Thread: Newbie edge question

Hi All,I'm new to straight shaving. I've only shaved twice with a straight razor (DOVO Best Quality 5/8 bought from classicedge.ca). I've also stropped carefully on a 3" Red Latigo strop (as a Newbie I believe I did it slowly and carefully mindful of turning on the spine). Unfortunately or fortunately I've got a Nikon 50x stereo scope at home for work (top and bottom lighting. Please see attached 50x images. I see little nicks that with stropping won't go away. It's a pity I didn't examine the blade before my first shave so as I'd have a reference. However... Do you guys have any advice. Should these go with stropping or would stropping on a fabric side with paste be needed? Am I being too critical? Seems to shave ok (based on my limited two shave knowledge). Pat.

We're the nicks there before you stropped? If it did not have the nicks it might be your stropping. If it came with the nicks contact the seller and tell them the problem. They are a reputable seller and will most likely try to make it right. You also have to remember the more you magnifyer he more defects you will see. A truely sharp edge is probably not without micro chips under high magnification.

Originally Posted by bouschie

We're the nicks there before you stropped? If it did not have the nicks it might be your stropping. If it came with the nicks contact the seller and tell them the problem. They are a reputable seller and will most likely try to make it right. You also have to remember the more you magnifyer he more defects you will see. A truely sharp edge is probably not without micro chips under high magnification.

I'm kicking myself that I didn't examine the edge before my first shave. I've emailed them to see what they say. It's a learning curve for me all this... But it sure is fun [emoji13]. I know I'll get it right in time with help from the vendor and all you guys. Thanks !

Those could've happened during honing and not removed or there could've been something on the strop that caused them. Alot of things can harm an edge. Though honestly that edge looks like it could be taken farther to produce a better shave. You could try stropping on paste and see if that improves the edge. Those little nicks might not effect the shave at the moment, but I would make sure to try and take them out when touching up the edge later on. If the shave is poor I would rehone the razor starting with something like 4k and see what the edge looks like. I've had a razor that shaved beautifully for a long time and when I looked at the edge under magnification it looked like a hacksaw blade, but still shaved perfectly. Sometimes its better not knowing as long as the shave is very nice. After the initial honing to shave ready i try to stop using my scope. When the shave starts to deteriorate that's when to start looking at the edge under magnification.

Originally Posted by JSmith1983

I've had a razor that shaved beautifully for a long time and when I looked at the edge under magnification it looked like a hacksaw blade, but still shaved perfectly. Sometimes its better not knowing as long as the shave is very nice.

I agree with this statement to some degree. Shave with it first, then decide if it is a problem. If you don't have much experience honing then attempting to touch up the edge yourself will probably only make things worse. If the shave is bad the seller may be willing to re hone the razor for you. SRD offers a free second honing specifically to help newbies like myself who ruin edges by stropping (or any other method).

Originally Posted by JSmith1983

Those could've happened during honing and not removed or there could've been something on the strop that caused them. Alot of things can harm an edge. Though honestly that edge looks like it could be taken farther to produce a better shave. You could try stropping on paste and see if that improves the edge. Those little nicks might not effect the shave at the moment, but I would make sure to try and take them out when touching up the edge later on. If the shave is poor I would rehone the razor starting with something like 4k and see what the edge looks like. I've had a razor that shaved beautifully for a long time and when I looked at the edge under magnification it looked like a hacksaw blade, but still shaved perfectly. Sometimes its better not knowing as long as the shave is very nice. After the initial honing to shave ready i try to stop using my scope. When the shave starts to deteriorate that's when to start looking at the edge under magnification.

I'll shave with it tomorrow and "see" how it feels and take it from there.

You always need to make sure your strop is clean before you use it. Rub the length of the leather a few times with your hand to remove any debris that may have settled on it.

Stropping will not eliminate those nicks and at 50x those are not insignificant.

You might as well continue to shave with it as is and see how it goes. When you are no longer satisfied with the shave due to poor cutting or discomfort, whether that be tomorrow or 3 months from now, that will be the time for you or someone else to touch up the edge and eliminate those nicks.

Originally Posted by Utopian

You always need to make sure your strop is clean before you use it. Rub the length of the leather a few times with your hand to remove any debris that may have settled on it.

Stropping will not eliminate those nicks and at 50x those are not insignificant.

You might as well continue to shave with it as is and see how it goes. When you are no longer satisfied with the shave due to poor cutting or discomfort, whether that be tomorrow or 3 months from now, that will be the time for you or someone else to touch up the edge and eliminate those nicks.

Thanks for the advice. I've put red paste on the wedding strop and that seems to be sorting them out. I'm pretty sure it's all my fault. I most likely did it after the first strop. I'll keep working at it !

Little update:- I've honed and stropped my razor and the chips I see at 50x are gone. However I still think the edge is not where it should be at so after honing on a 10k Naniwa and stropping to the best of my ability I packaged the razor (didn't shave with it) and sent it back to Classicedge.ca for its free hone with a letter explaining in detail what i did and asking for an evaluation of the edge before he works on it. So when I get it back I'll have an assessment of my skill hopefully and a shave ready professionally sharpened edge that I can take a good look at under 50x before I use it. Sometimes it's good to go back to the beginning and start again !