Wisd need some insightom and/or expereience needed

**sandhillmac** · 05-29-2012, 03:13 PM

Just found you guys and need some insight.
Been shaving with straight for about a year (started with a Giesen and Forsthoff that my father had and ben adding E-bay grabs) I have 6 that I use in rotation and have been refining my shave and sharppen technique and am noticing that I am getting better shaves from different blades. No real surprise as quality probably varies from blade to blade.

I have:
Giesen and Forsthoff -295
Wade and Butcher -bow razor
Boker "The King"
Wostenholm-Pipe razor
Wester Bros-"manganese"
German made for "A. Field"

Hone: 600 diamond, 1k-6k chinese
Strop: felt then leather

Now for the question:
I get fair to quite good shaves with all but the Boker. (Pulls and not smooth, leaves some long)
Why does the Boker not shave? Different steel? hardness? Need dif technique? Did I leave edge not set before hone/strop? (have "destroyed edge once and re-sharpened when it didn't shave at first) Do I need a finer hone for this blade?
Very disapointed and extremely frustrated. I thought Boker with its reputation would be wonderful. Im not sure what and where to go!!!

Thanks in advance

**rickboone1** · 05-29-2012, 04:11 PM

It's not honed properly.

**Sando** · 05-29-2012, 04:23 PM

I agree that it's not honed properly from what you say. You can hone the rest of your razors but not the Boker? Is it obviously defective somehow - warped, chipped, etc? Probably not but should be ruled out. Likely the bevel was not set completely so any further effort in finer grit is mostly useless. My failures in honing are usually something similar. Try resetting the bevel and see what that gets you.

Also, you're shaving off the 6k? You definitely profit by using a finisher of some sort. There's a ton of choices.

...Ray

**Wid** · 05-29-2012, 04:26 PM

Shoot; with only a 6K stone I bet none of them are as good as they could be.

**hig789** · 05-29-2012, 04:40 PM

Yeah I would definitely get something a little higher in grit. You could get a coticule or any number of 8-10k hones. Synthetic or natural I would get something higher in grit it will make your shaves much smoother. And the Boker has something wrong with it or the bevel is not set correctly because I know my Boker I have shaves like a dream.

**sandhillmac** · 05-31-2012, 11:12 PM

Thanks for thoughts, I am going to work on the boker some more and in process of getting some lapping film as it seems much more reasonable $$$. Didn't know it existed til cruising around in here. remembered a small piece of black marble I rescued from its former application, it should work wonderfully, beautiful stuff and I get to sharpen with it!!!

**Kentos** · 05-31-2012, 11:23 PM

There are many ways to get to straight shaver heaven- lapping films being one of them.

Have fun on your journeys! And welcome to B&B!

**Doc226** · 06-01-2012, 03:00 AM

Originally Posted by Wid

Shoot; with only a 6K stone I bet none of them are as good as they could be.

That was my though exactly.

Originally Posted by sandhillmac

Thanks for thoughts, I am going to work on the boker some more and in process of getting some lapping film as it seems much more reasonable $$$. Didn't know it existed til cruising around in here. remembered a small piece of black marble I rescued from its former application, it should work wonderfully, beautiful stuff and I get to sharpen with it!!!

Somewhere Seraphim is smiling

**Puerco** · 06-01-2012, 03:49 AM

Originally Posted by Doc226

Somewhere Seraphim is smiling

He must be, first he got us all into cheap Chinese razors (I love them) and now he's got us all into lapping film, I still have to try that one but I trust it works great. It's just that I still have so much fun with my coti and JNAT but I just know I will give in sooner or later...

**Neurotopia** · 06-02-2012, 07:53 PM

If it is an older Boker, that steel is probably ungodly tough. Assuming there's nothing wonky about the blade my guess is you went through your normal honing regimen without getting the bevel set to its potential.

And get a finishing stone!!!

**sandhillmac** · 06-05-2012, 02:11 PM

Sorry Im not getting back sooner, but the other day went and touched-up several blades as they were starting to pull as well. Worked on them and the boker(1k and 6k). Shaved with the Boker this morning MUCH better!!!!! Must have not quite gotten the bevel/hone clear done. It did pull just a bit so still need to get that film delivered. Much encouraged had starterd to think I couldn't sharpen anymore.

Thanks for the input and encouragement. No one around her to talk "razors" with.