new gold razor from ruprazor not shave ready

[andyml73]

Hi,

after reading several posts on here I decided that the way to get started was to order a Gold Dollar Razor and Filly Strop from ruprazor.

I was thinking this would give me a 'shave ready razor' and strop for a reasonable cost. After 7 weeks my package arrived.

The razor wouldn't appear to be shave ready (I am a straight noob). It fails to cut hanging hair and feels very rough on a first attempted shave.

I have 'stropped' the razor numerous times, still no great improvement (?)

Surely I don't need to invest in hones / waterstones to get going? I'm starting to wish I hadn't set out on this venture.

thanks

 

[Chimensch]

I think the best thing would be to try and find someone near you who could help you out in person. Why don't you start a thread entitled "Anyone near Chesire UK?"

 

[SliceOfLife]

Did you strop before your first shave? It's quite easy to roll an edge if you slip up stropping. I believe the fellow who runs Ruprazor is a pretty well-regarded honer, so if he says it's shave ready it should be.

Regardless, there are a couple free honing offers bouncing around here, or you can pay one of the fellows listed in the honester thread.


Also forgot that he warrantee's his edges for a few months so you can mail it back to him for like $6 shipping iirc.

 

[mainaman]

here a guy in UK that hones should you decide to go that way
http://straightrazorplace.com/classifieds/showproduct.php/product/4099/cat/4

 

[closer]

This seems to be a common problem for a newbie, or at least, I went through a similar issue. The first shave usually does not go well, even with a shave ready razor, because the newbie does not have the correct shaving technique (angles, pressure, etc). Then, the newbie strops the razor, and either does not get good results because stropping technique is not there, or worse, makes the edge worse by rounding. Those are the 2 skills you need to learn to be able to start getting good shaves, but won't be able to focus on shaving technique until you can maintain the razor with stropping. So, I think, stropping technique is a pre-requisite, and you should work on it first. People have suggested practicing with a butter knife, but you really need to work on it with your real straight, to get the correct feel.

There are a couple of stropping tips that helped me get the right stropping pressure:
1. Look at post #22 from mainaman in [thread=128545] this thread [/thread]
2. Look at post #14 from Bart in [thread=131722] my thread [/thread]

If you didn't round the edge too badly, you can do 5-10 laps on the CroX side of the Filly to bring it back, then strop about 100 times on the leather surface. But, spend a lot of time working on leather first to get the feel down before you hit CrOX, otherwise it will make the situation worse. You will know by the sound of the stropping whether or not you are making consistent contact throughout the edge.

In the end, if it still does not work, you can send it out for re-honing, but you are not going to be able to stick with straight shaving without learning to strop. You should be able to maintain the razor for at least 6 shaves (and probably a lot more) with stropping only, before you require any other touchup (CrOX, hone, etc).

From your sig, you seem to have a good DE setup, so I'll assume you don't have issues with prep, lather, etc. I would work on stropping, then work on shaving technique/angles with very light pressure.

 

[Seraphim]

Did you first try contacting the vendor?

 

[andyml73]

Thanks for the input guys.

I don't think I caused the problem... I did try the razor on my arm before even approaching the strop, and also with a 'hanging hair test' which failed. I then tried the strop. Hence, I don't think I've made the razor worst than it was.

I've not contacted the vendor, it took seven weeks to arrive and I got shafted with a customs charge too. Sending it back doesn't appeal, unless it's for a refund but even then I've spent more on shipping / customs charges then I actually did on the razor and strop.

Thanks for the UK contact. I may have to consider that.

On the bright side my DE is going from strength to strength, that's why I'm thinking I shouldn't have bothered with straights right now.

 

[dannywonderful]

It's not impossible for a razor to leave Ken in a non-shave ready state, but I'd have to say it's unlikely. The HHT is misleading at best in my opinion, I've had razors pass it and shave poorly and razors fail it and give smooth shaves, so I wouldn't use that as your shave ready benchmark.

As well as the link provided earlier you can contact:

Razor Sharpening UK

or

Neil Miller's Strop Shop

for honing services in the UK.

 

[Luc]

Mmm, was it mentionned that the razor was going to be shave ready when you bought it?

Also, the Hanging hair test isn't that accurate. I don't think any of my razors passed it and they are shave ready, trust me.

I would say, try to close your fist to stretch the skin and try to shave the hairs on your hand. Normally, without pressure, around 30 deg angle, you should be able to cut everything. If it's the case, then I would guess your angle is off when you shave.

For the stropping, how many laps did you do? I usually do 60 on canvas and 60 on leather. You could do leather only and that should work too.

If all fails, then, yes, you will need a honemeister. There must be one around you for sure in England.

 

[tg16]

From personal experience I can say the razor will not appear shave ready unless you have the technique to use it. Sharpness won't make up for technique. The good news is you are experiencing something very common in that first shaves and stropping do not go too well.

I found that a good measure for my technique was that as it improved, I felt less weak in the knees.

 

[mantic]

FWIW I bought a RupRazor GD razor/Filly strop combo a couple months ago. Mine was "shave ready"--though, as 'closer' mentioned, my technique wasn't --though it does seem to be very picky on angle.

--Mark

 

[Sal]

As others have said, don't solely rely on the HHT. I consider it more of a party trick than an actual indicator of sharpness. However, it may simply be that you are holding your piece of hair backwards when doing the HHT. Hold the hair with the root end outwards. The surface of your hair looks like shingles on a roof. You need to move the hair in the correct direction over the blade so it the hair will catch the blade edge instead of sliding over it.

 

[davecmu]

In my experience, Kenrup hones a mighty fine edge.

The HHT, as mentioned, just isn't a real measure of a shaving edge, and gives absolutely no measure of shaving ability, which is ultimately what counts the most. My guess is the OP accidentally rolled the edge trying to strop it. I did the same thing to one of my early straights; lots of guys have.

I would also echo that a private message to the responsible vendor may have been in order prior to posting a fairly blunt and public thread title about it. I have found the vendors to be very reasonable in helping resolve any issues that crop up in the YMMV world of wetshaving.

Good luck with a local source for honing, and keep working on the technique - it will make all the difference!

 

[matt321]

When you received it was the blade edge coated with oil? Seven weeks could provide some opportunity for corrosion especially if the blade was not oiled.

 

[holiday]

FWIW I bought a RupRazor GD razor/Filly strop combo a couple months ago. Mine was "shave ready"--though, as 'closer' mentioned, my technique wasn't --though it does seem to be very picky on angle.

--Mark

Does this mean we can expect some new straight shaving Mantic tutorials on Youtube soon

 

[Amer]

I felt the same way when I received my Gold Dollar and Filly. Right now I'm going to chalk it up to bad technique and I think the edge might have slightly degraded during shipping, etc.

After learning to properly strop and going for 60 laps instead of the recommended 30 in the letter from Ken, I've got a smoother, sharper razor.

I still have trouble around the chin and stache area, but I'm thinking of upping the laps again since I don't have any linen to use.

Also, it's harder to strop the GD compared to my Dovo. The shank on the GD is shorter so it's harder to get a secure grip on it without holding on to the scales as well. Makes it harder to flip as well.

Just get your stropping and technique down and hopefully it will comee.

 

[mantic]

Does this mean we can expect some new straight shaving Mantic tutorials on Youtube soon

Yes, that's why I bought the kit. However a video is not going to be ready for months (others in front of it, need to get my techniques down, etc.).

--Mark

 

[holiday]

Yes, that's why I bought the kit. However a video is not going to be ready for months (others in front of it, need to get my techniques down, etc.).

--Mark

I'll be looking forward to them

 

[andyml73]

OK, thanks guys, an update...

after following the stropping advice there does seem to be an improvement.

Also good input on the following...

* Good call about the direction of the hair (HHT), I'd not considered this at all.
* The comments about HHT being a gimmick, just get on and shave.
* Angle, yes this makes a big difference with Arm hair.

I've just has my first full shave with it (DE locked away, no touch ups allowed). The results were better (1 hour later) than I first thought whilst shaving. Very close on the easy bits, a bit sketchy on the tricky bits. A couple or three nicks, no stitches required.

The noise is a bit off-putting, should it really be making such a loud scratching / pinging noise??

I've got a Hoffritz straight from ebay that seems to be in a similar state of sharpness, I may try this one next, it's only 5/8" but seems to have a better overall feel.

Yes, I should have been a bit more reasonable with the title of this post, I think the 7 week wait plus the customs charges sent me over the edge.

 

[qdaddy]

There is always room for a better edge and it is likely you got one not shave ready due to the fact as much as he sells its impossible to shave with all of them to test. I was going to send mine back to touch it up but no response from e-mail, he may have had a crisis or something. I will say everyones edges vary, mine are different sometimes even using the same method.