Thread: Razor already tugging after about 4 shaves

Hello all,

I'm new to this art, and struggling to learn. I bought a Boker 5/8 from SRD, and enjoyed a comfortable shave with it on the first try. I also bought the Modular paddle strop, and have 1 felt pad pasted with Chromium Oxide, one with Diamond Spray, and the scrub leather and regular leather pads.

I've been stropping just the leather side before shaving (about 50 passes) and have tried a few passes on the Chromium Oxide and Diamond Spray as well. I'm leery of buying a hone just yet for fear of making the problem any worse.

I'm not sure if my stropping technique is to blame, or if something else has gone wrong, but the edge doesn't feel sharp enough to shave with anymore. I checked the local help section, and unfortunately, there is no-one listed in the Hawaii area.

I took a video of me stropping my razor in slow motion in hopes of seeing if I am doing something wrong, but to my eye it looks ok. Perhaps someone here can spot something I'm missing?



Given my setup, do you guys have any recommendations?

Thanks

darron

In my opinion, the biggest factor for a dull blade early for a beginner is too steep a blade angle. The spine of the razor maybe too far away from your skin creating a scraping situation, rather than a slicing one.

I would put say 10laps in on the diamond spray, and see how that goes. If an improvement, do 10 more.

As to shaving, err on the low side - spine too close to the skin. Start with the gap between the spine and skin roughly equal to just over one spine width. Starting with your side burns slowly adjust the angle a little feeling for the sweet spot.

You may also be using too much pressure. Hold the blade loosely, but securely. Aim to be just scraping off the lather.

Hope that helps.

Nothing I can see in the video is bad. Maybe slow down a little and watch the pressure applied. Just enough to feel the drawer of the strop. Here again, err on the side of not enough pressure and if needs be, do more laps.

Everyone their caveats. You have to have some pressure on the edge to get benefits from stropping. That is hard to pick up in videos. Also you may want to try a few laps on the scrub leather before. This helps get any residual oil, soap scum, etc off the edge before going to clean leather.

Thanks for all the replies. I just shaved, after doing 10 laps on CO, 10 on Diamond, 10 on Scrub, and 50 on clean leather. I paid special attention to the angle keeping it low and light. Unfortunately, it basically did just scrape off the lather on the WTG pass. The ATG was tugging and pulling. I have 2 other razors that I bought used currently being sharpened by Lynn, so when those come back, I'll at least have something to compare against. Until then, I'll keep stropping and working on my technique, and finishing up with DE until I get this down.

Also, if anyone reading this is in the Honolulu area, and willing to teach an utter Noob how to hone a razor, please let me know.

Maybe it's just me but it appears that on the away stroke you are lifting the spine off the strop a little before the flip. You may be rolling the edge.

You've rolled the edge of the blade.
Looks like it starts at the g in King and runs all the way to the second t in Cutter. It might be rolled somewhere else as well, that was the only part I could clearly see in the video.
Sprays and pastes aren't going to fix that. It will need a hone.

Rolling the edge is a typical beginner mistake, I think we have all done it, so don't be upset. That's why SRD gives you a free honing with purchase.

That was going to be my next question, if I could fix that with stropping, or if a honing would be required. I didn't think I'd ruin it in the first week. . .

It's VERY common to roll an edge when you start, I thought I might have seen a raised spine as well.

I could only find one Honolulu member, his user name is islandshaver maybe give him a PM

Originally Posted by WWRSD

That was going to be my next question, if I could fix that with stropping, or if a honing would be required. I didn't think I'd ruin it in the first week. . .