Sorry if this is similar to other posts, but I am still trying to read through the thousands of posts.
1. Premium Knives. Rip off? Seems like it. I bought my col. Conk Solingen razor from them, new, and of course, it shaves my arm, my cat, my back, but not my face. Not a single solitary piece of beard has ever been cut by it, though I have drawn blood. They claimed it was "Shave Ready." Their guru page even says that the reason my razor isn't shaving me is because of lubrication--and to quote: You'd be surprized at the dull razors I have been able to get a good shave from."
After reading these posts, it seems clear my Col Conk has the factory grind.
So, I have done lots of sharpening, and this thing is just a big fat hollow grind, so, it SHOULD be the easiest thing to sharpen in the world.
I don't have the Norton combo, but I have some really nice japanese water stones. These ought to work, right???
I have tried a whole bunch of times. Tonight I used my 1200 grit side with unbelieveable care, and my stone nice and wide. I was working that razor dead flat on both sides and got a nice wire edge the entire length of the blade.
FINALLY!!! I thought--that factory bevel is gone. Now I can really sharpen it.
So, I switched to the 8000 grit side and started working. Same thing, nice and flat. The wire edge is gone. Nice shiny mirror surface as far as I can see--sorry I don't have a microscope. I can't BELEIVE that this didn't hone to the correct angle.
Then I carefully stropped it about 20 times on my leather hanging strop.
Now for the big moment---wash, rinse, lather, here we go--sideburns on the right side first--down the razor goes at about 30 degrees to my face--off comes the foam. OK, lets do a few more strokes in the same place, just to make sure.
Then rinse, towel, and let it dry.
Now I feel my face. NOTHING. Not a single beard hair was cut. It's like I am using a butter knife. It shaves my arm, my cat, anything but my face.
The Well Shaved Gentleman just informed me they are shipping me a "shave ready" Dovo razor tomorrow. I guess I'll wait for my second razor to arrive to be convinced that this is going to work.
I know I am not using the recommended Norton stones, but these japanese stones are pretty darn good, and dead flat, the particular one I am using is brand new and has been lapped flat. It seems like the honing should have made SOME difference????
Any comments appreciated.
Toolarts