Thread: Premature dullness: strop technique suspected. Angle? Pressure? Fix?

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Improper shaving technique would include high angle, excessive pressure and straight-down cuts - this will dull and edge quickly.
This assumes that your stropping is indeed effective and the razor itself is sound (good steel, good geometry, properly honed).
Yes, I realize that there are many factors to consider, which makes it very difficult when you are new. Concentrating on one factor at a time will make the diagnosis A LOT easier.

Honed for my by an avid hobbyist. I presume it's honed well, although I wouldn't know. I understand a high angle -- anything above, let's say, 45 degrees? And, excessive pressure makes sense, but I have no objective means of measuring, just my own experience and comparative sense memory. What is a straight-down cut?

The razor: Bismarck Registered, pictured below.

Originally Posted by SingingSteel

I understand a high angle -- anything above, let's say, 45 degrees? And, excessive pressure makes sense, but I have no objective means of measuring, just my own experience and comparative sense memory. What is a straight-down cut?

I'll try to address your concerns one at a time:

1. Optimal shaving angle is around 30º. This translates to 1-2 spine widths from the face.
2. Pressure should literally be just enough to scrape the lather off your face. If you have to use more pressure than that your edge is likely not sharp enough.
3. By straight cut I meant the edge is straight across, or parallel to the floor. It works but is not the most efficient cut. Most of us graduate to other types of strokes ie heel or toe leading (also known as the guillotine stroke) or scything. Here's a link to the library that will better illustrate my point.

If possible, try to hook up with a mentor or another member in your area. I haven't done a member search but I believe that Mvcrash is in Jersey. Send him a pm and maybe he can help you out.

The Wosty edge looks damaged unless the 2 shiny bits are dust.

So is the avid hobbyest an SR person with experiance,to me all those edges look suspect,JMO

Well, the avid hobbyist is a nice guy who honed the Bismarck free, and sold me the Wostenholm wedge and Torrey, shave ready, $25. If I recall correctly, he's been at honing a couple years or so. I got great shaves for the first few weeks from the razors. Then it was either my poor technique in shaving, stropping, or possibly some deficiency in the honing which may be playing out, most obviously with the Bismarck, although to a lesser extent with the others.

If I wanted to get a blade honed, who offers the most affordable verified good honing?

Originally Posted by onimaru55

The Wosty edge looks damaged unless the 2 shiny bits are dust.

Artifacts of lighting. It's fine.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

I'll try to address your concerns one at a time:

1. Optimal shaving angle is around 30º. This translates to 1-2 spine widths from the face.
2. Pressure should literally be just enough to scrape the lather off your face. If you have to use more pressure than that your edge is likely not sharp enough.
3. By straight cut I meant the edge is straight across, or parallel to the floor. It works but is not the most efficient cut. Most of us graduate to other types of strokes ie heel or toe leading (also known as the guillotine stroke) or scything. Here's a link to the library that will better illustrate my point.

If possible, try to hook up with a mentor or another member in your area. I haven't done a member search but I believe that Mvcrash is in Jersey. Send him a pm and maybe he can help you out.

Hmmm, thanks for the vocabulary. I've been picking up that straight cuts weren't as good as blade techniques on a bias with a little bit of slice, such as the scythe which I've been trying to do more of. I've already reached out to MVCrash, who organized a northern NJ gathering a few weeks before I joined SRP. I'm hoping to hook up within the next few weeks. Thanks, Ryan82!

Originally Posted by SingingSteel

If I wanted to get a blade honed, who offers the most affordable verified good honing?

Pretty much anyone here with some experience under their belt. You'll work out who they might be.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Pretty much anyone here with some experience under their belt. You'll work out who they might be.

Gee, that was pretty much the same level of verified good that the guy who honed the blades had. I'm looking for more.

Originally Posted by SingingSteel

Gee, that was pretty much the same level of verified good that the guy who honed the blades had. I'm looking for more.

Perhaps the most "verified good" honemeister on this forum is Lynn.