first try....no go

[Dandaw17]

So I got a straight in the mail today that was "Shave Ready". However, I do not believe it was sharp enough. I stropped the razor before shaving. 30 laps on canvas, 30 on the leather and tried to shave and it just dragged on my skin. I tried adjusting the angle slightly in a few placed and nothing.

I got a little stubble on the blade, but nothing like I see on a DE.

I gave up half way through as to not cause major damage with the urge to apply more pressure.

Do I need to send this out again and get a sharper blade?

Thank you,

Dan

[Fnord5]

Where did you get the straight?

[Dandaw17]

I got it in the BST forum on here.

[Fnord5]

Hmn, if the seller is known for selling shave ready straights, and most of us will be honest if saying shave ready, I would suspect technique.

How long have you been shaving with a straight?


Could be your stropping as well.

[Dandaw17]

Hmn, if the seller is known for selling shave ready straights, and most of us will be honest if saying shave ready, I would suspect technique.

How long have you been shaving with a straight?

This was my very first try. I know my technique is probably part of it. However, the blade won't cut hair when dragged across my arm at any angle even with slight pressure. Since this is my first straight experience I have nothing to gauge off of so I am really not sure if it is sharp enough or not.

Dan

[leighton]

This was my very first try. I know my technique is probably part of it. However, the blade won't cut hair when dragged across my arm at any angle even with slight pressure. Since this is my first straight experience I have nothing to gauge off of so I am really not sure if it is sharp enough or not.

Dan

Hmm, ok, thats probably not technique then. Have you contacted the seller about it?

[Fnord5]

Even a poorly stropped razor will shave arm hair.
I'm guessing that it wasn't ready to begin with, as one can shave with a shave ready straight no matter who honed it, even if it isn't the kind of edge you like.

[cybrok]

Some honemeister ask that you don't strop before your first shave, so you will really see how sharp is the razor.

Is it possible a bad stropping technique "ruined" the edge?

Just exploring every possible path here.

[Dandaw17]

I have just spent some time stropping it and I think that my stropping was partially to blame as it seems a bit sharper now and will cut hair. I will try again tomorrow and see how it goes.

I trust the seller and everyone in the forum so I am pretty sure its 90% me and i just jumped the gun on what might be wrong.

Thanks guys,

Dan

[Dandaw17]

Some honemeister ask that you don't strop before your first shave, so you will really see how sharp is the razor.

Is it possible a bad stropping technique "ruined" the edge?

Just exploring every possible path here.

I think you might have some of it right. I just spent some time refining my stropping and the razor is performing a lot better now.

[Disburden]

Poor stropping will ruin the edge of any shave ready razor in the matter of minutes. That's why a lot of guys say don't strop if it's your first straight because you'll most likely strop incorrectly and ruin the edge they put on the blade for you.