Thread: Longevity

This may not be the premier location for this question, but ultimately it comes down to a stropping question...

How long can a pro-honed razor hold its edge and shave comfortably? Talking number of shaves here, not time in days or weeks or months.

The reason: I have no idea if I'm stropping correctly or if my strops (bought on the cheap) are good quality--I think they are from all of the reading I've done. But I know that the kings of SRP claim 2-3mos of great shaves on a strop alone. I had a less than perfect shave this morning for my 10th shave...not bad, but not quite like I remembered it for that glorious first shave.

If my stropping technique is bad I need to figure out what part of it is bad so I can make adjustments...therefore, I've come posing this question.

Thanks for your help folks,

I've been screwing around with so much honing and so many razors that I haven't been in a position to stick with any one razor for any period of shaves. I think I went seven straight shaves on one blade with just stropping. I'm sure it could have gone more. The problem is that I enjoy rotating blades too much to even attempt it.

10 shaves from one honing is not too bad.
And I think it is not only stropping technique, or lack thereof, that is the only culprit as to why your razor might be fading a bit.
It could also be the prepping, which is very important. It is said that dry beard has the same strength as equally thick copper strands, so that puts the razors job in perspective. IMO.

I seem to remember 10-15 shaves in the beginning before a touch up was required.
Nowadays, I can go much longer, but I do love to hone, so I don't want them to last forever without needing a trip to my favorite finishers

Well, maybe I'm where I should be. The worry though is that if I can only get ten days out of a honing, then I'd better get my butt in gear and learn honing or I'm going to be paying one of you honemeister's mortgage payments! At this rate I can get a month on the razors I have but that's $60/mo to straight shave...not an alluring idea.

If I can figure out stropping and go 2-3mos without needing a honing, then I'll be stoked. I could go nine months before having to send my razors off...or spend six learning to hone before I need my skills to get me shaving again.

I don't think I'm too far off on the stropping or I would have dulled the blade seriously, or wouldn't have made it 10 shaves before I felt some pulling. But I'm not happy just getting ten shaves per honing, especially with guys stating they can go 60-90 shaves just stropping between.

That's why I asked this question though. I'm wondering if I'm not stropping too lightly, and therefore not doing the blade any good. Could a blade go 9-10 shaves after a professional honing/stropping before fading? Or would it have only gone 3-4 shaves? If it would have gone 9-10, I'm not doing any good with my stropping. If it would have only gone 3-4 I'm at least doing SOME good.

So far as beard prep goes, it's interesting to note, that this morning was my first AM shave, which followed a shower. I was working late last night and didn't have the energy to shave in the evening like I have been. Usually in the evening (shaves 1-9) I wash my face with a warm cloth and lather and shave with not a lot of time between the washing/soaking with hot water, and the shave. This morning I had much more time for the whiskers to soften, but my least comfortable shave. It makes me wonder about cold water shaving.

Peace,

This is a very subjective subject if you read this thread http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...ping-king.html by honedright he states he can get a year out of a blade. Some others in the thread said they can get about the same. While others tested it an got up to 3 months or so but couldn't resist the urge to change blades. I have been at it for about of month of shaving 7 days a week and have a blade going steady still. So really you will have to try it your self and see what happens.

I think you are doing ok for now.
And for the honing part, you can keep an edge for much longer than the 10 shaves you are getting now, you just need a light refresh of the edge, not a full fledged hone-job. A pasted strop for instance, will help you keep the edge going for quite some time yet.
As for how long a razor can last without a stropping, is highly dependant on tech. and beard growth.
Some can go for 7-8 and more shaves without problems, others, like me, gets into problems after just 3 or 4.
Do you have any pasted strops at all? Or do you have a quality fabric strop?
Using that (the quality fabric, not paste) in your everyday routine will help keeping the edges for longer.

It could actually be that you are not getting any results from your stropping, but to be honest, I kinda doubt it. It really doesn't take any pressure. I am a believer of a fast and light stroke. many seem to be ok with a slower pace, but I'm stropping fast. About 90-110 pr. minute roundtrips on the strop.

Others will hopefully chime in with other thoughts on how to get you to your goal.

I mostly use vintage Solingen blades. I'd say I get about 15-20 shaves before I need a touch up on one of my natural finishers, but I'm sure I could get more. I touch up when I think the razor may need it based on how long its not been touched up for, not if it actually requires one.

As already suggested, it depends on your beard and your stropping technique. I might add it is also subject to how much pressure you employ in your shaving technique. Then there is the steel. Harder steel holds an edge for longer; I've got blades that go for 30 shaves easily before they need a touch up.

A moot point would be if the finishing hone itself is a variable.

The average here seems to be at least 15 shaves.

i have done test about this.
what i remember is i used TI special blade and shaved more then 30 times or days (i am not sure)
what was happening is this. as more you shave i was making more strokes on the strop. shaves was comfortable always.
i got tired of it and stop using same razor

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

i got tired of it and stop using same razor

LOL, that gave me a good laugh, Sham
That's a very good and reasonable explanation for my RAD, I tire easily

I'm also in the camp that has a very large rotation and shave with a different razor more often than not. I often take a razor that shaves well and hone it more trying to dial it in to shave even better. Sort of a form of insanity I guess.