Thread: Razor seems dull after 9 shaves

A diamond-pasted balsa strop is also a good way to keep an edge fresh almost indefinitely

Originally Posted by WildWest74

A diamond-pasted balsa strop is also a good way to keep an edge fresh almost indefinitely

I do the same with CrOx pasted paddles, it's my best tool for keeping razors shaving for a long time.

So... I stropped, 40 passes on linen and 100 on leather. Whether it was improper stropping, shaving angle or just dulling with 9 shaves, the sharpness is not coming back with just the strop. I used it this morning after all of the stropping and same as yesterday, scratching, not shaving closely. Reading all the comments (thanks again!) I'm torn between Chromium oxide or just buying a hone. It seems that the proper thing to do would be both... use the Chromium oxide until it "doesn't cut it" anymore and then use the hone.

Originally Posted by Kees

In spite of many stropping experiments, good quality hones and razors I don't usually get more than 10 shaves out of an edge before touching up on the hones. I might be able to get more shaves out of an edge but that wouldn't be really comfortable shaves.

Goes to show it is all so very personal. My razors rarely see a touch up.

I remember trying a razor honed on a synthetic progression, finished on the Suehiro Gokumyo 20k. The shave was fine, no complaints (very much like a sharp chromium oxide finish), but I was quite disappointed to find the edge was getting noticeably uncomfortable in use (during the shave) by the 7-8 shave.

I feel a good edge should give a comfortable shave for at least 20 shaves before I notice pretty much any edge deterioration. If it doesn't, I know something is up with my stropping, prep or possibly even razor.

That or my edge is too thin/fragile, but honing on coticules and Thüringer stones makes that a rather unlikely scenario.

Best regards,

Pieter

Pithor you have touched on something I believe with all my heart, although technique, stropping(the most important aspect) prep and ones own beard play a big roll in how long and edge lasts. But in our quest for the ultimate edge, we keep getting that edge so fine it has no strength. I noticed from my own tests that once I could get a very nice edge from an 8k Be it synthetic or Coticule equivalent, it was an edge that would shave well longer than one off of a 12k and even longer than the 20k.

No to the OP remember more laps n the strop doesn't help unless they are good laps, cause 20 laps bad are even worse at 100 laps. Stropping takes some time to master, and when you do you will be able to improve an edge. Also if you have a junk razor 9 shaves might fe all you could get. I personally have a tough beard and shave everyday, I can go for months with just a strop, I don't but can. I adopted a maintenance routine that keeps my razor shaving with a couple or four laps on a 12k every 14 or so shaves. Tc

Sigh...I need to work on my blade angle. Thanks for the reminder...



Not that I mind breaking out the stones and refreshing my edges!!!

ARP, where are you located? It is possible that there is a member nearby who could help you in person--both with edge evaluation and honing.

Originally Posted by Utopian

ARP, where are you located? It is possible that there is a member nearby who could help you in person--both with edge evaluation and honing.

That would be great! I'm in Pittsburgh.

Originally Posted by ARP

That would be great! I'm in Pittsburgh.

Here's users who list Pittsburgh as their location
http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...astvisit&pp=50

Originally Posted by ARP

Hello,
Brand new to straight razor shaving. Came into a dubl duck, had it RE-honed, started shaving. It was amazing the first 7 shaves. Now seems like it takes hair, but not a very close shave. Is it possible that improper stropping technique, shave angle of more than 30°, other newbie mistakes have already dulled the blade?

Or maybe not getting a good stropping? I've been running over linen 20 times, then leather 30 times (counting away and back as 1 pass). I'm holding the strop tight, the first few times I was pushing against the leather with the razor, but I've got a good feel of it now, just the weight of the blade on the strop. I've been making two passes, one with the grain and a second across, the past two shaves I've had to clean up with Gillette Fusion.

Thanks!

I've been straight shaving for about 3 years now(November 2014) and to my experience there's fews things that went wrong.
#1 Stroping is VERRY VERRY IMPORTANT, getting the right technic of stroping and also the amount of laps is a big factor. For me 20 on the fabric and 60 to 100 on leather depending on the whith of your straight(5/8, 6/8, 7/8 etc..)
#2 about the angle to my experience your suppose to scrape the lather and not your face, so the 30 degrees angle is just a average. A sharp blade will cut whiskers when you scrape the lather and will prevent any irritation or razor burn.
#3 if you can find a barber hone to refresh your straight you still use chromox, diamond paste etc.. it could be on a strop or on balsa. Good luck