Thread: Shaving with a new razor

I added a fifth razor to my collection, a Theirs Issard. I had it professionally honed. This morning I shaved with it for the first time without stropping as it was the first shave since honing. To say the least, I was really disappointed with the results. I'm usually able to get a BBS shave in three passes. This time even after a fourth pass there was still lots of stubble and my chin and upper lip. Was it poorly honed? is the razor bad? should I have stropped? I'm fairly new to SRS and Id welcome any feedback. Thanks

Your best bet is contacting the person that honed the razor. See if he test shaved the razor. If only going by the HHT it may have to go back and rehoned. Or stropping on a pasted linen strop may help.

I have no faith in the Hanging Hair Test in the hands of anyone but the honer.

If you are able to get good shaves with your other razors but not this newly honed one, then the honing likely is the problem. You did the right thing not stropping before the first shave. Strop it well before the second shave and see if it improves. If not, then you might need it to be re-honed.

Totally agree with Utopian. That is what I was trying to express.

i am always amazed at the " it was pro honed " lets try this, who honed it? lots call themselves pro but in my opinion only a few really are,, and then some who only hone for their selves are pretty good too, but many are fooled into sending to some of these guys who claim it. or then again you may just got unlucky and a reputable guy let one slip. but in almost 5 years my guy hasn't, so there it is Tc

When I got my Ralf Aust from SRD, like you, I just shaved with it. Bad shave. Before second shave I did about 30 minuets on a dry Zulu Grey and 100 laps on leather. Has shaved great since. That was just over a year ago.

Many years ago there was a program on TV, a quiz show of sorts where they pitted an "Pro" against an "amateur" and then tested their knowledge in a singular subject they both were expert in. In just about every show the "amateur" beat the pro.

Sometimes when you sit around honing razors hour after hour it gets kind of boring and slip ups happen. When you only do your own you kind of get crazy about perfection. After-all, they are yours.

Honing isn't hard. I think there is way too much doubt cast on any honer who isn't known to a forum member. If you can get a smooth shave on your cheeks with that razor then it is sharp.

If you can't get a good shave on your chin and you can get one on your cheeks, it's a technique issue. It isn't a "bad razor". What does that even mean?

There aren't only 3 people in the world who can hone. Anyone can hone.

Anyone can hone. Not everyone can hone well. I have seen way too many razors not adequately honed, and that includes the honing done by so called professionals.

The OP is not having this problem with his other razors. In my opinion that is the greatest indicator that this "professionally honed" razor is at fault.

There is also the fact that not a one of us has a prefect track record of honing. The person that was paid to hone it could have easily made a mistake. They happen.
Honing is easy until it isn’t.
Saying everyone can hone is like saying everyone can do accounting, or carpentry. Not everyone has the same abilities to do stuff with their hands or academics. That has to be one of the silliest broad sweeping statements ever.