Thread: Strop wears out?

Of course your strokes are flat on the hone ?

What is your 'test' ~ Is it a shave or other test ?

Yes, they are flat on the hone. I try the wet thumbnail, sometimes just feel the edge on my thumb, and sometimes shave for the test.

To me, it sounds like a convex edge that needs some hard work to set a new bevel. Also, using your thumbnail will slightly dull the edge, so I would recommend keeping away from that test.

What is your coarsest hone? Or do you have a hone with a slurry stone?

I have a grey stone which cannot be used with water or oil. I suspect that this is my coarsest hone.

While I have never heard of such a stone, maybe if you post a picture, the hone gurus can tell you more about it! Before you go, a warning: a too coarse hone may ruin your blade, so it's best to get some more info about it first.

Just to clarify my previous post: as you mentioned having to do your honing again and again, I think the problem should be solved at a lower grit range than you are using now.

I think I need an education as to hones!

Then there's a lot to learn When you get the chance, take some pictures of your gear and post them in the Hones forum to get information on them. That should get you started.

Other than that, there's a lot of information found on this forum. Search for "one stone honing" by gssixgun and Lynn, you may be able to make do with just your finest hone and a slurry stone.

One last thing you could try is adding a single layer of tape to the spine while honing (no need during stropping due to the strop's flexibility). The tape increases the honing angle by a tiny bit, focussing all the pressure on the very tip of the edge. It may be worth a try! Keep in mind: once you tape a razor, you'll have to tape it every time you hone, or set a new bevel to reset the increased angle.

If the bevel was convexed it wouldn't improve off of the barber hone until it was fixed.
I think a second razor would be useful in troubleshooting this.

Originally Posted by HNSB

If the bevel was convexed it wouldn't improve off of the barber hone until it was fixed.
I think a second razor would be useful in troubleshooting this.

It may improve if the stone is dished enough to match the bevel. My gut feeling is bevel problem but that's the best I can offer with the info at hand.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

It may improve if the stone is dished enough to match the bevel. My gut feeling is bevel problem but that's the best I can offer with the info at hand.

Well if I understand the OP correctly, 25 years of shaving with the same razor is a pretty good run.