Rayman's Honing.

[slipangle]

So, a bit back, Rayman posted an offer of free honing. Of course, I took him up on it.

I figured he'd hone a razor for me, but the PM said "let me know how many razors you're sending". So, I sent him two.

A Henckels and a Wostenholm found their way from my hands to his doorstep, and in a short time, back to my doorstep.

I was able to shave test both of them last night (one for each side of the face and neck).

I don't know what methods he used to finish them, but he told me they were different, and asked for feedback on which edge I preferred.

Both were extremely keen, However, the Henckels seemed to "edge" ahead in that regard. However, the edge on the Wosty was a touch more smooth. Regardless, they were both smooth and sharp.

If I had known we were going to be doing some comparison testing here, I'd have sent more comparable razors, as the Henckels was a full full hollow and the Wosty was a touch over quarter hollow. Maybe I'll just put some more in the mail...

Hopefully, Ray'll chime in here and let us know how he finished them both.


A big thank you to him for helping me (broke guy who just finished college and can't find a serious job) find the class of razors that suit me best!

[rayman]

Thanks for the information. I am pleased to hear you are happy with the honing. Of course you can send your other blades to me when you like. I am still offering free honing to students and newbees.

Here is the difference on the two finishes. The Henkles was finished on a 12k nani, then to .5 diamond spray on a felt strop, then to crox on a hard strop, then to linen 30 strokes, then to leather 50 strokes.

The Wosty was finished on a 16k Shapton, then to .5 diamond, then to crox, then to .25 diamond, then to linen and on to leather with the same strokes for each.

I don't think the difference lies in the finishing stone but rather in the use of the diamond spray. I must admit the first time I used them I literally blew away the sharp edge with only a few strokes, like 3 to 6. I soom discovered that the pressure is very critical. I needed to get it in my head that the felt strop was actually made of tissue paper, and used the appropriate pressure to stop. Only then did I get what I was looking for. A recommendation of 20 strokes on the .5 from JimmyHad works nice. And I only use 6 to 10 on the .25. As Don at SRD told me, be careful with the .25 it is really agressive, and he wasn't kidding.

By the way, sorry for the delay in response to this thread. I spent 3 days away from home with my wife in the hospital. All is well though, so I am back in action.

Ray

[captainboog]

Glad to hear everything is ok. Thanks for the offer. I left my career two years ago and went back to school to finish a PhD. Any offer of assistance is greatly appreciated. As student my finances cannot keep up with straight razor shaving.

[rayman]

Glad to hear everything is ok. Thanks for the offer. I left my career two years ago and went back to school to finish a PhD. Any offer of assistance is greatly appreciated. As student my finances cannot keep up with straight razor shaving.

Just send me a pm so we can figure out what your requirements are. So here is the deal. You send me your blades and I will hone them for you and send them back. Once you get them you can try them out and see if you like the work. If you do then you can let me know and pay me for the cost of returning them to you. If not, then the honing and the return cost is on me. Fair enough?

Let me know what your intentions are with a pm.

Ray

[slipangle]

By the way, sorry for the delay in response to this thread. I spent 3 days away from home with my wife in the hospital. All is well though, so I am back in action.
Ray

Good to hear she's ok. Life with a family member in the hospital can get stressed and topsy turvy.

Thanks again for the honing!

[captainboog]

Got a chance to try out the blade that Rayman honed for me today. He did a great job. The edge is remarkably better than it was when I sent it off, and I'd say it's right up there with the other razors I've recently had honed elsewhere.

[wheelz74401]

I sent three razors to rayman I hope the are with the post woman today I am starting to get razor withdrawand starting to drive the wife crazy going " Ok I think I will use this one first no wait I think I want to try this one first well Ok I will try this one first." so anyway I wanted to say thanks to ray again If I hadn't said Eough yet to him In PM's

[ethermantis]

It appears that Ray's assistance, generousity, and attention to detail/art prevail again!

After using what had to be about the dullest/chipped piece of metal for a month (a Joseph Elliot with a huge chip), Ray sent up a Wostenholm Pipe to try. As I mentioned to him earlier today, the first ever feeling of a REALLY honed razor was amazing. It was really even front to back and gave me a ton more control than I was used to. I had the best shave period since I started to do this and with the exception of some technical issues on my part (the ATG neck pass), the whole shave was painless and CLOSE (people must think I'm nuts because I can't stop touching my face)!

I also used Jockeys uber-lather formula (soap/glycerine/Proraso) using a scuttle made from a catch-bowl from an orange juice squeezer and a pottery bowl. Also a big step up from the Conk puck I've been using. It was definately worth the extra five minutes.

Thanks again, Ray!

Julian

[Pyment]

He took care of a problem wedge for me. It shaves great. I haven't even needed to strop it yet (It's OK to do that, there was a thread around here somewhere about not needing to strop as much as we do) in 3 shaves.

[wheelz74401]

I got my razors in from him acouple days ago and finished shave testing them today and all I can say is WOW they are great shaves can't wait till tomorrow to use one of them again