Thread: is my razor too sharp?

A really sharp razor need a drop in the angle of attack and a very light touch, I mean like you wonder if it is cutting light. It may be that you rolled the edge while stropping in which case you will cause almost instant irritation. This is also assuming that it is properly honed and does not have a wire edge or the start of one.


Take Care,
Richard

i have no doubts about the person that honed it. he has a great reputation and comes well recommended. so i am gonna focus on myself on this one and see if i can't use it as a learning experience.

i will just keep stropping (my technique with that is getting pretty good) and see what i can get. luckily i have other razors to fall back on. but i will keep at it.

i would really like to get something to observe the edge under magnification also as eventually i would like to start honing my own, so the more i observe that better.

also the "dialing" the edge comment i had earlier was from Chris L's post so it isn't my term, though i do think it works. ha!

Originally Posted by chee16

i have no doubts about the person that honed it. he has a great reputation and comes well recommended. so i am gonna focus on myself on this one and see if i can't use it as a learning experience.

I think you are right. More than likely, the duller edge of your Boker let you get away with some lapses in your technique, but these are now amplified by the sharp Puma. As had been pointed out, be mindful of your angle and pressure. I would use this new razor as a (higher) standard, and would concentrate on improving your technique rather than trying to modify the edge at this stage. When you decide to hone, this would also be a good standard to compare your efforts to. BTW, Pumas are known to be smooth shavers.

Originally Posted by chee16

also the "dialing" the edge comment i had earlier was from Chris L's post so it isn't my term, though i do think it works. ha!

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Chris L

I suggested doing only your cheeks for a handful of shaves to see if taming the edge a bit will bring it where it needs to be for shaving comfort. Others refer to this as "dialing in" the edge.

I've never had to do this with any of my razors. I guess I've been lucky

Originally Posted by Chris L

Others refer to this as "dialing in" the edge. I've found this to be true myself.

Chris L

I thought that it referred to getting the razor truly sharp (on the hone/paste etc). Since I'm obviously wrong, what is the thinking on this phrase? Getting it up to speed on the face? How could this work in practice? Not directed at you in particular, Chris, any answers very welcome.

the way i took it was basicly getting the blade to my comfort level by using and stropping it. i could be wrong. it just seemed to mean you dial in the sharpness to your liking and comfort. i guess i shouldn't have assumed eh? ha! hopefully Chris L will help us out here.

Maybe it's a blanket term covering the overcoming of any issue of unknown cause that someone was previously having with a razor and then they stumbled upon a solution through trial and error. I know some double edge razor holders actually have dials. Maybe that's where the expression comes from.

Originally Posted by chee16

i will definitely give it more tries. i have definitely changed my angle as i found that that made a huge difference before. as for pressure i am trying to be careful but i found it isn't cutting until i put a little bit on. in the last couple months i have become less and less heavy handed as my technique has improved.

Everything in this thread was making complete sense, until I re-read this statement for the third time.... Now it doesn't quite make sense, a really really, sharp blade requires almost zero pressure to cut hair...
I would go back to the angle myself, forget the 30 degree stuff and start with the spine flat against yer face and give it maybe one spine width and see what happens... gently and almost skimming the skin...

I would suggest a bit of stropping on some CrO to refine the polish on the edge. If you do not have CrO, try some newspaper; it works believe it or not.

so i did some CrOx stropping and then hitthe linen then the leather and the edge looks really nice now plus i did the TNT test before and it was ruff, now it is nice so tomorrow will be the test. my fingers are crossed.it seems to have made a big difference though. thanks for the posts everybody.