Do I just need to touch up

I've noticed a real reduction in the sharpness of my razor after about 2 months of use. I want to touch the edge up.

1) Should I send it off to be sharpened?

or

2) Will I be able to bring the edge back with a forgiving hone?

If I buy a hone to touch it up which should I pick, a Chinese 12k or a BBW?
If I buy either of the above they will be from here:
Razor Hones

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If I buy a slow cutting hone, and keep on top of the edge will the razor still eventually dull down to a point where I will need a more aggressive hone to bring it to the peak of performance?

tree1,

As a first off, I would try and touch the razor up with a CrOx pasted strop.

As this uses a stropping action, you will be comfortable with this.

If you haven't already got the gear, you can get suitable materials from Mr Neil Miller at www.strop-shop.co.uk.


If you are unsure about doing this, and the razor is your only razor, I would be tempted, on this occasion, to send it out to be re-finished. It all depends how degraded the edge has become.

We have some very fine honers in the UK (Misters Miller, Dempster & Haywood).

Are you experienced in honing ?

A stone in the 12k range would be good to touch up with (I use a Naniwa 12k).

I haven't used the Chinese 12k, so cannot offer any useful observations on it, save that opinion indicates that it is a 'slow' cutter.

Both the Chinese 12k & the Naniwa 12k can be had from Mr Dempster at the link you mentioned.

WRT edge maintenance in the long term using the 12ks, I touch up weekly with CrOx, and monthly on the Naniwa 12k; so far this has kept my razors in fine order, and I have not had to drop down to a coarser stone yet.

Other more experienced honers will chip in with sage advice :)

Good luck !

Have fun !

regards

Russ

the 12k stone is great touch up stone bbw is to low of a grit to use as a touch up stone

+1 on what PhatMan said, maintain with CrOx treated strop, paddle etc first. You have resources available in the U.K. that can provide all you require. Regular maintenace with a pasted strop will increase the edge longevity between honings. You can learn to hone your own razors too. Hope this helps.
MIke

Ok, just to clarify:

I should buy a new strop, treat it with Chrome Oxide Powder, and use that once a week to touch the edge up? Then once a month or so use a 12k grit stone.



I've been puzzling over this for ages. Should have just seen you guys. Thanks!

Sorry guys, I'm stuck again, a need a little more advice.

I've been looking for a new strop and since I'm still in the high risk category for slicing and nicking my strop I want cheap quality. Also I'm in the UK and my best options are from The Invisible Edge.

This is what I plan to buy:Dovo razor strops

DOVO 15240001 Hanging strop

This is what I have at the moment anyway, they are one sided cowhide. Am I right in thinking this is fine for use with the CrOx?

What you need is a good barbers hone, it is the right tool for this particular job.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tree1

Sorry guys, I'm stuck again, a need a little more advice.

I've been looking for a new strop and since I'm still in the high risk category for slicing and nicking my strop I want cheap quality. Also I'm in the UK and my best options are from The Invisible Edge.

This is what I plan to buy:Dovo razor strops

DOVO 15240001 Hanging strop

This is what I have at the moment anyway, they are one sided cowhide. Am I right in thinking this is fine for use with the CrOx?

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I wouldnt recommend any of the Dovo strops. Ive used them before and think they are poor quality compared to Neil Miller's at strop-shop.co.uk.

He sells far better strops for similar prices.

Get yourself a good barber hone and do 3-5 passes on that with lather on the hone and you will be back in bussiness, This is what the barber hone was made for.

tree1,

I have a spare Neil Miller double sided paddle strop you are quite welcome to have.

I can coat one side with CrOx powder for you.

If you PM me with your address, I will get it sent off :)

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

That is an awesome gesture PhatMan, this is why this is the best place on the web. Sorry to be off topic there, just wanted to say that

-dan-

Phatman: It's guys like you that give this forum a GREAT name. Way to "pay it forward".:bow:bow:bow

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Originally Posted by shooter74743

Phatman: It's guys like you that give this forum a GREAT name. Way to "pay it forward".:bow:bow:bow

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I agree!!! +1

Phatman, that's super generous. I'm thinking that one of my razors needs a touch up. Wish there were more like you around ;-)

I have found that news paper works, it seems to be a little more
aggressive than canvas, I use news paper about every three days

I think your are at the stage though that you will need at least
a CrOx coated strop.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by tree1

I've noticed a real reduction in the sharpness of my razor after about 2 months of use. I want to touch the edge up.

1) Should I send it off to be sharpened?

or

2) Will I be able to bring the edge back with a forgiving hone?

If I buy a hone to touch it up which should I pick, a Chinese 12k or a BBW?
If I buy either of the above they will be from here:
Razor Hones

----------------------------

If I buy a slow cutting hone, and keep on top of the edge will the razor still eventually dull down to a point where I will need a more aggressive hone to bring it to the peak of performance?

---

I think a BBW makes an excellent touch up hone with slurry.

The barbers hone suggestion is a good one , Utopian convinced me to use an acquisition that I got an Aloxite BH, I tryed it with a little dishwashing soap and water on an edge that was ready for a refresh and after 5 laps it was shaving. I was impressed , and they won't break the bank. Tc. Oh and with Neil Miller in your area I,m sure he can fix you up too.

Try using a ChromOx past like Maggards applied to a strip of balsa wood that is as wide as the blades cutting path. Not alot needed on the wood and strop the razor. Worse case scenario if you don't want to invest in honing stones is to find someone in your area that will be more than glad to touch up the blade with a Thuringian or a Naniwa in the 10-12K grit range. I use a Naniwa right now until I invest in a Thuringian for touch ups which are about every month since I only have 4 razors in rotation for now. That accounts for about 5 shaves per razor before I pull out the Naniwa and put about 10 strokes on the stone to get it back up to a very sharp edge. I still use my dedicated paddle with a leather strop on it with ChromOx on it. Good Luck and I think you will find if you stay in this and accumulate razors you will more than likely want to get the stones for maintaining.

you guys do realise that this thread is 4 years old?

Hey, the OP has only been gone for 4 years.
He'll be back soon.
His razor has got to need honing by now!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Utopian

Hey, the OP has only been gone for 4 years.
He'll be back soon.
His razor has got to need honing by now!

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Either he learned to hone or that strop worked wonders for him.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

you guys do realise that this thread is 4 years old?

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I never looked at the date and replied to what was revived. I wish old post over a certain age would be archived so these things do not happen. I know that is an almost impossible task. Oh well like Utopian stated, he certainly does need to touch them up by now!!! :rofl2:

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Michael70

I never looked at the date and replied to what was revived. I wish old post over a certain age would be archived so these things do not happen. I know that is an almost impossible task. Oh well like Utopian stated, he certainly does need to touch them up by now!!! :rofl2:

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I don't know, some old threads are worth reviving, possibly not this one though :)

Quote:

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Originally Posted by edhewitt

I don't know, some old threads are worth reviving,

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How about THIS one?

Alternatively, we could just dig up a few threads on taping the spine!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Utopian

How about THIS one?

Alternatively, we could just dig up a few threads on taping the spine!

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or this maybe? http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ew-razors.html Partly references taping and honewear and is also one of Jimbo's old threads :)