Noob question about 'touch-ups'

In one good thread, Hi Bud GL mentioned 'I assume you know what a touch-up is'. I can't say I do. What condition exists when an edge needs a touch up? Here is where the barber hone seems to have it's reason for being, but I can't say I know what makes for a touch-up vs another few strokes on an 8k or 12k.

When touching up, is this a trip to the stone(s) for the entire length of edge? Just a portion?. I've often found one section to be less sharp than others. I would think working just that section would make sense, but I'm not experienced there.

Thanks again for your kind help w/ the noob questions.

A touch up is simply a few strokes on a barber hone along the entire edge. I use a "touch-up" when a razor has lost that little bit of "magic". If that doesn't get it on the next shave, I'll give it around 20 strokes on my pasted strop. If that doesn't give me what I want, I go back to the stones.

Keep in mind that everyone has their own style that works for them. Dull to me may not be dull to you. If hi_bud_gl recommends something to you, do yourself a favor and do it. If you have ever shaved with a razor he has honed, you will understand why I say this.

Until recently, I had a rotation of razors in a gym locker that have been maintained for at least 8 years with nothing but a barber hone. Of course, until I found SRP, I only had a Swaty and a Carborundum 102. I keep those razors in a leather pouch and use them in succession. Every time I shave, I take notice of how the razor is shaving. If I notice ANY DIMINISHMENT in the quality of the shave, then I put the razor back in the pouch upside down. This flags it for touch up, which is just 5 full strokes on a barber hone, the next time I use that razor. Generally, that is all that is needed to bring it back up to snuff. If it still doesn't shave the way I want it, then it goes back in the pouch upside down again and the process is repeated.

That's all there is to it. If you notice the razor's shave is anything less than what you want it to be, that is the time to do a touch up. With a barber hone, touching up is just 3 to 6 strokes on a barber hone, followed by stropping and shaving. You repeat it as needed. This strategy insures that you keep you edge at its peak performance without removing any more steel than necessary.

There is a quote that is often, but not often enough, used around this forum: It is easier to KEEP an edge sharp than it is to MAKE an edge sharp. (I first heard Howard say it.) That is the job of a barber hone and if you use it right, you never need to use any other hone.

It does not make sense to only hone the part of the blade that is more dull. You should always hone the full length of the blade in order to keep it all uniform.

A touch up or refresh is actually a few things to me.

I start usually with either .5 diamond spray on felt or CrOx spray, now on felt or .5 diamond paste, Cerium or CrOx paste on linen, poly webbing, cotton or the back of leather and do 10 light X strokes followed by regular stropping. In most cases this will refresh the razor.

You can also use the Barber Hone as described by Ron, above.

These types of touch ups should help the razor last for a long long time although because of different abilities where you are at in the learning curve, it is hard to set down a specific amount of time. Typically, I would say they will work for 4-8 weeks with good stropping daily. Your mileage may vary.

When these touch ups fail to continue to produce results, I normally go to a finishing hone; Naniwa SS 12K, Shapton 16K, Escher, Coticule, Japanese Natural and so on. I have gone to the Norton 8K for touch ups too. Here, I will usually do 10-15 X strokes followed, by the 10 strokes on the pastes or sprays and then a good stropping. Again, this touch up should last for a pretty long time.

In my opinion, you actually may be able to maintain your razors for years utilizing the above approaches.

When the touch up approaches fail, I will normally go back to the 4K or 5K and do the circle honing technique to do a re-hone. I would not expect to have to re-set a bevel on razors that have been maintained like described.

Have fun,

Wiki, wiki, wiki........

Lynn

Gents. Thank You so much.

The quality of the help is incredible. I appreciate your kindness.

My barber hone is humble, but I'm at that humble state of paying dues & trying up acquire skills. This helps alot. 'Hard to say that enough.