Quote Originally Posted by justalex View Post
Its not been mentioned yet, but off an 8k you can get a good shave ready razor thats capable of chopping through most beard types. After bevel setting your mostly making it more comfortable by polishing.
I agree, but I note a particular ease my razors have their way with my beard finished off my finisher compared to my Norton 8k (which is officially my pre-finisher unless I start experimenting). This guy's clearly chasing after a DE-type edge. I'm not trying to sell him on the benefits of a smoother, kinder, gentler edge possible from the renewable edge that develops off the strop (and of course the smooth factor attained by the ever-controversial reverse-face-stropping). That's for him to eventually discover and appreciate.

I'm a quarter perfect (need a "Kiss Me, I'm Swedish" button) with those tough blond facial hairs us Scandies are known for and I think I can understand what he's chasing after. I feel very comfortable with Norton 8k but it's the hairs around the lips that make it or break it for me. I want fast, effective and no funny business. Or maybe he's not getting the true Norton 8k experience.

Quote Originally Posted by justalex
I agree with AxelH; too many tests can get in the way... BUT trial and error is the only way to determine what ones are right for you, and you'll need markers to determine where the edge is, whether its feel, acoustic feedback, how easy it cuts armhair(skin level and above skin level)
Oh, I'm so glad you can agree on that point. Not assuming I'm right or that you're wrong, until we figure out this guy's follicular situation.

Quote Originally Posted by justalex
try dulling the edge on a glass tumbler or something and start again, bevel setting on the 4k will take longer than on a 1k but keep at it until it cuts armhair again.
Make sure it cuts armhair EASILY off the 4k. Some people like to move on as soon as it cuts armhair however it cuts it, I like to get it to cut easily.
Move onto the 8k with little pressure, make sure there's enough pressure to keep the razor's spine and edge on the hone and polish it up to a near mirror or mirror finish - whatever the 8k takes it to - and test shave with it.
D'oh! Now why did you have to go and do that? We were doing so well. The thing of it is, various body hair tests can be somewhat variable amongst different people, this is one of those groups of tests that I am particularly wary of, magnified of course by the infamous Noob Factor, of course!

Quote Originally Posted by justalex
I know it sounds a pain starting again but, it might save you hours of polishing a damaged bevel.

good luck
Quote Originally Posted by bestshave4me View Post
I'm really getting frustrated with my straight razors as i cannot get them sharp enough to perform a easy shave.


Equipment:

Norton 4000/8000 combo
Norton flattening stone
Scruppleworks Stropp with linen and leather side

Razors:
Dovo Bergischer Löewe razor
Puma Gold razor


I have tried and i thought they were sharp enough, but i just cannot get a easy shave with them. my DE razors still feel much sharper

i've tried honing on 4000 / 8000 Norton waterstones and really polish the edge to a mirror finish and it feels sharp

but it just will not shave my beard easely

is it enough to use the norton 8000 as finish ? or should i use paste or other honing equipment as last step pefore stropping to shave ready

this i how i did:

1. Honing on 4000 to set the edge and finish with gentle strockes to polish ( checked the edge with a 60x loupe to ensure even nice edge)
2. Honing on 8000 until mirror finish and eaven edge ( checked the edge with a 60x loupe to ensure even nice edge)
3. Linnen Stropping 50 rounds on my scruppleworks stropp on the linen side
4. Leather Stropping 100 rounds on the scruppleworks leather side
5. Tested Shaving with both the Dovo and the Puma

Result

Dovo feels sharper than Puma but still a bit dull on the cuts of my beard as i need to pull harder than DE razors i use

Puma feels less sharp than the Dovo and had to pull more to get the shave completed, not as comfortable as the Dovo


so i guess they are still not sharp enough

what is the trick and how do i get that super sharp edge, i'm really frustrated that i cannot get the edge as sharp as me DE rasors or sharper

i expected Straight razor shave to be less tough to the skin but i guess i'm not getting the blades sharp enough

Magnus
I don't think it's realistic to expect a straight razor you're just beginning to learn honing on to have a level of sharpness that rivals modern DE blades.