Once I've used a razor for 5-6 shaves it seems to need a touch up. I've got a Norton 4K/8K and a yellow coticle. What should I do? How many passes on what would get me back to sharp and ready to strop?
Once I've used a razor for 5-6 shaves it seems to need a touch up. I've got a Norton 4K/8K and a yellow coticle. What should I do? How many passes on what would get me back to sharp and ready to strop?
Or you're not getting enough out of your stropping. Have you tried giving it some extra time on the linen or leather and see if the edge comes back? I just took a dull Dovo and gave it about 50 laps on the linen and another 50 on the leather and it came right back.
Joel - its probably my honing but I'll generally work it on my Norton 4K until I get a good even bevel across the blade and I'll give it an arm hair test then I go to the 8K and Yellow Coticle for about 20-30 laps on each. Then I'll strop it...30 laps on the linen and 50 laps on the leather. I am still new to this so I am open to suggestion. Thanks!
If you are only getting 5-6 shaves, either 1.) Your razor is a *** (no joke) or 2.) You aren't honing it properly. A well honed razor should give you at LEAST a month of smooth shaves if you're stropping properly.
What kind of razor are you using? Explain your honing procedure. Certainly though, something is awry.
If you are only getting 5-6 shaves, either 1.) Your razor is a *** (no joke) or 2.) You aren't honing it properly. A well honed razor should give you at LEAST a month of smooth shaves if you're stropping properly.
What kind of razor are you using? Explain your honing procedure. Certainly though, something is awry.
Back to the original question, which no one has answered yet. If your razor needs a touch-up, what is a good start to getting it back to good shaving sharpness? For example, I have a diamond-pasted paddle with 1.0 and .5. How many laps on each to start? (I'm assuming, of course, that the razor isn't overhoned or something.) I realize every razor will be different; I'm just looking for a ballpark figure. 20 strokes on each? 10?
Norm
Norm,
No one has answered the question, because there is a bigger problem at hand - and the question asked cannot be answered legitimately, as again, there is a much bigger problem/issue.
As for YOUR question RE: the touchup with your diamond paddle, it really depends on the razor and how sharp it is. As silly as that sounds, it isn't something quantifiable. For example, say you have a WEDGE that needs to be touched up. It's going to need a HELL of a lot more passes than an extra hollow ground razor. What further complicates things is the steel of the razor itself. For instance, a TI's steel reacts and is a different hardness than say a Dovo, and a Tim Zowada Damascus razor, or a TI Silverwing are hard as diamond and are going to require a heck of a lot more work than say a Dovo Prima Klang or the like.
A good place to start would be about 20-30 strokes on the .5
Hope this helps.
Thanks, Joel. As a straight razor newb, sometimes it's hard to clear all of the variable hurdles. My razor in question is a new Dovo Best Quality, professionally honed before I got it. I've shaved with it 5 or 6 times, and it seems to be getting dull. My reference point is a Geneva Cutlery razor which also came shave-ready. I've shaved with it many more times than the Dovo, and it is still plenty sharp. For the Dovo, I tried 20 strokes on the .5, which helped some, but it's still not doing as well as the Geneva. Is it possible that I have rolled the edge with poor stropping technique?
Norm
Or you're not getting enough out of your stropping. Have you tried giving it some extra time on the linen or leather and see if the edge comes back? I just took a dull Dovo and gave it about 50 laps on the linen and another 50 on the leather and it came right back.
Norm,
1 of 2 things are happening... the "professional honing" isn't so great, or the grind is too hollow for your beard. If the Geneva for instance is a wedge, 1/2 hollow or 1/4 hollow, it'll shave a LOT differently - and hold its edge a lot longer than a full hollow dovo.
Also remember.... even the BEST honing pro will occasionally send out a razor that just plumb isn't shaving perfectly. You cannot test shave with EVERY razor (and then it is actually a "used" razor at that point, and you cannot legally sell it as new) and you start to run out of hair on your hands and arms While it might not happen often - I submit there isn't a SINGLE honemeister that doesn't occasionally send out a razor that isn't done to the best of their abilities.... again, not on purpose - but it happens.