Thread: 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

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

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.

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.

Great idea - mind if I steal that?

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.

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

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.