Thread: Sharp vs.(and) Smooth

Hypothetically, I have a very sharp razor, I believe, but it is not smooth. I have a sharp razor that is smooth (I believe). What is due to steel, what is due to honing? Can I help my sharp but harsh steel with my
barber's hone? (I have found my strop doesn't do anything)

Thoughts gentlemen?

Possibly. Truthfully. It is hard to know without experiencing what y ou are experiencing with the blade or getting a good look at the edge. A few laps on a barbers hone won't hurt, give it a try and see what happens.

My thought is first as long as it is not chipped at all,the edge I mean I'd take it to my linen for a nice long strop session. 100 laps plus at a random guess.

i have a razor that i tried to touch up on a small hone that wasn't as fine as i had hoped (kind of an experiment). it left the edge able to pass the hanging hair test but to shave with it was surprisingly rough. kind of amazing that one can feel that small of a difference on that small of an edge.

Get your hands on a Kama Razor.......then you will know what sharp and smooth are.

Thanks all, the sharp but harsh is a new blade (or at least in oil from 6 mos ago).. strop is fine (assume).. The soft edge cuts clean.. is vintage and is just easy,,

New razor is harsh, fresh hone, sharp
Vintage, fresh hone, soft, sharp

Metal difference?

vs. hone?

Thanks in advance

And that is the trick… that the knife guys don’t get.

Sharp means nothing if it leaves you bloody.

Chances are if the edge is harsh, the edge is micro-chipped or just plain chipped. If you are sharpening a tool or knife, wood and carrots don’t care if the edge is harsh.

So assuming the bevel was properly set, and it is just chipping, the edge needs to be refinished on a high grit finisher or if the chips are larger a lower grit stone.

Most barber hones are below 8K and capable of refreshing an edge, but first, before you do anything… look at the edge straight down and from the side. What you see will determine what needs to be done and with which stone to start with.

If you begin with too high a grit stone, it will not hurt the edge, but it also will not solve your problem. Look at it.

Have you had a chance to examin the edges under magnification - like a 30x loupe?
It might at least give you a hint as to the problem.

The fact of the matter, as I see it, is that you have to settle yourself on some finishing tests. You are going to hear that a 200x loupe is too much, that a HHT doesn't mean anything,....hell, you'll even hear that a shave test isn't conclusive because the edge may not hold up after a shave or two. So what can you do to determine a good edge? Stop looking for someone else to vindicate your efforts and do it yourself. Maybe you need to finish on a lower grit stone with that razor, maybe you need to finish with Crox or CEOx. Know the options available and be prepared to make your own assessments, even though you're asking for advice. That's kind of the nature of honing, there's only so much that can be advised and the rest is up to you.

Thanks all, I looked at it under my loop (low power), looks good. Begs my question: what is the value of the steel?

I might be in the wrong forum..

Thx OCD....