How sharp should a razor be?

[mfarber]

I just received a GD 208 from Buca. Since this is my first straight, I am going on faith that it is shave ready, but out of curiosity I tried to "shave" a few hairs on my arm and the razor did not cut a thing. Is this normal for a straight. Even an old blade on my DE razor will cut hairs on my arm.

Just want to confirm I am good to go before I try my first straight razor shave on Saturday morning (so I don't end up in the emergency room Saturday afternoon!).

 

[Doc226]

I have tried a Buca honed razor and it indeed was shave ready.

It most certainly shuold "tree top" arm hairs, meaning if you hover the blade 1/4 inch above the hair it should ping off.

Did you strop it? If not don't, I do believe he sends them out ready to go

 

[mfarber]

I did not strop it, but was going to, since it definitely did not cut any hairs.

As a side note, can you "over-strop" a razor?

 

[Toasty]

Hmm, I received three GD's from Bucca, all were shave ready and easily cut hairs.

Maybe send him a message, I'm sure he will check it out, hope it's not operator error, lol, good luck.

 

[Attila]

Depending on how fine your arm hairs are and the angle at which you tried tree topping the hairs, it may not have been an accurate measurement. Bucas edges are reputed to be really good. I have a GD honed by him on it's way to me soon but I know who tested it and I trust their judgement completely... I would not strop it first, especially if you are new to straight shaving. The edge should be ready to go.

Try a shave test with it, but keep your angle shallow. No more than one or two spine widths from your face and remember to stretch the skin. For beginners, until your technique improves it has often occured that a razor did not feel sharp but in the end technique could be blamed. Read all you can before and watch some good you tube videos, that will help. In the end though, experience is the best teacher. Don't expect your first few (perhaps quite a few) straight shaves to equal your DE shaves. It will take a while to learn proper technique. It is said it can take up to 100 shaves before you get proficient. But you will get great shaves well before that.

 

[buca3152]

Hello, you have 7 day return. Shave with it first, if it doesnt do it for you send it back then. I HHT test EVERY ONE before I pack them up. Let me know how you make out.

 

[mfarber]

Thanks. Like I said, I expect it will be fine. Just wanted to double check. I'll let you now how it goes.

 

[Krodor]

Sometimes if there is oil on the edge (for shipping or the like), it won't pass HHT but obviously will shave just fine.

 

[Attila]

I have recently been enlightened in that a razor I had honed by a member here locally would not pass my calibrated HHT
but shaved absolutely superbly. It really opened my eyes...

 

[mfarber]

I couldn't wait until Saturday to try my first straight, so I used it today. Probably should have waited a day since I was a bit rushed.

The he razor is definitely sharp, as evidenced by a few cuts when I carelessly placed it on my face. This will definitely take some getting used to a the razor felt awkward due to its size, compared to a DE razor. I did the right side of my face (one pass) and started on the left when I decided I took enough abuse for one day and finished up with the DE. Definitely need more practice.

I'll try again tomorrow when I can go really slow. Not sure if it's for me, but it (sorta) fun to try.

 

[Attila]

Most cuts happen as you first start the stroke. That is the time to use the lightest touch.

 

[buca3152]

Glad to hear the razor is sharp. Cuts and weepers become less frequent as experience sets in. Daily shaving is recommended as even if you do the easy strokes with the straight you gain muscle memory that is reinforced daily. Good luck.

 

[Toasty]

I couldn't wait until Saturday to try my first straight, so I used it today. Probably should have waited a day since I was a bit rushed.

The he razor is definitely sharp, as evidenced by a few cuts when I carelessly placed it on my face. This will definitely take some getting used to a the razor felt awkward due to its size, compared to a DE razor. I did the right side of my face (one pass) and started on the left when I decided I took enough abuse for one day and finished up with the DE. Definitely need more practice.

I'll try again tomorrow when I can go really slow. Not sure if it's for me, but it (sorta) fun to try.

Yes, lol, I found that out too, got red lines on my cheek. It most definetly is sharp, I watched a ton of videos so I could get the technique down, good luck and don't give in just yet.

Light as a feather, watch both the angle and pressure, very important.

 

[Steve56]

I'm a returning newb to straight razor shaving, here are some of the things I rediscovered.

Obviously you can have no lateral movement of he blade or it will nick you. Until you get a few shaves it's harder to do than you might think.

You can't push to flatten skin.

Keep the angle low, and keep a watch on the angle. The closer to perpendicular to the skin you get, the more irritation and likelihood of nicks. The higher the angle the worse a nick will be if you have any lateral movement.

Don't let the lather dry out. It's easy to do when you're slow from inexperience. Dry lather can be tacky, and if you're pushing on the razor to cut hair and it sticks, you'll get a red-line nick. Keep it wet.

Always watch where the edge is cutting and where the tip is.

Cheers, Steve

 

[Proinsias]

I found I was overdoing the light as a feather touch when starting out allowing the razor to skip around and bite me, the shave benefits from a little momentum and confidence behind the cutting edge.

 

[Vitamin Shave]

It should be sharp enough that if you cut your finger off, you dont feel it until it has already hit the ground.

 

[Vitamin Shave]

I found I was overdoing the light as a feather touch when starting out allowing the razor to skip around and bite me, the shave benefits from a little momentum and confidence behind the cutting edge.

Agreed

 

[Steve56]

+1. You can't fear the razor. I have one advantage over most newbs, I have shaved with a straight many, many years ago (a Robert Klass bought new). As a result of this prior experience, I only fear myself, not the razor! Can't say that sometimes the results are much different though.

Cheers, Steve

 

[mfarber]

Got a little courage this morning. As I discovered when I first started shaving with a DE, courage is a bad thing It makes you go fast.

After cutting up my face a bit, I pulled out the DE and finished things off. The good news is, my touch with my DE is even softer now, making for the best shave I have ever had.

Not sure if I will stick with the straight in the long run (still), but prepared to give it another go tomorrow...

 

[Doc226]

You need both confidence and fear.

Confidence because you need a deliberate stroke for the straight to cut well, in fact the best stroke is a deliberate and scything stroke (do not try this until you are confident in technique)

Fear because if you mess up you will get small cuts, if you really mess up you may get big cuts.