12,000 grit stone

Shave number 7
New Term: Hang-up nicks (see below)

I was at Japan Woodworker in Alameda, CA yesterday and purchased a twelve thousand grit ceramic water stone there. Unfortunately, all the literature accompanying the stone was in Japanese, so I have no idea how to use it.:)

Anyway I re-honed yet again this AM going 4000 grit, 8000, grit, and for the first time, finishing with 12,000 grit. This is a nice stone. Wherever the metal touches the stone, it leaves a black mark, so it is easy to see where it is actually cutting.

I think I got the sharpest edge yet. I am now very careful about stropping, and did about 50 strokes with the edge flat.

The shave went well-only two nicks. One was a high spot that got nicked two days ago and so is easy to hit. The other was a careless moment near my neck.

I am mainly doing one pass, and avoiding details as I absolutely can't show up at work with bloody cuts all over my face.

However, the shaving went significantly easier today, I was able to shave chin and mustache pretty easily. No Hang-up nicks.

Definition: Hang-up nicks. This is where you are starting your cutting stroke. leading with the point, but instead of cutting through the hair, the edge hangs up, stopping the downward motion, leaving only the sideways motion. You get a nice horizontal cut the bleeds like nobody's business.

I believe confidence (and forewarning) is now preventing most of these, with some help from an ever sharper edge. I now start the stroke "confidently" i.e., I double check the direction and make sure there is no ear or nose in the way, and go ahead and give the razor a distinct shove in the correct direction, as opposed to timidly starting. This seems to prevent the hang-up nick.

Paul