Thread: Is this good advice?

Learning to use the Norton sounds like good advice. I'd recommend shaving off the 4K too, you might be surprised at the results - I've not shaved off a Norton 4K but shaving off 1K and 6K stones really does confirm how much of the work is done at the lower grits, alongside a good stropping.

If the plan is long term self sufficiency and you already have a 4K & 8K, and a method to keep them flat, I think an ~1K synthetic bevel setter should be first on the list. If you can set a decent bevel ~1K then refine it with the 4K>8K you are self sufficient imo. A finisher is the icing on the cake.

Originally Posted by criswilson10

CrOx is comparable to 30k grit, so a jump from 8k stone to 30k is going to take a good number of laps (maybe 30 or 40), but it will work. 1 or .5 micron diamond paste would be faster and follow it with CrOx so it is not as harsh.

8K>30K is a very big jump in numbers but I found even a few laps on a chromium oxide loaded strop made a huge difference to my edges coming off a 6K stone. When I went for a paste progression of 1>1.5 micron diamond to chromium oxide I usually ended up with a harsh edge & a rough shave, granted this could be my technique. I'm not really looking for a true 30K edge when taking a razor from 6/8K stone to chromium oxide, just a little extra smooth/sharp in the shave. Having said that I no longer use chromium oxide and prefer stone>linen>leather.

Originally Posted by Straightandproud

Yes, he did inform me of the correct method of lapping in the stone. And you have me sold on focusing on the Norton. I have been very successful at stropping my razors. I have approximately 20+ shaves on one razor and it is starting to tug during a shave. That one will be my first attempt at honing.

I may get beat up with this post, but it won't be the first time nor shall it probably be the last.

You say that you have been "very successful at stropping my razors" however they are 'tugging' after Only 20+ shaves???? Somethings not right here! At least in my very humble opinion.

I have questions.

What kind of beard (as far as coarseness of the hair) do you consider yourself to have: A. Light B. Medium C. Heavy D. Compares to Steel Wool.

I would grade my beard as (B) Medium and even when I was a Newbie I got at least 60 shaves before my razor started tugging and I only had a Vintage leather strop with no cloth to help out.

I have run into guys with 'beards of Brillo' as I like to call them. One guy I was trying to help complained that his razor started 'tugging' after a week or so. So I loaned a razor out with a fresh hone on it and Shave Ready and asked that he shave with it every day for one week, making sure that he was properly stropping and then send it back.

I didn't even need my loupe as I could see the 'dings' in the edge. That man had a beard of Brillo and that's why his edge was going south so soon.

I do hope this offers some help.

Originally Posted by cudarunner

I may get beat up with this post, but it won't be the first time nor shall it probably be the last.

You say that you have been "very successful at stropping my razors" however they are 'tugging' after Only 20+ shaves???? Somethings not right here! At least in my very humble opinion.

I have questions.

What kind of beard (as far as coarseness of the hair) do you consider yourself to have: A. Light B. Medium C. Heavy D. Compares to Steel Wool.

I would grade my beard as (B) Medium and even when I was a Newbie I got at least 60 shaves before my razor started tugging and I only had a Vintage leather strop with no cloth to help out.

I have run into guys with 'beards of Brillo' as I like to call them. One guy I was trying to help complained that his razor started 'tugging' after a week or so. So I loaned a razor out with a fresh hone on it and Shave Ready and asked that he shave with it every day for one week, making sure that he was properly stropping and then send it back.

I didn't even need my loupe as I could see the 'dings' in the edge. That man had a beard of Brillo and that's why his edge was going south so soon.

I do hope this offers some help.

I agree, something else is wrong? Technique takes a long time and that includes the stropping. As far as the 4-8k, my grandfather shaved with a straight his entire life with a lot less than we have available in hones today. I doubt that his hones even went up to an 8

I've had some barber hones that left ~8K scratch patterns and were perfectly acceptable to shave off of.

Do what your mentor advises, once you know more that he does… then experiment with other techniques. By that time you will at least know one way to keep your razors shaving.

A pasted strop can revive an edge and keep it shaving a long, long time. Unless the edge is damaged, e.g. Chipped it does not need re honing.

I use a yellow Coticule, a clean linen and a clean leather strop. That's all. I get edges that pop arm hair not quite half way in the middle of the strands right off the rock. Then the strop makes my edges shave well and last a long time. My trips to the hone are infrequent but my clean, no abrasives added strops get regular work outs. Most of my shaves won't feel heat from my aftershave, only warmth. Pastes are messy. You can do this too.

Chasmo

Originally Posted by cudarunner

I have questions.

What kind of beard (as far as coarseness of the hair) do you consider yourself to have: A. Light B. Medium C. Heavy D. Compares to Steel Wool.

I would grade my beard as (B) Medium and even when I was a Newbie I got at least 60 shaves before my razor started tugging and I only had a Vintage leather strop with no cloth to help out.

I have run into guys with 'beards of Brillo' as I like to call them. One guy I was trying to help complained that his razor started 'tugging' after a week or so. So I loaned a razor out with a fresh hone on it and Shave Ready and asked that he shave with it every day for one week, making sure that he was properly stropping and then send it back.

I didn't even need my loupe as I could see the 'dings' in the edge. That man had a beard of Brillo and that's why his edge was going south so soon.

I do hope this offers some help.

this made me chuckle a little, the last week or so i have been looking at others in work or social circle from this very grading system (although i never thought to grade as brillo)
i am in the D classification myself and have been thinking recently "that would be so much more pleasant to shave" when looking at others facial hair.
It really never crossed my mind until last week how varied our facial hair is with the exception of when we start shaving.

Originally Posted by stev

this made me chuckle a little, the last week or so i have been looking at others in work or social circle from this very grading system (although i never thought to grade as brillo)
i am in the D classification myself and have been thinking recently "that would be so much more pleasant to shave" when looking at others facial hair.
It really never crossed my mind until last week how varied our facial hair is with the exception of when we start shaving.

Oh, trust me, as a clerk who has worked for a corporate chain for 35+ years, once I discovered using straight razors I too started looking at others beards/even when they were close to being clean shaven. I've even gone as far as asking how they shaved and then tell them about using a straight razor, not often, but a few times they show an interest. On occasion it's paid off. Feels great to start others down an old road to an older but better way of shaving.

If you are in the /Brillo category, you might try this that my good friend pinklather came up with to help the original Brillo bearded guy and that is to fold several layers of newspaper down and strop on that on your strop before cloth or leather, it seemed to help the original guy as it has a bit of an abrasive to it.

You never know until you try

Thanks, i will certainly try that.

Just an update, i tryed the newspaper today and it did result in a much nicer shave.

thanks again cuda.