching to straights I have no razor rash on my neck any more, brighter, cleaner looking skin with no spots, and the shave is better and holds longer. I can get away with shaving every other day, even though I WANT to shave every day...

I thought you had a razor from a honemeister - Lynn wasn't it? What happened to that.

Si

Hm,

nicks in the strop do not necessarily translate in a bad edge. Not at all. Just rub in dressing (or mink oil) and if you really want to do something you can pumice them, of course. But it should be alright with minimal treatment.

Having said this, does your strop have some creases / cracks? This can damage an edge for sure! (So can just bad stropping on a perfect strop, fwiw)

Chip in the razor? May be seen in a photo like this? Oh, boy, this is a bit more adventurous than what I'd recommend. This needs to be taken care of by somebody (can be you, if you don't care much about the razor, at least you'll learn something) I didn't see anything, but you have it in your hands and should know better.

Good luck
Ivo

I traded that razor for this strop. Did you check out the pictures?? I am wondering if I should try to trade it back.

You traded a lynn honed razor for a damaged strop? Bad move dude. At this point I would just try and work out the nick in the strop with some fine sandpaper or a pumice stone. The razor can be restored by some hone work or you could send it out as long as the chip is small. I can't see it in the pics so it must be small.

Hi,
Try to get your hands on a brand new, shave-ready razor. Give yourself a chance to succeed!
Good luck!

In my defense the razor had dulled before I traded it. I must be the worst str8 shaver around.

Originally Posted by Sunsi

Hi Matt

You have no luck at all.

Nicks in the strop mean you are catching the edge, no question. That will ruin your edge. If the strop came with those nicks, then the best thing would be to take a pumice stone and smooth them out.

Stones are not hard to flatten, and I would recommend any stone is flattened whether you think it is or not. A simple grid marked out with a pencil, and a quick lap on some 1000 grit paper on a glass or otherwise smooth surface will soon enough tell you if its flat.

I don't know how one guy can have so much tough luck with this hobby - as for encouragment I can only tell you that since switching to straights I have no razor rash on my neck any more, brighter, cleaner looking skin with no spots, and the shave is better and holds longer. I can get away with shaving every other day, even though I WANT to shave every day...

I thought you had a razor from a honemeister - Lynn wasn't it? What happened to that.

Si

My face feels nicer, but after 12 hours I feel the need to shave again usually. 2 days growth and I am pretty much growing a beard. But that has pretty much been the way since I was 15. I shaved tonight with a DE and although it took me a good while I got a nice shave. I missed a couple small patches as usual and they are not as good as they could be but I am tired. I would have used a str8 but the hanging strop I traded for I think it may have chipped two of my blades. Now I am waiting on a TM strop and Norton stone as well as hoping I can get my dovo back for this strop. I am estimating in the past three months I have spent around 500 dollars on shaving related items. I am improving and I think eventually I will make myself proud. I am guessing that when I do, I can take some of the stuff I have and peddle it here or on ebay. I have lots of free time so what the hell.

I do admire your patience if nothing else Matt - and your commitment is without question. I guess some people just take longer to get used to it.

Keep going Matt - I think its fair to say that everyone is rooting for you.

Si

I will prevail