Bailing Out On A Razor

Hey Guys,

Out of curiosity, how do you handle the bail out on a razor that isn't shaving up to par, like following a honing and it is your first test shave, or stropping is not brining the edge back?

Do you have a couple of razors stropped and ready to switch in anticipation or do you just put it down and grab a DE to finish with, or dow you just have razors that are stropped, oiled and ready to go?

I don't like the idea of stopping, grabbing another razor and stropping it, especially if I have a lathered face and it is drying out.

David

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Originally Posted by Alembic

Hey Guys,

Out of curiosity, how do you handle the bail out on a razor that isn't shaving up to par, like following a honing and it is your first test shave, or stropping is not brining the edge back?

Do you have a couple of razors stropped and ready to switch in anticipation or do you just put it down and grab a DE to finish with, or dow you just have razors that are stropped, oiled and ready to go?

I don't like the idea of stopping, grabbing another razor and stropping it, especially if I have a lathered face and it is drying out.

David

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I'll usually just grab another straight, strop it lightly (usually 10/20) and then finish.

I keep a little spreadsheet with all my razors and when this happens, I'll mark the subpar razor as either tugging or being dull and then do some honing when I have a few of them listed as such.

I swap to my DE.

I've had a couple like that in the last few days, so its obviously time to break out the hones and do some touch ups!

I'd try a quick restropping before giving up on a razor, but if it just ain't working out I'll switch to a DE to finish. I've only had to do this a couple times. I don't relish the idea of going through the whole razor prep scenario twice during one shave either.

I don't have a DE so that's not an option for me. I usually grab another straight, do a dozen leather strops and continue. Or else I just grit and bare it.

Yeah, I hate to do this and it happens usually while I'm tuning up an antique store find. Often times, new finds aren't honed to my liking and have to be taken out of rotation halfway through the first shave. I usually finish up with another razor or my Fatboy.

I've never had this problem. When I hone a razor, it is honed, no test shave, I just put it back into rotation. A razor always gives ample warning that it is in need of honing long before it becomes impossible to shave with. Once it gets to the early warning stage, I pull it out of rotation and hone it at the first opportunity.

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Originally Posted by commiecat

I'll usually just grab another straight, strop it lightly (usually 10/20) and then finish.

I keep a little spreadsheet with all my razors and when this happens, I'll mark the subpar razor as either tugging or being dull and then do some honing when I have a few of them listed as such.

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Great idea - mind if I steal that?

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Originally Posted by claytor

I don't have a DE so that's not an option for me. I usually grab another straight, do a dozen leather strops and continue. Or else I just grit and bare it.

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I've done both of those - that grit and bare it part usually gets me yelled at by my alum block :cry:

I always have several razors ready to go.
I tend to strop more than average after the shave, so that every razor is in principal ready to go.
I do 30/60 after each shave.
If needed, a quick 10/20 will actually do if I have to change razor during my shave.

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Originally Posted by MasterRolf

I've never had this problem. When I hone a razor, it is honed, no test shave, I just put it back into rotation. A razor always gives ample warning that it is in need of honing long before it becomes impossible to shave with. Once it gets to the early warning stage, I pull it out of rotation and hone it at the first opportunity.

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I'd agree, but that sounds like you bat a thousand on every razor you honed. No test shave needed?

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Originally Posted by Alembic

Great idea - mind if I steal that?

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There's a two-razor licensing fee! :)

I just started with it recently as I was losing track as to which razors I had honed and when. A basic 3-column sheet with: razor name, status (smooth, tugs, dull), and the date it was last honed.

I've never had that problem either but if I did I have enough razors that I could just grab another and just strop it.

Lather should not be drying on your face while you strop. As a matter of fact I always strop my razors after I lather up.

Grab barber hone and 3-5 strokes and move on.
quick and time saving. gl

Hardly ever happens to me any more, but in that case i just take another razor and keep going.
Usually i'm honing several razors at one sitting so test shave is not possible. I just put them back on the rack and shave with them say within a week.

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Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

Grab barber hone and 3-5 strokes and move on.
quick and time saving. gl

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Thank you Sham, I was going to say the same thing! There is no need to hunt another razor and apply 30-50 strokes on linen and leather while your face is drying out.

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Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

Grab barber hone and 3-5 strokes and move on.
quick and time saving. gl

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That doesn't help if you don't own a barber's hone.

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

That doesn't help if you don't own a barber's hone.

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I use whatever finishing hone I have handy on the rare occasion I've picked a razor I want to shave with that isn't performing quite up to snuff after stropping

I always strop and have ready at least two razors before every shave.

I've never found a shave ready razor that I have stropped to give me such a bad shave thatI stopped using it during my shave.

If I did, though, I would most likely opt for my trusty DE razor, which is always close by.

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Originally Posted by Alembic

I'd agree, but that sounds like you bat a thousand on every razor you honed. No test shave needed?

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Exactly, I've been doing this for a few years and personally, I never found honing to be all that difficult in the first place. The first time I honed a razor, I had to repeat the exercise a couple of times to get a good edge, but that was sufficient to teach me what a well honed razor feels like on the hone and on my thumb. Since then, it has been hone and go.

IMHO too many people make too much out of the entire process, honing, face and beard prep, shaving. It's really not that difficult assuming you have an average level of manual dexterity and co-ordination.

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Originally Posted by Alembic

Hey Guys,

Out of curiosity, how do you handle the bail out on a razor that isn't shaving up to par, like following a honing and it is your first test shave, or stropping is not brining the edge back?

Do you have a couple of razors stropped and ready to switch in anticipation or do you just put it down and grab a DE to finish with, or dow you just have razors that are stropped, oiled and ready to go?

I don't like the idea of stopping, grabbing another razor and stropping it, especially if I have a lathered face and it is drying out.

David

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I always set out a pair of razors to shave with.
Sometimes I use both sometimes I don't. I switch
when a blade tugs or pulls. Since I have a couple of
difficult patches I like to have a fresh edge ready.

A DE or Feather sometimes gets called on depending
on my mood.

I do a few touchups with my electric..only cause I'm "not a natural just yet"

Pcdad