Thread: Not shaving well...

I wasn’t sure which section to post this in. I have a razor that doesn’t pull but doesn’t shave well. Especially on ATG I have to go over the same spots and even then there are some feelable hairs left over. I tried to refresh with the 12k but the razor is doing the same thing. Should I move to a lower grit? I’m trying not to use pastes because I just want to see how a shave is off a Naniwa 12k. I looked up sharpness tests but they all say when a razor pulls it’s not sharp enough. The edge is sticky across the whole bevel. As usual thanks for the help!

So...no stroppin.! Is that what I'm understanding.

You might have a foiled edge, or....the bevel was never properly set, from the beginning.

At least 80 laps on leather, after the 12K.

I run a progression of strops, after a honing..

The edge doesn't end on the hone, it stops at the strop.
It either improves, or destroys, an edge. It all depends in your abilities.

Did the razor shave well before, then stop performing? Or has it always been problematic?

If it has never worked well, then Mike's suggestion of it never having had a proper bevel set would be my first guess.

+1 to the importance of stropping!

I did strop it for 80-100 laps. I tried to shave with it before the hone because it feels similar to my other straights as far as stickyness. I bought it off someone named Charlie which used to be involved with this forum. So stickyness doesn’t mean the bevel is set?

I just bought it a couple of weeks ago so it has never shaved great. I tried it 3x and then went to the 12k thinking it just needed a quick refresh. It does shave arm hair no problem.

“The edge doesn't end on the hone, it stops at the strop.
It either improves, or destroys, an edge. It all depends in your abilities.”


It could have been immaculately honed, one errant lap on a strop could roll the edge. So, assuming by your post count, you are new to razor maintenance, it is/was probably your stropping.

When ever you have an issue with the edge, stop and look at it with magnification, Before, you do anything to it.

What you see will determine the best course of action. Here is a post with great edge photos of what to look for. (Second Try at Honing),

Post 42, page 9, Photos 4 & 5 (upper right hand corner) show and edge that is close, (not fully set). Post 51, page 11, first photo, shows a fully set bevel.

If under magnification, looking straight down on the edge, if you see shiny reflections, the edge is no longer fully set and meeting.

Now that you have put it on the 12k, you will likely not be able to tell the cause of the initial damage. If the razor was honed with tape, depending on how many laps you did and how much pressure used, you many not have even touched the edge, if it was honed with tape. Looking at it with magnification will tell you if you honed to the edge, if it was honed with tape and if the bevels are still meeting.

If when shaving against the grain, the shave is not smooth and cutting well, there is a sharpness issue with the edge. Often, stropping on linen and leather can bring it back,(if the razor was properly honed) if not, paste or a light touch up on a high grit hone can. But if rolled, stropping can break off the rolled fin and will at least need a touch up.

So if I understand this correctly. You have more than one razor. The other razors shave fine but this one does not.
I would say send it to someone to give it a good going over.
The other thing is assessment with a loupe.
Also this thread has a lot of good pictures.
https://sharprazorpalace.com/honing/...ggestions.html

I do have 7 razors and have refreshed an edge on a 12k in the past. It could have been my stropping but have been straight shaving for a couple of years and razors do remain sharp. I have seen those pics but will look in more detail today with a loupe in hand. Thank you.

Well i was going to say that its possible your shaving angle could be hindering the cutting, but if you have been SR shaving for a couple years you shouldnt be having this issue. As Marty said, if it was honed with tape and you touchup without tape the edge never touched the 12k stone. 12k will cut the steal but it would take a long time before it cut enough of the back edgs of the bevel and make its way to the edge.

This is where the loupe and sharpie come in. When you look at it with a loupe look for a double bevel. This COULD show that you have been honing without touching the edge. Than sharpie the bevels and do a couple laps on the stone and check that you are reaching the edge.

can we see a pic of the razor and if possible a close up as best as possible of the edge ???

We are really in the dark here, we learned quite a bit since the first post
Always remember the more info you give the better we can help, but honestly, from what I read so far the razor needs to be honed from the bevel up and quit second guessing it..

Re-set the bevel, hone it in and then see what you have going