Thread: How I finish with (insert finisher here)

Before I start, please don't muddy the water if you have not honed over 50 razors on one particular finisher.

We all know that a great shaving edge starts at the bevel setting, but the "magic" is in the finisher. I have been fortunate enough to obtain several finishers, but other than trial and error I have not found a thread to refer to.

It sure would be nice to hear how a veteran on particular stone finishes their razors so that I or anyone else could use their method as a starting point.

I'm talking about wiki stuff here...

I will start:

Charnley Forrest w/ oil
Starting point: Progression of Shapton Glasstones 1,4,8,16K

I start with adding three drops of Kroil evenly spaced on the stone. I started out using 3n1 oil and found it to be literally too thick. I then went to sewing machine oil that was thinner and it really works well. Kroil is even thinner and helps to speed up the finishing on a CF, which we all know is a slow finisher. The work is worth it though.

I use slow, I repeat slow "X" strokes. Fast strokes on oil causes the blade to literally "hydroplane" on the stone and you will be getting nowhere fast. I start out with 10 strokes alternating sides each stroke. Wipe the blade, and repeat. I normally go about 50-60 strokes per blade depending on the blade hardness, wiping the blade at each 10. With TI's, I usually start at 75.

If you are using sewing machine oil or other oil that is thicker than Kroil, expect to increase your passes 25-50%.

Next blade, three drops of Kroil and repeat...