Thread: Fins etc.

Would someone explain to me what a fin is and how bevel differentiates itself from the edge. Thank you.

I'm not one of those metalurgist honemiesters, (Mr. Parker?)

We might be moving more into theory here than reality but the bevels are the angulated section at the cutting side of the razor that meet in an edge, this edge, when honed properly begins to have a cross hatch of striations produced by the grit in honing that overlap, the overlapping sections converge into a section that gets aligned and realigned by stropping. That section is often called the "fin". I think the difference in terminology may have come from a burr in knife sharpening. It would stretch out beyond the bevel and a fin on the other hand does not. Some refer to the "fin" as simply the end of the bevel, i.e. fin (fini, finish).

In my opinion the fin may help in providing draw on a strop when you strop a razor, but I can not see a fin so I don't know.

I believe, if I remember correctly, that some people do not believe a fin exists at all and is more myth than reality.

Great explanation, The only disagreement I have is the fin idea. The fin does exist however you can't see it even with any microscope any of us would have. All knives have them its just a matter of how fine those fins are. Remember that any edge no matter how smooth it may look when enlarged enough will not be smooth at all. It will have fins or teeth.

Actually any material that may appear perfectly smooth, when enlarged enough will look like the surface of the moon. Thats a departure from razors however the concept is the same. That smooth edge just ain't so smooth.

I missed where we are disagreeing but I love your signature line. Are you keeping any Japanese razors around?

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I missed where we are disagreeing but I love your signature line. Are you keeping any Japanese razors around?

I thought you had a different opinion on the fins?

I have two japanese razors a Tosuke and an Iwasaki. With the buying service we now have if you want one thats the way to go. My friend in japan is always on the lookout for new ones and they come-up rarely. The next time he finds a stash I think I'm going to buy em all.

The lads have hit it right.

I’ll back it up with a readers digest version with regards to fins from an excellent site which also describes Arthur Boon‘s personal observations about straight razors and strops.

Wet shavers of the old school know that the facet (blade) "grows", i.e. the microscopically discernible and extremely fine "fin" on the cutting edge changes during the shave but returns to its old position afterwards; it stretches and again becomes extremely fine. Nevertheless, this fine "fin" will still wear away at some stage and a suitable strop should then be bought.
http://www.knifecenter.com/knifecent...instrazor.html

Originally Posted by Creel

... Nevertheless, this fine "fin" will still wear away at some stage and a suitable strop should then be bought.
www.knifecenter.com/.../sharpen/instrazor.html

Yikes!

Don't know who the guy is but I refuse to shave with any razor that has not been stropped very shortly prior to use. The advice to buy a strop "at some stage" is for the guys who don't really care about fine and smooth razor feel

Must admit that it doesn't HAVE to be a strop - can be a belt, etc.

This quote also opens up some questions about honing and stropping (e.g. if fins wear away, is a strop enough to bring a razor back to shaving, vs. a pasted strop, then fine hones, etc.) but I'll levae this out for now

Cheers
Ivo

Don't know who the guy is but I refuse to shave with any razor that has not been stropped very shortly prior to use. The advice to buy a strop "at some stage" is for the guys who don't really care about fine and smooth razor feel

Must admit that it doesn't HAVE to be a strop - can be a belt, etc.

Sorry if my quote did not do the author justice. He does indeed cover that there is no hard rule to sharpening and stropping and that,sometimes it is sufficient to sharpen it at the ball of the thumb, especially if the razor is not used for several days. he mentions that after the burr will wear out and require a suitable strop.

I was trying to stick to the fin description, check out the link as I think it is worth a full read.

I did but it wasn't working and I didn't have the zeal to look for it on the site

Anyway - I am your friendly "strop-before-you-shave for better living" champion

Cheers
Ivo

Chuck Norris doesn't strop. Stropping is for wimps who can't handle pain.