Thread: Dull blade?

Originally Posted by KingHarvest

So I just tried to shave with a razor that I got from a seller here that was advertised as being shave ready. When I went to shave, however, it didn't cut the hairs at all. But this is the odd part that I haven't heard anyone else describe here when they've had a dull razor: the razor just glided over my face, it didn't tug at all. It just wouldn't cut the hairs. Does this razor need to be honed or am I maybe just too used to the razor I've been using?

I would not use a TNT on a "Shave Ready Razor" the TNT is to check for a correct bevel and/or an overhoned/ rough/ micro-chipped edge....
This razor is obviously not shave ready he tried the real test already for that TST "The Shave Test"
So then the "overhoned cat" was let out of the bag, so at that point the TNT is the proper test for an overhoned edge....
Also note exactly how I worded the test, as in very, very, lightly everything we do has to be done with a light touch for it to work correctly... So to really answer your question, if you use a TNT on a shave ready edge it will take off the extreme sharpness, but you could bring back that final little tweak pretty quick with a few laps on the right stone....

Personally when I hone a razor I stop using any of these tests at the 4k stage the razor is actually "shave ready" at that point, as in it will shave, after that you are just smoothing up the edge to make it shave more comfortably.....

Thanks for the advice, guys. After further testing, the thing is dull as a butter knife and needs to be honed.

Thanks Glen. No matter how much help is available here, there is so much to learn that it's a slower process than being shown. Must've been so much easier when the father taught the son!

Originally Posted by KingHarvest

Thanks for the advice, guys. After further testing, the thing is dull as a butter knife and needs to be honed.

There are alot of very good honemeisters here on the forums, but I can speak from personal experience that you will not be disappointed if you choose Glen (GSSIXGUN) to hone your blade.

Originally Posted by ben.mid

Thanks Glen. No matter how much help is available here, there is so much to learn that it's a slower process than being shown. Must've been so much easier when the father taught the son!

Ben:
OMG your not kidding can you imagine how much easier this whole learning process would be if you could stand next to an experianced person for a month !!!!!!
We do pretty darn good though, for just using the tools that we have on the internet....... GO SRP !!!!

Originally Posted by FloorPizza

There are alot of very good honemeisters here on the forums, but I can speak from personal experience that you will not be disappointed if you choose Glen (GSSIXGUN) to hone your blade.

Oh, I was planning on doing this myself. I've honed my elder razor several times to shavability. I'm up to the challenge of trying to hone a much duller blade.

Originally Posted by KingHarvest

Oh, I was planning on doing this myself. I've honed my elder razor several times to shavability. I'm up to the challenge of trying to hone a much duller blade.

Can't blame ya a bit there, King, but...

I thought I was getting some pretty sharp razors (I got my first batch of seven razors all at the same time), until I got a razor back from being sharpened by Glen. It was one of those epiphany moments; my blades weren't even in the same league as his.

I'm sure alot of guys are getting sick of me saying this, but I gotta say it again: it is an *invaluable* tool to have a professionally sharpened razor for a couple reasons.. First, it's great to see exactly how comfy a straight shave can be with a properly honed razor, and second, it's a great measuring stick to see how your honing abilities measure up. I've sharpened more razors over the passed couple weeks than I'd care to admit to. Each one is compared to this blade.

Every new honer should get:

A good set of hones, as budget allows

A good strop

Two razors. One to learn to hone on, one to have professionally sharpened.

The pro sharpened razor should be considered just as essential as any of the other items in the list.

I've had a razor professionally honed before, and I'm well aware that I don't get my razor as sharp as a professional would. I have been at this for almost a year now, and I would like to jump into some restoration work as a hobby. It's not a terribly damaged blade, it just needs to be sharpened, so I don't really see the justification for sending it off when I'm pretty sure I could do a satisfactory job myself.

Originally Posted by KingHarvest

I've had a razor professionally honed before, and I'm well aware that I don't get my razor as sharp as a professional would. I have been at this for almost a year now, and I would like to jump into some restoration work as a hobby. It's not a terribly damaged blade, it just needs to be sharpened, so I don't really see the justification for sending it off when I'm pretty sure I could do a satisfactory job myself.

Ah, cool... I didn't know you'd had one before.. I'm kinda quick to jump on the "you really gotta have a pro sharpened blade" kick.

I've been having a blast doing alot of sharpening, trying to match Glen's work.