Battle of (my) Finishers

I figured that as long as I was testing out mid range hones, I might as well test out finishers. Currently, I have my trusty old PHIG (People's Hone of Indeterminate Grit; aka C12k), my new Asagi, and a Charnley Forest that is on loan. Why not take a shot at seeing which work best for various razors? I'm mostly just doing this for me (they are natural stones, after all), but maybe some of you will find the info interesting.

My first test was with the same razors I used in my BBW vs DT test (http://straightrazorpalace.com/basic...bbw-vs-dt.html). They are about 13/16, quarter hollow blades stamped "W. Taylor Corporate Mark" - I'm assuming Sheffield steel. In summary, I found they shaved about the same and rather well off the DT and BBW.

For my first test, I grabbed the CF and my Asagi. In an attempt to get the razors as close as possible, I gave each 50 passes on my coticule with just water. I then gave each blade 90 passes with just water on the respective finishers. Each blade then got 75 passes on my TM strop. I took a hot shower and had myself a shave.

I started with the blade off the CF. There was a noticeable improvement from the last shave - the blade did not pull at all. For the other side of my face, I used the blade off the Asagi. Also a very nice shave and, in my opinion, a slightly better shave. That's right, this one is coming down in favor of the Asagi.

But testing is still incomplete. First off, I have heard that the CF does better with oil and I only used water. Second, different steels seem to prefer different hones - a Solingen, Spanish, American, or French blade might be better off the CF than the Asagi. Third... I don't know, but I'm sure there are more problems with this test.

So I've got some future tests lined up. I'm going to test the CF with water vs the CF with oil. Hopefully, I'll do this with a matching set of Mappins (Sheffield), a matching pair of DD Dwarfs (Solingen), and perhaps also with a pair of Case Red Imps (American - mk 132). If anyone wants to lend me either a matching pair of French blades or another Filly, I'd be happy to test French and Spanish steel as well. And if anyone has another 7/8 Friodur, I can test stainless blades.

I'm also going to do a three way test between the PHIG, CF, and Asagi with the Ducks. If anyone wants to lend me another Red Imp 132 or has another Mappin to match my set, I could test those as well.

That's all for now - updates when I get to it. Feel free to ask questions or discuss at your leisure.

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Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I started with the blade off the CF. There was a noticeable improvement from the last shave - the blade did not pull at all. For the other side of my face, I used the blade off the Asagi. Also a very nice shave and, in my opinion, a slightly better shave. That's right, this one is coming down in favor of the Asagi.

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That's consistent with my experiences as well. FWIW Charnley Forest and Translucent arkansas are both Novaculite hones, so that's another option if you decide you like the Charnley Forest but are having problems finding one. I've got both a CF and a couple of translucents and I'm not sure I could tell the difference between them either when honing or shaving, other than the form factor of the stones.

+1 with mparker...it makes sense that there would be variations, off the finishers, depending on the earlier stones used in the progression...i do like the idea of using a translucent, earlier in your progression, but no doubt you are limited time-wise, like us all. He, he...

Fun times Holli! I just cant get enough, when it comes to reading this stuff. I think these are awesome and much needed test, to give all of us more info., re: these naturals. You are mindful of the variables affecting your results as well...can we ask for more?

Very cool,

Mac

Quote: MPARKER762 - I've got both a CF and a couple of translucents and I'm not sure I could tell the difference between them either when honing or shaving, other than the form factor of the stones.
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Can you tell us what you use to lap your transluscent? I have a black Arkansas that is the hardest stone I ever lapped.
Thanks
JERRY
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600 grit wet/dry in an electric hand sander to knock down the high spots, then I finished it by hand on a big sheet of wet/dry. Paradoxically the really coarse grits seem to be much slower than the 600 grit. I think you need something fine enough to abrade the softer binder between the granules.

Once it was flat then a couple sheets of 1000 grit wet/dry finished it off.