Thread: Acceptable sharpness?

Hi there!

I'm a bit curious to hear if anyone has a good way to measure sharpness as objectively as possible.

I've started shaving with a SR a few months ago. After getting it honed once professionally by Birnando (thanks again!) I decided it was time to get my own hone. When the blade dulled, I was still waiting on a hone to arrive in the mail, so I got a merkur futur DE razor with feather blades in the meanwhile.

Due to a very hectic schedule in August I hadn't had time to lap the hone and get started until now, even though I've had it for almost a month.
I finally got around to honing my razor two days ago. I followed gssixguns tutorial of speedster on youtube.

After the hone I stropped on a chromium (red) pasted strop for about 20 laps, and stropped on a plain strop afterwards for about 50 laps.

After this the razor would pop hairs just fine, and i shaved about half my face with it with no real issues. However, I felt like my merkur with feather blades was two or more "leagues" above in terms of sharpness.

I hear that feather DE blades are just about the sharpest thing in the world though, so I don't know if I should expect to get my straight razor to be anywhere near as sharp.

Input? should i rehone perhaps?

I shave with both SRs and a Feather SS with Feather blades. Although my results with my SRs are quite good, they do not attain the level of sharpness that the Feather blades do, and I don't really expect them to.

+1 to ace. Straights are never going to be as sharp as a Feather blade. However, there is a comfort and smoothness to a straight that is hard to compare.

+1 to maxi the two are totally different beast but both will get the job done. The other thing to remember is the SR shaves get better as your technique improves. So the gap between the feather blades and SR will narrow in time.

PS: who did you get the red paste from. I don't think I have ever seen a red chromium paste before. And what home did you use.

very interesting thread. +1 to what Maxi and Castel33 said.

I started shaving with shavette and feather blades I did not have a razor that was as sharp or comfortable. things changed I bought a razor from Gugi that was shave ready I had blades honed by mainaman, Sham, Maxi, etc and I realized how sharp a straight razor should be.

a couple days ago I started using the shavette again to outline facial hair on my face (because the 3 inch wide SR is just too hard for detailing a chin strap and goatee). I have to say that SR edges are very comparable to it if it is honed to your liking.

razor blades also tend to irritate my skin . I have a preferance for german or Spanish steel honed on jnat stone but everyone is different.

Thanks for the replies.

@castell33, the red paste I got from whippeddog. The hone is a Norton 4k/8k. Worth noting is that this was my very first time honing, so I'm absolutely convinced that there are huge opportunities for improvement on that front.

Originally Posted by Mats

.. and i shaved about half my face with it with no real issues...

I do not see the problem? The razor shaves comfortably without tugging, and obviously removes hair just fine. All is well then.

As for the razor not feeling as sharp as DE blades - well, with all due respect and so forth. In a year or two, then compare the edges. For now, smooth and comfortable is great.

Have fun

+1 to those who proceeded me in this thread. I'd like to add this: For me, the Holy Grail of blade care/maintenance is the feeling of shaving with a "velvet squeegee". Now, I'd be less than honest if I said that I got this with hollow-ground blades -- I don't; but I do come darn close with my wedges. For me (YMMV), it's a combination of the size, weight, and grind, together with proper honing, polishing, and stropping... and technique (remember to be "methodical and deliberate", and rely on progressively removing the stubble; really "learn" where WTG, ATG, and XTG are, on your face, and work accordingly).

Smooth shaving!

JBHoren's description of velvet squeegee sounds like the answer I'd give. Your straight razor--and technique--are good when you can remove whiskers but all you're really trying to do is scrape away the lather. That's all the pressure you should need. If you really need more, then your blade is starting to get too dull for shaving.

As the other folks said, no, don't compare a straight to a disposable; you'll never get there without the industrial processes the disposable blade makers use. As you learn honing, it's nice to have a professionally honed blade at hand for a comparison. My own honing progressed a lot after I received my first Lynn-honed blade. Keep that pro-honed blade back for only occasional use, like once every three weeks, to remind yourself how sharp they can be. I always compare the rate of dulling to the rate of eyeglass prescription change... it's so slow that you don't realize the change is happening until you have a fresh new comparison.

Best wishes

There is one way to objectively measure "sharpness". Measure the distance from one side of the bevel to the other, at the edge. Smaller wins.

Anything else is subjective.

James.