Thread: 5th shave... frustration.

Hi guys,

I'm feeling a little frustrated here. I have a brand new 3" strop big daddy from star. I have a used razor which was sold to me honed and stropped.

My most recent stropping experience seemed to me to be my best yet, both by feel of stropping strokes and by number of repititions. ~40-50 on felt/~70+ on leather.

I feel the razor is not sharp enough. WTG downward strokes are leaving hair in some areas, requiring additional strokes. More passes equals more shave burn eventually.

I think I'm going to go over to SRD and get some chromium oxide .5 spray for the felt strop and maybe the neatsfoot for the leather.

Could that be it ?? My razor not sharp enough?? I only have 1 so what now?

My guess is that you dulled the edge with improper stropping. We've all done that learning how to strop. If you're going over to SRD, have them do a touch up for you so you know that you are starting with a proper edge. Then go slow while stropping and put no weight on the razor. Treat it like polishing a feather not a razor. Hold the razor loosely so that you cannot put pressure on it. Go slow over the leather and concentrate on keeping it flat. You'll get it.

Originally Posted by jbtusa

My guess is that you dulled the edge with improper stropping. We've all done that learning how to strop. If you're going over to SRD, have them do a touch up for you so you know that you are starting with a proper edge. Then go slow while stropping and put no weight on the razor. Treat it like polishing a feather not a razor. Hold the razor loosely so that you cannot put pressure on it. Go slow over the leather and concentrate on keeping it flat. You'll get it.

Yeah, could be. I thought I was stropping gently, but could be too much pressure. By going over to SRD, I meant the website. I guess its worth the $25+shipping to make sure I have a good edge.

CROX a good idea for the felt?

Also, I should mention, that I don't usually start to feel any irritation until I get toward the end of the XTG pass and in certain areas of the ATG pass.

I don't know where you got your first razor from, maybe reach out to the seller, if he is one of the members. I'm sure he can put the razor back on track, should you have taken the edge off slightly.

It could be a combination of things but I know you want a direct answer. My 5th straight shave was nothing to brag about. For the longest while it took 3 passes to get a "comfortable" shave.

If the strop is new, I would not put anything at all on it right now.
Just start over from the beginning , with a fresh attitude/outlook & start with a good shave prep, thick lather, concentrate on your angle & pressure.
Don't expect a BBS shave so soon. If your not into honing yet or have never used the pastes before, then maybe have your straight refreshed by one of the guys here & pay close attention to your stroping of it.

If funds are available, maybe a second razor for when this one needs to be sent out.

Honestly, there are a hundred possible issues. I'd try the .5 CroX or maybe a reasonable hone. Better would be to see if anyone is around that can help you out.

If you get really frustrated you can send the razor to me and I'll hone it, free.

You might also try some more aggressive stropping. There are a few options such as using slight sag, slight pressure, or even raising the spine a touch. If anything helps then your razor sharpness becomes more of a possibility.

Everyone seems to have the same problem when they start, so be patient and focus on your technique. Lots of guys have technique issues and it acts exactly the same as a potentially dull razor.

You might also want to try stropping again. You may not have killed it all that bad. It doesn't take much but worth a try. What do you have to loose. Lay it flat on a table which will take some of the variables out of it. Grabbing to hard making it cup or to much slack, twisting it a little lifting the spine, etc etc etc can all keep you from getting better.

I got the idea about the CROX from watching Lynn's vid as an extra step after honing, before leather stropping.

I'm going to give the table strop a go for starters... And will work to improve all other fronts. On the upside, my lather making is getting progressively better. I'm still finding that wet and lather alone aren't quite cutting it. I've rubbed in shave oil first and before the XTG/ATG pass before lather goes to face.

Originally Posted by Siguy

Also, I should mention, that I don't usually start to feel any irritation until I get toward the end of the XTG pass and in certain areas of the ATG pass.

For your 5th shave you are going XTG and ATG?
You sir are a brave guy!

Originally Posted by Chevhead

For your 5th shave you are going XTG and ATG?
You sir are a brave guy!

Truth be told. I have been at it since shave 1. I know. I know... but even though I had beads of sweat running down my face, couldn't make lather, etc., I felt...feel a certain confidence. Beneath the nose makes my nads tight and I tried but didn't do an upward swipe above the lip towards the nose. Despite being conscious of angle, I just don't think my blade is sharp enough for that action.

Odly enough, taking dry swipes aren't that bad.

Originally Posted by Siguy

Truth be told. I have been at it since shave 1. I know. I know... but even though I had beads of sweat running down my face, couldn't make lather, etc., I felt...feel a certain confidence. Beneath the nose makes my nads tight and I tried but didn't do an upward swipe above the lip towards the nose. Despite being conscious of angle, I just don't think my blade is sharp enough for that action.

Odly enough, taking dry swipes aren't that bad.

Truth be told... I have done it from shave 1 also.
Now I just do WTG and XTG...seems to work for me.