Thread: Maintaining Your Razors - Newbie Poll

Ok - I'm not fully versed enough to set up an actual poll here, but I am curious to here a bit on how people handle blade maintenance. Now, I know that there is a big variance and "your mileage may vary" here with all sorts of variables to play into. But, here's what I'm curious about.

1. Average number of shaves with a razor before stropping isn't good enough? Or, do you have a system (once a month or something)?
2. Feel is very subjective, but is there any guide you use to say "this edge needs to be refreshed!"
3. Refresh cycle, equipment (i.e., what do you use to refresh a blade, how long does that work, when do you actually pull out stones, etc.)

Part of my curiosity here is also based on what I need to get next. I've been going straight for 7 shaves so far, and have been getting great results. So, I haven't lost my honed edge yet and I've had one bad stropping session and could sort of tell that it didn't quite feel right, but the day after I settled in my stropping routine and seemed to work. I'm thinking about picking up a 4-sided paddle strop (Whipped Dog) to use for the abrasives when that time comes, but just looking to hear how other people approach it and get some feedback so I can plan out next steps.

My initial thoughts would be paddle strop with abrasives would be the first level when the blade needs to be refreshed, and then maybe a high grit stone when the abrasives don't quite work, and then resetting the blade/bevel totally with a complete job?

I went 5 months shaving almost daily with my first new razor that was honed for me, when it started pulling I did a few laps with CRoX , now i have a few in rotation I,m starting to do as Glen suggested , a maintenance routine instead of waiting till it dulls, a few laps on my Naniwa 12k with slurry and then thin down to water every couple weeks use on a blade. Soon as you said YMMV. But if your stropping well it takes a while to degrade the edge to where you need to use a pasted strop or a touch up on a finisher. Tc

Before you go 4 sided paddle and all the abrasives in the book do a bunch of research in the Library. You will most likely find that Crox is the abrasive of choice with small desenters in favor of diamond spray, etc. Of course it's your choice but it would be better to try them one at a time for a while to see if that's the one you prefer. As for a touch up stone. Again, review Barber's Hones and read about the different brand of 12k stones vs naturals (there in on it's own is a vast field of opinions). A lot if info to be taken in small bites so you aren't flooded and drowned in crashing waves of one opinion against another. Kind of like in kindergarten when all the kids are jumping up and down shouting, "Pick me! Pick me!"

I usually use CrOx after about 15 shaves and a 12k then CrOx after about 30 shaves. When I was learning to strop, I had to do it more often - one week I hit the 12k several times and an 8k to fix damage (note to beginners, I already knew how to hone a razor).
My guide to "this edge needs to be refreshed" is when I feel it pulling during the shave. Usually I will notice the toe pulling when I do my chin. To some extent, I think I can also feel it during stropping, but I haven't refined that feeling yet to the point where I know it when it occurs.
Refresh cycle I guess would be every 30 shaves I pull out the 12k hone. 8k hone maybe every 90 shaves.

Or just buy more razors, then you won't need the 8k except for restores

Originally Posted by criswilson10

Or just buy more razors, then you won't need the 8k except for restores

Can you have a discussion with my wife?

If you heed Razorfeld's advice it will save you a lot of money and you will more quickly learn the capabilities of a chosen abrasive.
The green stuff works very well.

I agree with Razorfeld and Galaxy51 on this. Also, if you haven't, watch this video, since it answers most of your questions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

Before you go 4 sided paddle and all the abrasives in the book do a bunch of research in the Library. You will most likely find that Crox is the abrasive of choice with small desenters in favor of diamond spray, etc. Of course it's your choice but it would be better to try them one at a time for a while to see if that's the one you prefer. As for a touch up stone. Again, review Barber's Hones and read about the different brand of 12k stones vs naturals (there in on it's own is a vast field of opinions). A lot if info to be taken in small bites so you aren't flooded and drowned in crashing waves of one opinion against another. Kind of like in kindergarten when all the kids are jumping up and down shouting, "Pick me! Pick me!"

That's hilarious... cuz its soooo true lol!


I don't have much to add. I fool around with my blades so much... anything resembling a regiment is so elusive, only big data can tell me my habits lol. Just remember, there are no real rules and your face will always be the arbiter as to what's working and what isn't. Have fun!

Originally Posted by Haroldg48

I agree with Razorfeld and Galaxy51 on this. Also, if you haven't, watch this video, since it answers most of your questions:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=

Thanks for the video link . . . Quite helpful as always and about what I guessed. I think I might try the CrOx on the backside of the webbing first and then maybe save up for a 12k stone. (Figure that won't break the bank . . . )

I am curious though, as is everything, there are plenty of suggestions and the "YMMV". I don't mind dropping some money to try different pastes/sprays, but I don't want to shell out for a bunch of strops to test on. Any suggestions for how to handle experimentation?

I'd suggest the back of the webbing as Lynn does in the video. If you use the CROx crayon, the front will be unspoiled webbing and the leather will stay clean, which is important. the crayon is fairly cheap and high quality from SRD. When you get the 12k, you'll also need a DMT 325 or similar to lap (flatten) it. That runs the $$ up by about $50 if I recall. Some use sandpaper on glass for that step.