Is my blade dull, or is it just me?

[CLIF]

Hi,
First, I want to thank everyone for all the great advice. I've been a long time lurker, starting with DE, and recently, converted to straights.

I ordered a "Shave Ready" straight from a source well regarded on this site (I don't want to give the name for risk of hurting his/her business). Without doing anything to the razor, I've shaved twice, and stropped on leather before my third shave. I'm using good cream and have course hair, but not a thick beard. I have read a lot about technique, and believe that I am following all of your instructions carefully.

While the first three shaves have gone well, and I am able to get a good close shave, I find the razor pulls my whiskers to the point of discomfort. I shave WTG and have tried adjusting my angle without success. I have long used Feather Blades in my DE, and my straight feels no where as smooth/sharp.

Should a well honed straight feel as sharp/smooth as a Feather DE blade? Would my balsa wood with paste correct this problem? Is it my technique? Should I send it back for a re-hone?

Thanks a ton and happy shaving.

 

[August West]

Welcome to B&B. I would have to get to know you first before I consider you dull.

Oh! The blade. You were referring to the blade.

More to come...

 

[GreekGuy]

First off, you should be stropping before, and ideally after too, every shave.

How sharp a blade is boils down a lot to personal preference. Yes it should be sharp, but there is such a thing as too sharp.

The angle at which you shave can have a dramatic effect on edge longevity. So using a steep angle without regularly stropping can rapidly degrade an edge.

If you have some balsa wood with paste, that stuff is super easy to use and should be sufficient to get it shaving sharp in no time. That would be my suggestion, and don't forget stropping is a key component.

I don't want to overload you with information so if you have further questions or need additional advice, please, don't hesitate to ask. Thats why we are here.

 

[sarimento1]

Hht! Hht! Hht!

 

[Seraphim]

The razor needs to be a most FLAT against your face when shaving. Trying for a 30 degree angle will end up bring too steep and you will be scraping not shaving that also beats the bejeepers out if the edge.

 

[daflorc]

aside from the aforementioned shaving technique advice, I'll add one more:

There is a 100% chance you're stropping wrong. Get better at that

 

[jpcwon]

aside from the aforementioned shaving technique advice, I'll add one more:

There is a 100% chance you're stropping wrong. Get better at that

+1....

And that's not a dig at you, btw....we ALL suck at stropping when we start (well there may be some with beginners luck, but most of us screw it up & nick our strops!) so it's just one of those things you have to practice to get better at...you will, don't worry!!

 

[alpster]

Should a well honed straight feel as sharp/smooth as a Feather DE blade?

The simple answer here is nope. Feather DE and a well honed straight are two different animals. The straight will give as good a shave, but will require a little more from you. Blade care is essential. Try laying the strop on a table and strop there Make sure when you strop, that the spine never leaves the strop. If you lift the spine you roll the edge.

 

[Doc226]

Most likely is is your technique but your edge might be toast from bad stropping, bad technique dulling it while shaving and of course the person who honed your razor might have had a bad day when he honed it.

 

[daflorc]

The simple answer here is yes. Feather DE and a well honed straight are two different animals. The straight will give as good a shave, but will require a little more from you. Blade care is essential. Try laying the strop on a table and strop there Make sure when you strop, that the spine never leaves the strop. If you lift the spine you roll the edge.

Thought I'd fix this a little for you

 

[Kentos]

Ymmv but,

The faster you can draw the blade across the skin the less you will feel the pulling sensation. The sharper the blade the slower you can go without feeling the pulling. The longer you keep at it the less you will feel the pulling.

I am of the camp that believes a blade can never be too sharp. The challenge is having a sharp AND comfortable edge.

 

[daflorc]

The faster you can draw the blade across the skin the less you will feel the pulling sensation. The longer you keep at it the less you will feel the pulling.

I'll add to this advice and suggest using heavy pressure with a sawing motion as well. This is indeed the best way to cut your face off!