Thread: Sharp is sharp but whats sharp?

Ok, so all of us here span the range from rank newbees to seasoned veterans and I'm sure most of us consider ourselves to be at least adequate honers. Therefore we all KNOW that our razors are sharp and give the best possible shaves.

If we have a razor honed by a true expert then we know for sure what such a razor feels like and we know the characteristics of a truly great shave. But for most of us we have to use our own skills and go by the usual tests and our own instincts as to what a truly great shave feels like.

I often wonder how many of us think we are getting a great shave but in fact have gotton use to a mediocre shave but don't realize it. Probably it was no different 100 years ago. Alot of guys just never got good comfortable shaves and that played right into the hands of Mr Gillette and he knew that and it was another reason people dropped using straights in favor of DE's.

So my question to everyone is what criteria do you use with each of your razors that makes YOU positive your getting the best shaves possible? To you,what does a great shave feel like? I'm not really asking for a technical answer as to what a well honed razor looks like but just what it feels like on your face.

And while were on that subject assuming you know what that perfect shave feels like can you get it equally from any quality razor or are there some razors that no matter how much time you spend honing they just don't seem to reach the same level of shaving nirvana as others or do you believe that any quality razor can be made to shave equally well?

I'm pretty much still a newbie (I've only been at this for six months), and I've been able to get or keep all my razors shaving sharp. However, I did buy one new TI "super gnome" that (after stopping) shaved so well and comfortable, that I keep it as my gold standard, and only shave with it once every couple of months so I'll have a reference. I can't get there yet with my honing, but I'll keep at it until I do!

Just for some reference, when doing the standing hair HHT on my leg, this razor cuts EVERY SINGLE HAIR (from a distance of about 1cm from my skin). After honing and stropping my razors, they will cut maybe 25%-70% of the hairs they come across during the HHT. It's a guage that seems to work well and be consistent for me.

Note: I know that stropping can make a dull blade pass the HHT, but no amount of stropping a dull blade can make that blade cut every single hair during the HHT (at least from my experience)

E

I keep thinking about a hot knife through butter. No pulling or resistance to the blade by the whiskers. An oversmoothed edge can get close and sometimes be misleading, but there's usually some razor rash afterward and that's unacceptable. If my blade can achieve this I'm satisfied it is as sharp as I can get it.

I think you're right, getting a new edge to shaving nirvana can be a tough thing to accomplish. Touching up a blade that has been shaving well for a month or so is an easier thing by far.

X

I don't think I'm good at honing, I just know that once I'm done with a razor I can get a good shave with it. And that's good enough for me.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I often wonder how many of us think we are getting a great shave but in fact have gotton use to a mediocre shave but don't realize it. Probably it was no different 100 years ago. Alot of guys just never got good comfortable shaves and that played right into the hands of Mr Gillette and he knew that and it was another reason people dropped using straights in favor of DE's.

I'm able to get close, comfortble shaves with straights -- and I wouldn't trade the experience for anything. However, DE blades are a different animal and, all told, are sharper. And there are Feather DE blades, which are surgically sharp. Scary sharp. DE blades are manufactured to specific tolerances, so they can't really be compared to a straight razor that, ultimately, is sharpened and maintained by hand and subject to the variables inherent to human error. There's no need for a pissing contest. Straight razors and safety razors are different. Fortunately, both can give a fantastic shave. I love both dearly.

Some of the early Gillette ads featured slogans like "Shave yourself" and "No stropping, no honing." The first statement leads me to believe that many men either chose to or had to go to the barber for a shave. Yes, King Gillette made his mint by selling a man a razor once and then selling him blades a billion times, but that only happened after he tapped into the demand for convenience -- i.e., the second statement. Had the majority of men decided to stick with the trip to the barber or to learn how to properly hone and strop razors, then Gillette might not have ever entered the picture.

I always test my razors shaving cross grain. If they cut very smooth and close on the cross grain shave and leave that baby butt feeling, they are there. Lynn

Originally Posted by adjustme69

I always test my razors shaving cross grain. Lynn

Lynn,

Is that making the first pass cross grain or the second pass after the first with the grain?

Dave

First pass is with with grain. Second is across. Lynn

I had to shave quickly today, so I went back to my trusty Gillette adjustable DE, and I have to say: it made me sad. Much more comfortable shave, with no pulling anywhere.

Do you guys get to the point of pull-proofness with your honing eventually? I hope so. Today's shave felt the way it's supposed to, and I want to get there with a straight.

I guess shaving with a disposable blade of any kind seems like it's defeating the purpose for me.

All I know is that I got a cattaraugus from Lynn last september and I used that as my sharpness guide. I don't pretend to be as good as Lynn at honing but with the larger blades I seem to get an extremely close shave with my honing.

My guage is if I can enjoy the shave. It's become a relaxing time for me. If the razor pulls or bumps in any fashion I don't enjoy it like I should. If I get a smooth effortless shave and the end results are that finish that makes the wife play with my face every time I sit still for a few minutes then I've got a sharp razor. If not, I take it back to the hone. I've had to do that a few times too.

Glen F