Thread: Dull blade?

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.

X

What's a back hone pass?

Originally Posted by KingHarvest

What's a back hone pass?

Edge trailing rather than edge leading is a back hone pass. A stropping motion. A reverse honing pass.

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 ....

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?