Thread: Rolled edge? Time to send to honemiester?

Originally Posted by RedGladiator

Invisibleedge, I emailed them before ordering and they said they honed it. This being my first razor I don't know what shave ready feels like but if it's meant to feel like a feather artisan blade then it wasn't.

I think it's highly unlikely that steve from the invisible edge would send out a razor that was not shave ready. Ive brought new razors from him and used his honing service in the past and can attest his excellent work.

A straight razor even professionally honed wont feel the same as a de. Although imo feels much smoother.

HHT wont tell you much.

Is your technique good? Wrong shaving angles can make for a terrible shave. Also bad stropping can easily ruin an edge.

Originally Posted by BobH

Before I'd proceed with anything I would check and see if you indeed have a rolled edge or not. If it turns out to be rolled and badly enough I'd guess it would be time to have it honed as plain stropping, I don't believe, will bring back a badly rolled edge. I do not think the diamond on felt will do anything.

Bob

I don't know if I'm doing the pin test correctly, it doesn't catch. How much pressure am I meant to apply? I'm wary of damaging the edge further.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Look straight down on the edge and angle the blade back and forth looking at the edge.

Any shiny reflections are chips or rolled.

Depending on what you see, will determine what needs to be done, but sounds like at least a touch up with a finish stone.

Too much pressure, while stropping will easily roll or chip an edge.

Diamond are notorious for harsh edges, they will cut hair, but shave like a hacksaw if used with too much pressure.

Here is what you are looking for, the shiny spots are micro chips or rolled edge.

Attachment 194482

I can't see any shiny spots at all, I shined a lamp directly on it.

Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

I think it's highly unlikely that steve from the invisible edge would send out a razor that was not shave ready. Ive brought new razors from him and used his honing service in the past and can attest his excellent work.

A straight razor even professionally honed wont feel the same as a de. Although imo feels much smoother.

HHT wont tell you much.

Is your technique good? Wrong shaving angles can make for a terrible shave. Also bad stropping can easily ruin an edge.

Yes invisible edge has an excellent reputation. I have no reference point as how well she was honed. I felt the feather AC blades is a significant amount smoother.

I feel my technique is good while still beginner. I get great shaves with the feather dx, with this razor I'll need 4 passes to match the shaves.
My stropping technique might be off, I go straight up and down with the modular paddle, I try to mimic Lynn's action in his videos.

ANy point in trying the diamond spray again?

I might just send it out for someone to a honemiester to look at and get feedback.

Originally Posted by RedGladiator

My stropping technique might be off,

Originally Posted by RedGladiator

ANy point in trying the diamond spray again?

If you're stropping is 'off ' using any form of abrasive will make things worse, exponentially.

So as I read it, you are asking two question, Was my razor shave ready? And how do I fix it.

First, we will never know… probably.

What you are experiencing is common and the catch 22 of Straight Shaving.

First you have to learn to shave and then you have to learn to strop to learn to shave.

Unfortunately a novice can easily ruin and edge by stropping it, the first time. As said, if you use an abrasive pasted strop and have not mastered stropping you will damage the edge faster and more thoroughly.
All of this is very common.

Find a local mentor to get you pointed in the right direction with your edge and stropping.

The pin test is not a definitive test for a rolled edge, you can roll an edge and the next stroke on the other side can break off the rolled edge and now you have a chip.

Diamond is very abrasive and will leave a harsh edge, when used with pressure it is more so.

So the answer to the first question is…Probably

The answer to the second question is … find a mentor or send the razor out and learn to strop, lite pressure, go slow, keep the spine on the strop the whole time, and stop before you flip.

Until I shaved with a properly honed razor I did not know what a shave ready razor was really like.

I'd suggest the razor needs a honing. Simple as that really, regardless of why it got to this stage. If you had the funds (and I'm unsure exactly how much I haven't checked prices lately but you could look them up)

I'd maybe get a Shapton 16k and do 20 laps and see how you go. I'd tape the edge, regardless of if you knew the edge was taped on its first honing.

Second option would be a Norton 4/8 AND a Shapton 16k.

I seriously think if you invested in a hone and check back here someone could essentially talk you through it; I would. I'd tell you exactly what I'd do and video it and explain it. Of course the aim is some learning and new skills for you (teach a man to fish) but there'd be no guarantees.

A cheaper and less risky option it to send it to get honed. The benefit there also is that you'd KNOW what a properly honed razor felt like.

I guess a third option and I think one that's been mentioned is to hook up with someone personally.

Of course ALL of these options require you do your homework (reading).

Carl

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I'd suggest the razor needs a honing. Simple as that really, regardless of why it got to this stage. If you had the funds (and I'm unsure exactly how much I haven't checked prices lately but you could look them up)

I'd maybe get a Shapton 16k and do 20 laps and see how you go. I'd tape the edge, regardless of if you knew the edge was taped on its first honing.

Second option would be a Norton 4/8 AND a Shapton 16k.

I seriously think if you invested in a hone and check back here someone could essentially talk you through it; I would. I'd tell you exactly what I'd do and video it and explain it. Of course the aim is some learning and new skills for you (teach a man to fish) but there'd be no guarantees.

A cheaper and less risky option it to send it to get honed. The benefit there also is that you'd KNOW what a properly honed razor felt like.

I guess a third option and I think one that's been mentioned is to hook up with someone personally.

Of course ALL of these options require you do your homework (reading).

Carl

Sorry Carl, I don't agree.

From the conversation so far, it has become obvious that the OP is not even sure whether the razor is suffering from a rolled edge caused by incorrect stropping, or a dulled edge caused by incorrect honing, or incorrect use.

While the ultimate solution is indeed a proper honing regime, the OP has not yet built the experience to analyze the problem; in fact the root cause may be his lack of experience in stropping or shaving and the mishandling of the razor that resulted from it.

At this stage, the best advice is to keep things simple and concentrate on as few (e.g. stropping, shaving) techniques at a time as possible.

Introducing another technique that needs to be properly learned and mastered at this stage is not likely to produce the desired results and will only add to the frustration that the OP is experiencing at this stage.


In other words, one (careful) step at a time.



B.