Thread: Sharpness after honed

Merry Christmas everyone

I would like to know what all of your thoughts on a possible issue I am having.
After getting a razor professionally honed. It is so very sharp and does a excellent job on the shave. After about a week I lose some of the sharpness. I am still getting a decent shave but it is not as sharp as it was before approximately seven days shaving. After that initial loss of sharpness I do not seem to lose anymore.
Is this normal or is my technique dulling the blade A little.

Thank you all very much

Roger

Without knowing what your pre or post stropping routine is, I would put a question mark against your stropping technique, what hardware are you using and what's your routine.

My routine is after shaving. Strop on a straight razor design modular paddle strop.
About 20 roundtrips on scrub leather and then about 60 round-trip on leather.
Now at first I was putting basically no pressure at all on the razor but I think with no pressure hardly at all I am not keeping the razor straight on the strop. I am now putting some pressure on when stopping. I think by putting some pressure on I’m doing a better job at keeping the razor flap on the strop. Still wonder if it’s normal to lose some of the sharpness very soon on.

Assuming that the razor properly honed to begin with, which if it was done professionally one could assume the answer is yes, the problem most likely lands in one of two buckets.
1. Stropping technique - too much pressure, not holding the razor flat to name a few potential issues
2. Shaving technique - again, too much pressure and/or to steep an angle

A well honed razor should last much longer than you are experiencing...

there are three stages of stropping that all SR users must work through


#1 Learn to do NO harm, This is where you begin stropping and learn the basic mechanics of stropping and manage to at least not destroy the edge.

#2 Maintain the edge, The second stage is when you have attained enough skill to at least do no harm and maintain the sharpness of the edge

#3 Improve the edge, Once you really begin to embrace the technique you learn that it is Stropping that is really King and not honing, and proper stropping can actually improve the edge after honing and beyond.


There is a thread we did years ago called Stroptober that is worth the time to read and watch here


http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...st-2012-a.html



Somtimes I have refered to this as

"Learn to do No Harm - Do No Harm - Do some good"

I've actually noticed the same thing lately. One thing i am doing differently (than in the past years) is that i think i've finally maxed out what my hones can do as far as getting the best possible edge. the first shave is amazing off the hones but fades after about the second shave and stays about the same after that. I didn't think it was my stropping because i always strop after honing and it seems to improve the edge (at least based off the HHT)
if i video myself stropping what should i be looking for? (it's going to be hard to change technique after all this time).

Originally Posted by tintin

I've actually noticed the same thing lately. One thing i am doing differently (than in the past years) is that i think i've finally maxed out what my hones can do as far as getting the best possible edge. the first shave is amazing off the hones but fades after about the second shave and stays about the same after that. I didn't think it was my stropping because i always strop after honing and it seems to improve the edge (at least based off the HHT)
if i video myself stropping what should i be looking for? (it's going to be hard to change technique after all this time).

OK, what's your honing progression? maybe we can give you some definitive answers.

You need to come to Burkburnett, TX in February...you can learn more than your head can hold!

Try some chromium oxide .

I don't use it but it could be an answer for you.

I experience the same thing as the OP and tintin. A really sharp, smooth first/second shave after touch-up and initial stropping. A few shaves in the blade settles in and gives nice reliable enjoyable shaves, but not the same as the first few. I've come to expect this, am usually relieved when it happens, and take it as a sign that all is as it should be...