Thread: Ever had a sharp razor that just wasn't pleasant on your face?

That's why we always say sharp and comfort are two different qualities and one doesn't automatically go with the other. Often times there are two distinct honing skills required.

The worst razor I own for being sharp & harsh was my Thiers evide sonnant carbon song 5/8.
I took Lt back on my coticule then finished on Chinese 12K. Further 100 laps on linen, then 100 laps on leather
Further use &post shave stropping has improved the edge &shave quality . Cheers Paul

As everyone before me stated, a few passes on Chrom-Ox removes the harshness

Shaving with a SR can bring about strange things. happens to me all the time. This morning I decided to use a Hess 99 that previously left me thinking it needed to go back to the hones when last used. It shaved but just was not there. Today I decided to try it again carefully stropping on a rough linen 40 times, smooth linen 50 and shell cordovan leather 50 and the shave was perfect.

I recently purchased a Thiers Issard 7/8 Dominator that was sharp but not giving me great shaves. Reading this thread inspired me to hit the chromium oxide and strop and try it. This was the first really awesome shave I have gotten from this razor. Thanks for sharing your information and experiences, they do help others.

yes, a person can learn volumes on here. I have for sure. Just keep in mind that the Cr Ox is not always a fix but it is the first place I turn to, then to the stones..

I have used CrOx before but had not really considered it on this one as I was still trying to figure out the differences in the 1/2 grind, as it was the first razor with that grind for me. I was not completely sure how it should feel. Now I know. :-)

I have found that stropping makes a world of difference too! I finish honing with diamond paste, which left a slightly harsh edge when I shaved right off the pasted strop. I started to finish with a plain strop and it made for a huge improvement!

In my experience, not only sharpening/stropping matters. My skin just weirdly reacts with my Toyo Ragubi razor, don't know why. It is settled, honed and stropped just like any of my other razors, but this damned japanese steel just raise an unpleasant rash on my skin, don't matter if in my face or my arm, where I tested it too.

I think stropping has a learning curve. I can sharping a Buck Knife with a Honing Stone, I can get it sharp enough to shave with. Years ago I was sharping my Buck Knife on a Honing Stone that was in my Uncle Garage, he walked in and almost Vapor Locked on me. (I was using the Honing Stone he used on his Straight Razor) He showed me how to Strop a Razor and how to Hone a Razor, but that's many years ago . I need to learn how to do both Strop and Hone a Straight Razor again.