Thread: how far can you go

[QUOTE=Razorfeld;1266233]

Originally Posted by Phrank

So after reading your revered words, ...QUOTE]

Revered huh? Is that a reference to my Popeness?

Yes of course, ohh Revered One of the Razor whose Bevel is the Most Aligned.....

[QUOTE=Phrank;1266237]

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

Yes of course, ohh Revered One of the Razor whose Bevel is the Most Aligned.....

Be that as it may
And upon this day
A Deacon you are made
Of the Church of the Steel Blade.

Your duties therein Deacon Phrank
are fulfilled by filling daily
The Sacramental Decanter (of Scotch).

[QUOTE=Razorfeld;1266245]

Originally Posted by Phrank

Be that as it may
And upon this day
A Deacon you are made
Of the Church of the Steel Blade.

Your duties therein Deacon Phrank
are fulfilled by filling daily
The Sacramental Decanter (of Scotch).

Will bourbon do?

[QUOTE=pfries;1266248]

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

Will bourbon do?

Actually, anything short of straight alcohol is good. Vodka or Silver Tequila more than adequate (on the rocks, a little tonic water, dash of bitters and a squeeze of lime makes it divine.)

I never did understand this obsession folks have with scratch marks and the degree of polish. I just hone so it shaves good and don't fret about the cosmetics.

So my question is, what is the relationship between the cosmetics and the shave (if there is any).

[QUOTE=pfries;1266248]

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

Will bourbon do?

Those wonderful libations are a thing of the past for me...I'll stick with cranberry and soda, with a twist of Lime of course, like to live on the edge!

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

So my question is, what is the relationship between the cosmetics and the shave (if there is any).

I think it is a mental perception of perfection and possibly the thought of if it is rough looking than it can't possibly shave smoothly.

Originally Posted by Phrank

Those wonderful libations are a thing of the past for me...I'll stick with cranberry and soda, with a twist of Lime of course, like to live on the edge!

To be honest I must confess that I only imbibe twice a week of the sacred fluid. Mother never drank and Father, on being shown the cork to the bottle had an immediate hangover - aah, genetics.

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

I think it is a mental perception of perfection and possibly the thought of if it is rough looking than it can't possibly shave smoothly.

I agree and when I first started honing I was obsessed with what I thought was perfection,
then I stopped and shaved.
If the bevel is right, and you follow that path (whatever gymnastics it is and do not change it up) to polish the edge... well it will shave and shave well to boot.
Now this is my person experience and there are many in a better place to comment than my self but I lay it out here for you all.
You cannot change what the blade tells you, you can spend time and bend toward your ways but in the end the steel tells you what it needs.
Weather this is through the bevel tests, TNT, marker test, or what ever. The steel before you will not change, you must adapt.

How far?
Some edges will go farther than others this is up to the blade not you.

Originally Posted by Razorfeld

I know its one mans opinion against another, YMMV, many paths lead to the same destination and on and on... What a moot point it is to determine what is the right approach for that desired edge. I have edges from pinklather, cudarunner and gssixgun. All of them shaved at a level that the first time out took my breath away. With time, and what I now realize is a wiry beard, I get to where I need a re freshening after four uses (22 razor rotation) and was faced, finally with the need to learn to refresh them myself. Much reading, watching videos and talking I took the plunge off the cliff three days ago and dug out my Swaty, whipped up a little lather, held the BH in my hand, thought "I am the wind, a light breeze" and imaged a micron of space between the blade and the hone and did five laps. Moved to a crox linen for seven, 25 on leather and then 75 on my Russian shell strop. It didn't take my breath away but it did make me catch my breath and realize what a series of simple movements can produce. I will master re freshening, I 'm too old to for the learning curve to be a honer, and look forward to a year from now when I might have to call upon those three worthy gentleman for their ethereal skills in bringing an edge of steel to perfection. As for the debate 'how far can you go' viva la difference!

You're never to old to learn as long as you're still breathing. It's not hard to learn how to hone especially with all the great help and videos here. It just takes practice.