From BBS to Rough in 15 seconds

[toolarts]

Can anyone elucidate me on what is happening here?

I honed my Dovo Special 6/8 to the best of my ability -- 4k /8k /yellow couticule / linen w/ white paste progression. Got it not as sharp as when I got it honed by Lynn but pops arm hairs pretty well.

...

From HHT sharp to dull in a matter of seven or eight strokes? What the hey?

Yep, I have seen this.

Try stropping again with plain leather. Some high-carbon steel edges are strange this way. You get an awesome shave for about 6 strokes and then the razor goes downhill. Looking at it under the microscope at 100X, the edge was a line. After 6 strokes, it is ragged.

On these razors, i just go back to the strop and do 30 or so strokes, and they start shaving really nicely again--and this time, it lasts longer.

I don't know why this is, but it seems to be on purpose. Over time, they get better and better, hit a plateau, and then eventually the need to be rehoned. At 100X the edge always looks ragged, but the shave is nice. You can't see the raggedness at 20X or 40X.

Keep stropping with plain leather, it is your friend.

Here is a tip on honing: Once you are done with the 8K, *always* try stropping about 50 times and then shaving with the edge. Much of the time, this is all it takes to get a good edge.

If you find that it isn't quite smooth enough, then do no more than 12 very light strokes on your pasted strop. Then leather and go. I actually never bother with the linen until the razor has been shaving for a while.
I have gotten some truly awesome shaves from a Dovo that went from Norton 8K to plain leather strop to face.

This morning, I shaved for the second time with a Bismarck that did exactly what you experienced. I stropped it up and got one of my nicest shaves yet. Gencos seem to be the same way for me. I look at it at 100X and it looks a bit like the edge of an indian arrowhead. Yet it shaves like a dream. But it must be stropped after a few strokes when fresh-honed.


Hope this helps.

Paul