Blade care after 1 year dormancy?

[steelwindmachine]

I bought three straights over eight months ago. One was from WhippedDog and the others were used, shave ready vintage blades. I just pulled out the WhippedDog "tomahawk" straight to try the other day and while it certainly was sharp, it was tugging on four day old growth.

Now, this was my first time putti a straight to my face. I was careful, but deliberate with my stroke attempts. I didn't myself and stopped when I felt that I wasn't getting anywhere and don't know enough on what to correct. I did try carefully stropping the blade on my Poor Man's strop, which seemed to help mildly or maybe it was a particlal placebo. After I decided to stop trying to shave with the blade, I stropped it for 100 passes and then shelved it dry.

Any advice on how or if I need to bring the keeness back up on this? I don't know whether or not if a blade sits unused if it dulls. It was coated in petroleum jelly from Larry until I cleaned it off with rubbing alky. Maybe it needs a few laps on the balsa strop?

I think my angle was ok, I had the spine on my skin and was drawing the blade straight down.

 

[Mike H]

IMO, shaving 4 days growth there will be a bit of tugging, even for an experienced straight shaver.
A razor, even well oiled, will oxidize over several months of non-use and the edge could degrade.
It is common for new straight shavers to report pulling and tugging, as your technique improves, so will the shave.

You don't want the spine against your skin, but close. The exact angle depends on the razor and the part of your face you are shaving.
I would take the razor to the balsa stop for several very light strops, then 100 on the leather and try again.
It took me a couple of weeks to get a decent shave. Now I find the straight shave superior to a DE.