Thread: is my razor too sharp?

It's possible whoever sharpened your blade used diamond paste to get it scary sharp...which generally makes for an uncomfortable shave. You might try a few laps on a paddle strop pasted with chromium oxide or newspaper with metal polish to smooth the edge a little for a more comfortable shave.

This is an issue that will be argued indefinitely. IMO, there is SHARP and refined or smooth and there is SHARP. Both will pass the HHT, one will turn your face to hamburger.

This is probably the best reason to learn to hone your own razors. What I consider shave ready may be too harsh for your liking or vice versa. Be that as it may, you have a SHARP razor that irritates your face. Improving shaving skills comes with practice-you can improve that edge by Stropping it on linen, then leather. If you have a strop with CrOx this would help too.

How you hone the blade has ALOT to do with how well it shaves. You could shave right off an 8K Norton-the blade would be sharp but brutal to most faces. The fact you got a bad shave isn't necessarily YOUR fault. Give that blade some strop time!

PS:IF you have a 10X loupe or other ways to view the edge under magnification- check it and be sure there isn't a chip/or chips present. If there are chips- all the stropping in the world won't help.

Maybe you don't have to press as hard against your skin with the sharper blade as you do with the Boker.

Originally Posted by chee16

i think the dialing in the blade is the key for me.

I'm not sure what that means

well i just got my leather/linen strop today, i do have a two sided wooden (poplar) paddle strop with one side having Chrome Oxide. i will give the blade some strop time tonight and see how a shave goes in a couple days. i should get a magnifying glass so i can check out my different blades, even just for interest sake for now until i actually get some hones to do some work with.

i'm still going to try less pressure and a lighter touch the next time out. rethink my strategy a little

Most likely, you're just not used to using something that sharp. I cut the living $h1t out of myself the first time I used a razor Glen had honed for me.

ooooow, don't use that horrible term too sharp. A straight can never be too sharp. At some point it can be over done but then the edge is bad or overhoned. As long as the edge is in good shape either the honer used a medium which may have left it harsh (but then after a shave or two it will settle down) or you technique needs adjusting. Either your using pressure or your angle is too aggressive.

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!