Thread: is my razor too sharp?

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.

so i thought that maybe it was because i was a bit lax with the stropping. i went through my usual routine of about 30 laps after the shave and another 30 right before on my wooden strop (my new leather one is on the way) and i thought i would give it another try.

i got through the cheeks and that was all i could take so i switched to my old faithful H Boker (that doesn't seem nearly as sharp) and it shaved me up great just like before. the Boker isn't quite as sharp as i would like but it does do a good job, which is why i sent the other one out, so i could compare.

to be clear, i have no doubt that the person who honed my razor did a great job. as i said it was sharp like nothing else i have, but it didn't work for me shave wise. which is probably my fault either technique wise or prep wise.

any suggestioins please?

I suggest using the razor only on your cheeks for a handful of shaves. Also, is your normal technique maybe a bit more heavy handed than an extremely keen razor would need? I find that when my razors are nearing the re-hone stage, I catch myself using more pressure when shaving (not good). You should definitely "let the blade do the work" when shaving but it's most important to do that for a wicked sharp razor.

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 found this to be true myself.

Chris L

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.

I would give it another try with a smaller angle between your face and the centerline of the blade ie; keep the spine closer to your face. Also, you could probably use less pressure. A frequently described technique is to try to make the blade glide slightly above the surface of the skin. Of course, this isn't what actually happens, but it may accomplish the goal of putting less pressure on the blade. Feather guys do this all the time to solve the very problem you described.

Good luck and congrats on having a super sharp blade to work with.

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.

i think the dialing in the blade is the key for me. i will keep it stropped and keep doing my cheeks and see where i can get with it. as i said before i have no doubt that it is something i am doing wrong or just have no experience with.

BTW, thanks for the suggestions, i do appreciate them.

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