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I have been using a straight razor since I was 18. I can get an edge from a hone fairly easily. However, of late, when I strop it, the blade goes dull! I have used this strop for almost 25 years. Do they wear out? I keep it moist. It is a real hassle, and it cannot be good for the blade to hone it after every shave.
Any ideas?
Not a clue,sorry
Although it's certainly possible to wear out a strop, it's unlikely. Here's a link to a thread where a very worn strop was still being used to keep a razor honed, with the accompanying barber's hone remaining untouched, for decades: http://straightrazorpalace.com/gener...36362-man.html
Thank you. So what happened? After decades of use, my strop seems to be dulling my razor. Can you think of anything I could do about it?
You mentioned that you keep it moist. Have you treated it recently with a strop conditioner? Or for any other reason has the surface of your strop recently become a lot "mushier" (easier to press the razor into the surface) than it normally is? If so, perhaps it needs less pressure from the razor during stropping to have the desired effect.
Maybe that's your strop's way of saying, "I'm tired & I want to tag out." :shrug:
Get another strop & try your routine on it.
If the results are the same, then it's not your strop.
It is not mushy. What I meant about moist is that I treat it with dressing, and it is nice and supple.
Most of us would use this as a chance to get a new one. Any reason you don't want to?
If a strop is properly maintained and cared for it will last longer than you.
Only you know what yours looks like and since we have no pictures we can't really advise you.
The only way I could see it dulling the razor is if it was badly deteriorated full of cracks and pieces gone and badly dried out. Even then it would more damage it than dull it.
No cracking, no chunks missing. It is smooth and clean. So what am I doing wrong?
have you tried shaving straight off the hones without stropping yet?
Yea, if it's smooth and clean with no imperfections the strop is not the place to look. It's something you are doing.
Since you've been 'using it for 25 years' does it feel any different when you're stropping ? You say you 'keep it moist'. What do you use for that purpose ? Some leather treatments, such as neatsfoot oil, increase draw (resistance) and can be too much of a good thing if used too liberally. In general the default SRP advice given for 'treating' a strop is rubbing it with your palm once in awhile. Oil from your hand will be beneficial and won't change the draw to speak of.
I will buy that, but what? I have successfully used it, and my previous strop, since I was 18. Something has changed. Have I forgotten how to use my stones and strop? Yes, I have shaved straight from a stone.
That is the problem. It does not feel any different than it did in the past. Everything seems the same, except for the results!
Something has changed, and your going to have to figure it out eh? I think it maybe something you haven't thought of yet or everybody else would have more suggestions as to how to fix it. Lap the hone ? It's the only thing I haven't heard yet. You using a new soap or face prep different ?
Are you using the same razor? It's possible that you've gotten into some crumbly steel in the blade.
If you're stropping multiple razors and they all get worse from the stropping, then it's obviously the strop or your stropping technique.
I am using the same razor. It is a Pearl King. Of course, the greatest razor I ever used was a Thiers-Issard from La France cutlery, but it was ruined a long time ago.
What is your honing process ? Are you sure the bevel is set ?
The bevel was set. I do not know if it is still set. I have never set a bevel. When I hone, I move the blade criss/cross diagonally a few strokes, then test it. If needs be (and of late they have), I will do this again and again.
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.
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.Quote:
Originally Posted by HNSB
Well if I understand the OP correctly, 25 years of shaving with the same razor is a pretty good run.Quote:
Originally Posted by onimaru55
Maybe even worthy of the Guiness book of records. ;)Quote:
Originally Posted by JimmyHAD
I have not used the same razor for 25 years. I had used the same razor for that long, and more, but it was stolen in a burglary three years ago. I am using the one with which I replaced it. I have a few other razors which I would try (or have tried), but their scales are broken, and I am not in a position to repair them at this time. I have a few really early razors, but the scales are delicate, and I do not want to break them. As it is, I have three razors in my rotation. One has very light steel, and does not seem to have the oomph to really shave well. Then I have a Puma, which I use for traveling, and my Pearl King.
We should have talked three years ago.
If the Puma shaves & strops ok then the problem is with the Pearl King.