Thread: Technique or Razor Edge? The beginner's dilemma.

Originally Posted by KYMotorcycleShaver

OP I bought the exact same kit that you did and have the same concerns about the actual sharpness. I have ordered a vintage blade supposedly shave ready by whipped dog, I am hoping to see a big difference.

In the mean time I have found that stropping much more (think 100 laps instead of 20) helps a lot but you may find you are just attempting to polish a turd. Buying or making a preshave oil will make a difference as well if you haven't already.

In my case I am hoping the better blade makes a difference, then I can use the gold dollat to practice honing, because if I ruin it, who cares? I can't complain too much about the kit though... it is cheap enough to tell me if I had any interest in pursuing it further.

Larry at the whipped dog does a fine job on honing a razor you should definitely be happy with it. That's where my first shave ready came from, and that was five months ago and all the maintenance I do is strop and occasionally use the balsa strop. For me at first I used a table strop it helps you from rounding the edge as easily, till you have the skill down. From there it's all technique. It I took me a little over three months to get a good close shave every time.

If you have the slightest suspicion that the razor is dull, then it usually is. Pass it through the hair one or two millimeters over the skin on your arm (or your chest). Do any of the hairs get cut in mid air? If a few hairs pop off then it might be ok (but not necessarily, it could still be a rough but sharp edge), if not a single hair comes off then I wouldn't shave with it.