Thread: Getting a rough shave!!!

I purchased a FW Engel razor and honed it with a Norton 4000/800 stone and finished on a 12,000 grit stone. The edge looks polished and passes all the normal sharpness tests including HHT. The razor was stropped 60 laps. It shaves very close but my face is extremely irritated post shave. This has happened both times I have tried the razor.
I shave with two other razors from SRD that are comfortable and leave my skin felling great.
I would like some input on what is going wrong.
I checked for a rolled edge but can't see or feel one.

Thanks,
John

It sounds like the Lynn honed razors are working fine. Send him the Engels too and see how that works when you get it back.

My guess is that you didn't quite have a good edge after you honed your blade.

Michael

If you over honed your razor to pass a HHT that will probibly be the reason its a rough shave. Give if a few more shaves. If the problem contiues then send it out.

Trillium,
I don't think my face can take another shave from this razor!!! LOL
I have always been a little confused about what "over honed" means. Is it getting the razor too sharp? or does the edge become too ragged?
In any case, your advise about sending it out may be the best option.
Thanks
John

I think "bevel not set" is a better idea as to what might be wrong with the edge.

If you continue honing the blade then that's something to look into.

Michael

I know i was told if you over hone a blade you can start to degrade it. Then it is irritating and it can start to leave parts of the blade in your skin. If i am wrong please let me know

Originally Posted by Minnebrew

I know i was told if you over hone a blade you can start to degrade it. Then it is irritating and it can start to leave parts of the blade in your skin. If i am wrong please let me know

Typically, if you really do over hone a razor, you roll the edge and when you try to shave with it, it simply glides over the whisker but does not remove any hair.

Have fun.

That may explain why, while gaining experience, there were a few instances where I had to hone my razor several times before I could get a close and comfortable shave. I couldn't understand why I would seem to do the same thing and get different results. I even examined it under a little Radio Shack 100X microscope and couldn't explain the difference in results.

I'm thinking it's either a toothy edge right off the hones or it's crumbling during the shave; either way the blade likely needs to go back to the hones.

As an aside, if you have a material component on your strop (linen, canvas) it's best to use it prior to leather when a blade has been freshly honed.

Thanks to all who replied.
So if I take it back to the hone, where do I start? Should I go back to the 1000 grit, kill the edge and start over with a bevel? Or should I go back to the 4000 grit, work it up and progress though the finer stones?
John