Thread: Help after honing...

Hi,

I have a very nice razor that gave excellent shaves when I first got it from a member here. The shaves were really smooth, not painful, and close in one go. The quality degraded since I first got it to the point where it was painful to shave my lip and chin area, so I decided I needed to hone it up. I have the SpyderCo fine and ultra fine stones.

When I began, the razor could barely cut my arm hair and when it did, it was more of a pull than a clean cut. I did 10 laps on the fine, 20 on the ultra-fine. I tried the arm-hair test and was amazed by how the hairs just popped. I then stropped; 20 passes on the linen, 40 on the strop itself. I then showered, and shaved.

The shave was as painful as it was before I honed the razor. I could tell it was cutting, but I could feel pull around the lip and chin area as well. The shave was as close as it was before, but with more effort and I got nicked a couple times.

Now I am wondering, what should the next step be? Should I try to hone it up more, or should I try to strop more? How can I test the sharpness of the razor? I know about the thumb test but I could never understand it. Can you describe the successful arm-hair test, and what it should do?

Thanks,
E

Continue the way you have been on the F & UF, then strop and shave test. The various tests will do you no good at this point, only the shave test will give you an accurate answer. You are close to restoring the edge, now you will learn what it takes to rehone your razor when you let it go this far.


Hope this helps,

forget about the fine, it's too coarse for your razor right now, your UF is what you need to work on, if it is shaving, but pulling, you need to make sure you are not applying any pressure and do 10 to 15 laps, and test shave. You might also consider using a pasted strop, and/or newspaper once you get it as sharp as it will go off your ultra fine.

I have reread your post. Start with Mikes suggestion and if that does not work then try my suggestion.