Thread: I am a little fascinated!!

Being new to this forum I am fascinated by what I read - it was my son that steered me toward your forum. I point out that I am not new to using a razor, my one and only has served me well some 44 years.

What I find facinating is that I did not realize that shaving was so difficult, as is getting an edge on a razor.

Experience tells me it is not rocket science. There seems to be a lot of discussion given to what is the definitive edge - it's simple - one that works.

I would make the observation that a number of people are looking for a scalpel edge, when in fact you are not using a scalpel, you are using a razor. Consider that the 'definitive' or finest edge is not necessarily the best edge, as it becsue of its definition it is fragile and I would argue that an edge like that would need particular care, be easily damaged and a lot of time would be spent on the hone, and you would end up wearing the razor away.

I would only put my razor to the hone only a few times a year, it is stropped lightly on leather before and after each shave and about once every 3-4 weeks it is stropped on linen using a very fine abrasive paste.

Believe it or not it is only in the last few weeks that I came to find out about stropping paste. In past years I would buy polishing paste from a spectacle maker and use that.

For many years the hone I used belonged to my grandfather - he died in 1954 - it is black, hard with brown swirls through it. I think it might be an Arkansas stone.

As I do a fair bit of woodwork I guess I am used to edged tools, and over more recent years have used a Japanese water stone to get a final edge on chisels and planes, I also use this stone now as my razor hone I think its about 8000 grit.

One final thing, when using a hone, in order to get a good edge, it must be flat. Every now and then, if I feel the stone is 'out of flat' I have a piece of 6mm glass and using about 180 grit wet and dry paper - used wet - the water will stick the paper t to the glass, rub the stone over the wet and dry until you see the stone is once again flat. It will cut better and you will get a better result.

I have never bothered to look at an edge through a loupe. I reckon that would lead to inventing to your problems that don't really exist.

I live a bit by the addage 'If it ain't broke - don't fix it'

I do thank you all for your initial feed back. I will be interested to see what reaction this will now bring

Regards