Thread: ONE COTICULE HONING

The test shave went well, but...

I have a very tough beard, and sheffield steel is soft. Add the fact that the double bevel formed with this technique is very small (read: very fragile), I had to constantly stop and strop the blade during the XTG and ATG passes. I don't believe that a soft steel honed with this method would retain an edge for very long, especially if you have a wiry beard. Using a harder steel would probably give better lasting edges.

While I don't believe it's the "end all and be all" of sharpening methods, IMHO, it is a *very* easy to do, fantastic method for a beginner. Just darn near bubba proof. I'd bet I could show this method to my 7 year old son and he could put a shaving edge on a razor.

Again, IMHO, it is a wonderful technique that should be considered by any begining honer. Especially if you only want to buy one stone. Since the edge requires constant attention when sharpened this way, it'll also make you work on your stropping technique.

I've sharpened another three blades using this technique, all of them harder steels. I'm planning on using them longer term to see how long the edge lasts.

For the record, the longest lasting edge I have had to date comes from my Hess stainless that Lynn honed six months ago. This razor has seen almost daily use ever since, and has never had anything more aggressive than webbed linen and leather since it left Lynn's hone. The combo of hard stainless and Lynn's mastery has made this blade immortal in my mind.

I can't seem to get more than about six weeks out of my own honing, even on my hardest blades.

Edit: Yes, I do use multiple razors for every shave, and every shave still includes the Hess for at least half a face, so I can compare the other edges directly to the Hess.