Thread: Got a new Hart - and I'm so sad!

Yes the Dovo I am comparing with was from SRD.

I still have a heck of a time shaving with this razor. I feel like it's quite sharp and pops hairs like crazy. However I have gotten recent advice that while it might be very sharp, it might not be very smooth. I was told that it's like trying to shave with a serrated knife. Serrated knives can be crazy sharp but they are not smooth. Last night I tried my balsa strop and CrOx. I tried this once before but I didn't do it very much (15 laps). I did it more like 40 this time. I'm hoping this is the issue and if it is, I can tell you that I will have learned a very valuable lesson on "sharp" vs. "smooth".

40 laps on CroOx seems a little excessive. IME 10 is more than enough to smooth out the edge. I'd think there are other issues at play there.

Originally Posted by Catrentshaving

40 laps on CroOx seems a little excessive. IME 10 is more than enough to smooth out the edge. I'd think there are other issues at play there.

If you're curious about stropping there are two threads here that might help, everything is up to the individual though.

1. http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...d-we-take.html
2. http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...ke-pt-2-a.html

Originally Posted by brooksie967

If you're curious about stropping there are two threads here that might help, everything is up to the individual though.

1. http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...d-we-take.html
2. http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...ke-pt-2-a.html

Are you asking me if I'm curious?

This is interesting - I just picked one up and gave it a go this weekend with the same experience... Lots of pulling and skipping. Gave it about a hundred strops on the leather and it was a little better. I chalked it up to my experience and technique since this also happens to be my first straight - BUT maybe I need to send it to the legendary Mr Lynn just rule out the variable of the blade not being "shave ready"..

Originally Posted by Ocean13

This is interesting - I just picked one up and gave it a go this weekend with the same experience... Lots of pulling and skipping.

I'm having no pulling or skipping any more. It's quite sharp. Just burning my face up...

Originally Posted by Catrentshaving

40 laps on CroOx seems a little excessive. IME 10 is more than enough to smooth out the edge. I'd think there are other issues at play there.

You could definitely be right. If my next shave doesn't help, I'm going back to my Dovo for awhile and regain the confidence I was getting because I feel like I'm starting all over with this Hart. After that, I will try as another poster suggested and do the first pass with the Hart and use the Dovo as my finisher.

Originally Posted by Catrentshaving

Are you asking me if I'm curious?

No, I was just pointing out that it depends on the person and the results they achieve. There are lots of guys that do more than 40 laps on treated strops and that there are some people out there that wouldn't say 40 laps on crox is excessive.

Originally Posted by brooksie967

No, I was just pointing out that it depends on the person and the results they achieve. There are lots of guys that do more than 40 laps on treated strops and that there are some people out there that wouldn't say 40 laps on crox is excessive.

Chrome ox is fairly gentle and doesn't have the cutting power of, say, diamond spray. But it's still an abrasive, and the "less is more" rule applies really well here. IME 10-15 laps is optimal, though I'm sure Lynn would probably say even that is too much. I suppose you could do a few dozen laps more, but all you're doing at that point is removing unnecessary metal AND running the risk of a crumbling edge. If someone feels it necessary to use that many laps of paste they didn't do their part on the hones. JMO.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Chrome ox is fairly gentle and doesn't have the cutting power of, say, diamond spray. But it's still an abrasive, and the "less is more" rule applies really well here. IME 10-15 laps is optimal, though I'm sure Lynn would probably say even that is too much. I suppose you could do a few dozen laps more, but all you're doing at that point is removing unnecessary metal AND running the risk of a crumbling edge. If someone feels it necessary to use that many laps of paste they didn't do their part on the hones. JMO.

If you read into the posts I linked to and you will see that the stropping tests that have been done with upwards of 60 laps using Cubic Boron Nitride and had no ill effect on the edge. Mr. Miller comments and has done upwards of 30 laps with the CBN as well.

Can't possibly think that crox is more abrasive than CBN as CBN is.... second in hardness only to diamond and in certain forms is actually harder than synthetic diamonds...

I'd be curious to see your measurements of steel removed before and after such a stropping routine.