Thread: is my razor too sharp?

Forgive me that I dont know where the link is here...but this is a great resource that was done by one of our very own here at SRP. It has different tests that you are talking about.

Honing Videos - The Shave Den

Bummer, unless it's saved somewhere else, the great barbering textbook picture of the TPT is gone. I looked in the help files under barbering textbooks. The one I'm thinking of is not there.

I'll give it a shot in describing how I do it. I'm right handed. I hold the razor open with my left hand. I have the blade vertical with toe to the sky and the edge of course facing me. I press my right thumb in some of the honing water for a few seconds and then dab my thumb pad dry (I like my thumb pad to be moist for this test, I get better feedback that way. I know Russel Baldridge says he likes his thumb to be completely dried out for this test so YMMV). Now, give the thumbs up sign. Rather than having a closed fist I open my hand and wrap my fingers around the spine of the razor. My thumb, also vertical is face to face with the edge. Then I very very lightly touch my thumb pad in a downward stroke on areas of the edge. I'm not pressing the razor into my thumb (the razor stays stationary) nor am I pressing my thumb into the razor. I'm very lightly drawing just the surface of my thumb pad across small sections of the edge one little section at a time. Essentially I'm pivoting that first joint of my right thumb which creates a small up and down stroke. I don't draw upward, only downward.

What are you feeling for? It's totally true when people describe the "sticky" or "gummy" feel. You'll know it when you feel it. There's a sticky draw you feel.

I hope that helps rather than confuses.

Chris L

from your description Chris and the video IsaacRN posted i think i get it. now my next question is how will a blade feel that has a lot of micro chipping? as i posted i can see lots of spots that look to be very small chips with my mag glass but i know those aren't micro chips. i wish i had a micro scope.

ha my girlfriend wants to get into live blood analysis to go along with her Holistic Nutritional Counseling so maybe i can convince her to buy the microscope (which is a very expensive and cool one) early so i can use it for looking at my razors. ha! not much chance of that but i can wish, plus it might be taken as being a bit selfish. ha!

To get a fast hands on feel for the tests just use any Razor Blade either a DE or a Safety Razor blade (like what goes in a glass scraper) will work just fine..try the TNT the TPT and the HHT on them, that way you know what they should feel like on a blade of known sharpness..... and yer not messing up a honed straight razor...

Originally Posted by chee16

so if it was a wire edge that broke off, somehow it broke off int eh mail as the razor has only gotten better after the things i have done. i'm not saying this is impossible as i don't know enough to rule it out but my guess is it is unlikely...

OK most threads ask the opposite right, but i just had my razor(a Puma) honed by a pro and did all the regular test to check how sharp it was, and man it was sharp. seriously it passed the HHT like i have never seen (though i am a little new) so it was sharp. but when i went for the ultimate test, shaving, it hurt a lot. my skin was red and irritated after just the WTG. i did the rest and my face was sensitive for three days.

If you did the TNT, that may have broken off the wire edge. It may also have broken off anytime during the shave.

The microscopic picture you are describing is consistent. It also sounds more than microchipping, which may have gone unnoticed by the honer during the test shave, if he does not routinely use a microscope.

The things that you did will smoothen the edge, so you have noted some improvement, but will not make the edge even again. That will require honing.

Hope that didn't make things more confusing.

thanks Ray. for future reference what should i have done different? was it my fault? i would like to try and not do this again ha! so any suggestions would be great. now would i have noticed that the wire edge came off during the first shave? cuz it was crap from the start but that isn't to say it didn't happen on the first stroke right. i know there are a lot of variables here so keep in mind i am realistic and am just trying to learn from this. thanks again.

"did all the regular test to check how sharp it was"

Did you do a TNT before the initial shave? This could have created some damage. Maybe on the first shave it was just sharper than you had ever known and bad technique caused a first bad shave, then to much work put into to "dial it in", created more damage.

OTOH, it may not have been you, but came from the honer with a wire edge or microchipping, but most "honers for hire" wil use a microscope and test shave as well (not all, but most). Have you contacted the Honer and got his thoughts on this. Maybe he could re-examine the blade and tell you a bit more as to how you got to this point, which would only help you in the long run.

Good luck and keep us updated.

Jerry

he put on the page that he used one layer of tape to establish the bevel, then two layers to finish it. also that the edge was not perfectly straight but will even out with time. that it was shave tested.

no i did not do the TNT before hand just the HHT and trying it on my arm hairs.

here is a question. should the bevel width be even on each side or does that matter that much. on this thing the one side has a good 16th of and inch bevel or so, and the other side is about a third of that. not sure if that says anything.

[quote=chee16;273597
here is a question. should the bevel width be even on each side or does that matter that much. on this thing the one side has a good 16th of and inch bevel or so, and the other side is about a third of that. not sure if that says anything.[/quote]
As long as both sides meet to form a good bevel it does not matter, AFAIK. When you get blades that are warped, twisted and tweaked you can get all types of different edge "looks" but as long as they meet to a good bevel, they all shave fine.
Since you have othe rblades to hold you over, send that one back to the "honer" and let him examine it. I am sure he could give you better advice on the status of your blade than I could.

Jerry

Originally Posted by chee16

thanks Ray. for future reference what should i have done different? was it my fault? i would like to try and not do this again ha! so any suggestions would be great. now would i have noticed that the wire edge came off during the first shave? cuz it was crap from the start but that isn't to say it didn't happen on the first stroke right. i know there are a lot of variables here so keep in mind i am realistic and am just trying to learn from this. thanks again.

Yes, you are right. There are so many variables. I would have been more suspicious had you done the TNT, but yes, if there was a wire edge, it could have broken during the shave. You would not realize it, but then notice the irritation and discomfort with the strokes while at the same time you are not effectively cutting the stubble.

It doesn't sound like you did anything wrong or could have prevented it. Assuming, that is, that this is all due to a wire edge. As you said, a lot of variables.

I agree - I'd ask the honer to look at it. He'd be best able to tell you what could have possibly happened.