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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?
Sounds like the razor has been over honed and needs to go back to something coarser. A few stropping or back hone passes on a Norton 8K might put it in good trim.
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What's a back hone pass?
Edge trailing rather than edge leading is a back hone pass. A stropping motion. A reverse honing pass.Quote:
Originally Posted by KingHarvest
Ok, thought so, just didn't want to destroy my razor.
Two questions.
Have you contacted the seller about this? Not everyone selling razors has a clue what a shave ready razor is. There have been several instances of new members, who have no clue what they are talking about, selling what they believe to be shave ready razors. While this may not be the case with this razor, you should communicate some sort of feedback to the seller and see what he has to say about it.
Did you strop it before using it? I don't know your level of experience but maybe you rolled the edge during stropping. You got a decent shave from another razor so I think this is less likely.
Given that the razor isn't cutting at all, it sounds like it needs honing.
yep its either overhoned or its as dull as a butter knife.
The Thumb Nail Test rocks !!!!
Stick yer thumb in yer mouth, take thumb out of mouth, place edge very, very, lightly on thumb nail, draw edge across top of thumb nail....
Smooth draw no digging in and no rough feel = Dull as butterknife...
Digs in, and doesn't feel rough = Really close to what you want, might just need a small tune up / tweak
Catches and feels rough and gritty = overhoned / rolled / microchipped edge, needs real work on the hones...
Wipe off thumb and proceed :D....
That's gotta be the best description of the thumb nail test yet.
Glen, I know you know your stuff, so you can help here. I was lead to understand that the tnt on a sharp razor lead to a no longer sharp razor. If i did that to a shave ready razor, how much work would it take to restore the edge to shave ready again, or would it just be a few laps of the strop & ready to go?
Quote:
Originally Posted by KingHarvest
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!
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by KingHarvest
Quote:
Originally Posted by ben.mid
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 !!!!
Quote:
Originally Posted by FloorPizza
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...Quote:
Originally Posted by KingHarvest
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.
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. :oQuote:
Originally Posted by KingHarvest
I've been having a blast doing alot of sharpening, trying to match Glen's work.