Refinement of the cutting edge

Did this ever happen to you? You buy a razor from ebay, edge is useless for shaving. You work the edge up the grit levels and eventually it passes the HHT. You look forward to the first shave with it. As soon as the razor hits your face you know: this edge is useless. So you take it back to the hones and polish it again. Next shave is better already but still not as good as the shaves you get from the razors you have been using for a while. Only after repolishing the edge 3 or 4 more times it is the way you like it. And even if the first shave with the new razor is good it only takes one or 2 more shaves before you want to repolish it again.

This has happened so often to me that I wonder whether it is just my inadequacy or whether this is a pattern most honers experience.

Depending on how bad the edge gets, bad steel (or negatively affected) could be the problem.

Both nearly shave-ready razors and razors that needed a lot of work. Both NOS and used razors. All of them good vintage brands.

I meant how bad the edge gets after the shave.

What is your final finsihing stone?

Yes, it's happened to me, but with a twist: shave feels like the razor isn't quite there, but plow through it anyway only to finish and my face is just as smooth as if I'd used any other sharp blade - with no irritation the next day! I haven't done enough experiments on edge longevity, though subsequent shaves with these razors seem to yield the same results.

Sorry Kees, I can't comment on your specific issues other to suggest some additional light finishing strokes, but even that seems to be a fine line. Too many and the edge seems to get fragile. Oh well, like the saying goes "less is more"....

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Originally Posted by Ryan82

Yes, it's happened to me, but with a twist: shave feels like the razor isn't quite there, but plow through it anyway only to finish and my face is just as smooth as if I'd used any other sharp blade - with no irritation the next day! I haven't done enough experiments on edge longevity, though subsequent shaves with these razors seem to yield the same results.

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Ver accurate description of the situation.

Final polisher: Hohenzollern (very similar to Y/G Escher, probably a tad finer).

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Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I meant how bad the edge gets after the shave.

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Dunno, I repolish edge before it hits my face again.

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Originally Posted by Kees

Final polisher: Hohenzollern (very similar to Y/G Escher, probably a tad finer).

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I thought you used naturals. You have too many beautiful finishers my friend. That’s an extremely fine stone.. I am not saying you have done this, but I have had similar issues occur when using ultra-fine finishing stones by over honing the edge. Especially on certain razors. I learned I was applying too much pressure at this final stage of finishing.

Half my face would shave great WTG, and then the shave declined the rest of the shave. When I observed the edge under 100X magnification I could see the edge was peeled over like foil intermittently along the edge. I would then go back to 8000 grit and work back up.

If this is isolated to just the two razors it could be a steel temper issue. Go back to 8000 grit and inspect edge progression under magnification. If the edge is still breaking down I would try a layer or two of tape at 8000 grit level and repeat progression. See what happens.
Mike

Razors are not overhoned. I'll take them to the 5K Shapton followed by the Hohenzollern and see what happens.

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Originally Posted by Kees

Did this ever happen to you? You buy a razor from ebay, edge is useless for shaving. You work the edge up the grit levels and eventually it passes the HHT. You look forward to the first shave with it. As soon as the razor hits your face you know: this edge is useless. So you take it back to the hones and polish it again. Next shave is better already but still not as good as the shaves you get from the razors you have been using for a while. Only after repolishing the edge 3 or 4 more times it is the way you like it. And even if the first shave with the new razor is good it only takes one or 2 more shaves before you want to repolish it again.

This has happened so often to me that I wonder whether it is just my inadequacy or whether this is a pattern most honers experience.

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No, this has not been my experience. Quite the opposite.

Passing HHT does not mean the bevel is polished adequately. It may not mean anything. Anyway, once I have a blade finished to my liking, it does well just with stropping for (almost) forever. Honestly, I most often rehone a razor to test a new stone, rather than out of any necessity to improve the edge

And to make matter more complicated, some E-bay razor are just abused junk and one good shave after a decent honing is more than should be expected.

My 2 cents.