My maintenance honing of cheap chinese straight razor

[GatoLoco]

Another "sharp" Sunday today I dug out my very first razor, and also one of the cheapest: a 6/8" chinese one with a 1/2 grind of a little-known brand - Sharonds. IMHO it works better than my Gold Dollars, both in sharpening and in use. I also have a special treat for it, because I took my first steps in sharpening with it. Fortunately, the razor it still remains whole and in good condition - I didn't manage to spoil it ;D



This razor rested oiled for over a year, and today I dragged it through La Lune stone - first with a thin slurry, then in clear water (50 + 250x), then with glycerin (200x), then on leather strop with chromium oxide paste (also for some time I haven't done it) and finally - on the strops: canvas one after sharpening and three leather strops with decreasing gradation. Now this modest razor cuts my beard hair in the air without pressure and shaves perfectly my forearm an inch off the skin. This looks promising - I'll try it tomorrow !

A few more photos of the blade edge after the several stages of sharpening:




1 - fine suspension 50x
2 - clear water 250x
3 - glycerin 200x
4 - chromium oxide (100x) and strops

I know that I don't have much to show - the edge looks scratched - but these are deep scratches from my period of learning yet. You can't see the glare that hits the eyes, but the sharpness seems to be satisfactory and this is a priority for me

[outback]

Sorry, but you have a lot of chips in your edge. These need removed with a hone of at least, 1000 grit.

[GatoLoco]

Yeah, I see. Thanks for your opinion, @outback. However, as I have mentioned it was only maintenance honing - next time I will start with more coarse stone to fix it up completely

[sharptonn]

Your edge pics are very good. How are you taking those?

[GatoLoco]

Thank you, @sharptonn. I don't have big experience in the matter, but usually I prefer natural stones over the synthetic ones. I am doing my honing with slurry, according to Unicot/Dilucot-like manner, which were invented for the use of Coticule. Doing my first hones with BBW, then I got my Coticule, followed by french honing stones - Green and Black Shadow (for finishing) and La Lune (which can be used for complete slurry-based homing). The last one is the stone visible on the first picture with my razor above.

Eventually, when I have less time or when I need to do the complete honing with bezel set, or forrazors made of very hard steel (e.g C135 or stainless one) I prefer to use Shapton Kuromaku line of honing stones, but still finishing with Green or Black Shadow.

Then (sometimes) comes cromium oxide on the leather strop and finally (and always) canvas strop to clean my blades from rests of stones and leather strop belts (3 of them) with decreasing gradation.

And a lot of patience, with all of these steps, of course 😁

[sharptonn]

It sounds as though it is a long and hard process! I am far too lazy. Those Chinese stainless ones always chipped on me.
I think very slow is the key? Show more pics as you progress.

[DZEC]

Thank you, @sharptonn. I don't have big experience in the matter, but usually I prefer natural stones over the synthetic ones. I am doing my honing with slurry, according to Unicot/Dilucot-like manner, which were invented for the use of Coticule. Doing my first hones with BBW, then I got my Coticule, followed by french honing stones - Green and Black Shadow (for finishing) and La Lune (which can be used for complete slurry-based homing). The last one is the stone visible on the first picture with my razor above.

Eventually, when I have less time or when I need to do the complete honing with bezel set, or forrazors made of very hard steel (e.g C135 or stainless one) I prefer to use Shapton Kuromaku line of honing stones, but still finishing with Green or Black Shadow.

Then (sometimes) comes cromium oxide on the leather strop and finally (and always) canvas strop to clean my blades from rests of stones and leather strop belts (3 of them) with decreasing gradation.

And a lot of patience, with all of these steps, of course ��

This is what Griffiths Shaving Goods, the north american distributor of Pierre la Lune has to say about lubricants:
===========
The stone was used in the past and recommended for use with oil (glycerin, mineral oil), but the stone can be used perfectly fine with water. Each hone is finely lapped and ready for use.
The grain is 12000 to 15000, this is a fast but very fine finishing stone for razors.
===========

I have used mine as a finisher with water, water and glycerin and honing oil. I think the edge with oil was the best, but I will have to experiment more before I can be sure.

[GatoLoco]

Will do it! About the time it takes - in one hour I am able to done one straight razor, after almost two years of struggling with a lazier part of me