Thread: still not shave ready

ok, my razor passed the arm hair test so I think there's a good bevel on it, but it fails the hanging hair test and the shave test miserably. I used the pyramid system with my 4000/8000 (and I've got a shave ready razor and a 12,000 grit on the way), but I thought I would at least be able to get an uncomfortable shave with this one. Any ideas?

Try stropping on linen and leather more (but carefully). It can make all the difference, sometimes! Best of luck!

Ignore the HHT it is the most unreliable test out there.
The key is the shave test.

Are you using a magnifier to look at the bevel as you hone? This, along with the magic marker test can really tell you a lot about what is happening on the edge. Then you can make adjustments or just see how close you are to being done.

What kind of razor is it? New or used? Is it your first shave?

I can shave arm hair with a bevel that only nearly there not fully there, so agree its best to check under magnification and use the magic marker test.

The HHT is very controversial, some set no store by it while others like me can read the results with the hair available to them and it acts as an indicator. I suspect that a lot rides on what hair you have available to you.

For me if it a blade will pop hair from my wife or daughter's hair brush then the resulting shave is good. If it splits the hair or requires some "voilining" then it will be poor. Interestingly on the few occasions I have grown my hair long enough to use the results have been far less indicative.

That said the true test is the shave test.

thanks all -

under the scope it looks pretty good - very few burrs and divots
this is my first straight razor though so I'm still developing an eye
it's a fromm razor - i bought it without a professional hone and am trying to get it there

I should have a professionally honed one on monday so it'll be interesting to compare

btw i used around 50 strokes on linen and 50 on leather (too many or too few?)

Originally Posted by jockuly

thanks all -

under the scope it looks pretty good - very few burrs and divots
this is my first straight razor though so I'm still developing an eye
it's a fromm razor - i bought it without a professional hone and am trying to get it there

I should have a professionally honed one on monday so it'll be interesting to compare

btw i used around 50 strokes on linen and 50 on leather (too many or too few?)

I would say if you have just come off the stones, then that is too few on the leather. Possibly too much on the linen. Off the stones you need the right quality of stropping as well as the right quantity. How much depends on what you finished on. This is just from my own personal experience, so take that advice with a pinch of salt.


Mick

My Fromm 72R came out of the box with a bevel that was steeper than what one would get by laying the blade flat on the stone. I honed it at that steeper angle and it worked well. Eventually I re-ground the bevel the traditional way with the spine touching the stone. I shave with mine often, so with a little TLC yours should serve you well.

It sounds like the bevel is not yet properly created. Try 30 more light laps on the 4K and then 25 on the 8K, strop for 50 laps then shave test. Make sure the hone is lapped and clean before you start.

Let us know how it shaves.