Thread: Shaving off a 1k hone followed by stropping with blue compound?

Evening folks, firstly i'm very much enjoying the wonderful forum and information here. I have only been shaving with a straight razor for a few weeks. I first bought a Sheffield "repeat", which was near shave ready. I stropped it on the strop I use for my knife making/finishing. Its only about 1.5mm leather course side up to take polishing compound. Followed by smooth leather. From my limited experience it seemed to shave smoothly. I bought another razor a bigger 6/8 in half hollow. It came shave ready from Invisible Edge and I like it allot, I think its a touch sharper than the repeat, but shaves no smoother, could be me though getting used to it.
I just bought my 3rd razor, opps am I getting carried away? A "gong" razor, its in good nick but quite blunt, as advertised. The bevel looked even but with some chipping in places through a x10 Loupe. I re-honed the bevel on my cheap 1K, about 50 circles on each side. Then strokes with slurry until the chips were gone and bevel even and nice looking, then very light strokes on water. Through the x10 Loupe I can see the 1K scratch marks, its sharp but no where near shaving sharp, comparing to my others on the thumb and on hair.
After about 150 laps on the paddle course side with blue compound, I can still see some scratches, but the very edge is polished. So I went to the smooth leather. I can feel no real difference in sharpness now to my other 2, it pops the tops off hairs, and sticks in the thumb nicely. I'm making do with what I all ready have, but it seems to me like it would all ready deliver a smooth shave. Or is this just something I will look back and have a good laugh at myself later when I have been doing this a bit longer?
Thoughts appreciated
Will

Originally Posted by raisedbybrocks

Or is this just something I will look back and have a good laugh at myself later when I have been doing this a bit longer?
Thoughts appreciated
Will

I go with this.
have fun

Like most things the more you learn the more you find you need to learn. Its nice to hear that you are doing so well from the start, welcome to SRP and many happy shaves in the future!

Wise words, I will certainly not be able to resist the temptation to buy more hones. I have a bit of welsh slate on the way and I guess I need a 4K. I've been using this compound for a while, it has a little cut and gives a good polish. With a little work it does seem to remove the 1K scratches, not right to the back of the bevel. Does feel like cheating though. I had better try a shave with it and let you know how I get on.

Back when the only razor available was a straight, most guys did not have a set of fancy stones. They were probably more likely to have none. I suspect a lot of people maintained their razors with nothing but a strop with wood ash or some other abrasive on the back.

The number one goal is to get a smooth, comfortable shave. It really does not matter what was used to create the edge as long as it can be repeated. The 2nd goal is an edge that retains its sharpness. If you can attain those 2 goals then your doing good.

I did my first few honing attempts on 2k sandpaper on glass, and a crox balsa hone. Can be done, but not the best edge one can get

Understand, you are going to get various answers with your post and believe it or not most are correct...
There are different goals here by different people, to some of us this is a hobby more than just a shave, so no that system would be sorely lacking, but to many others this is a exercise in economics, and your system would be lauded as fantastic..
Anything that gets you to a close comfortable shave using your razors and on your face is considered a success

What is the blue compound?

Thanks All for the replies. I just had a shave with the "Gong", I really like the razor and got a nice smooth 2 pass shave with it. No bleeding or burn, which is good for me. The Repeat Razor got stropped with blue compound each time I used it and seemed to need a few strokes on leather in between passes to keep it fresh, but the sheffield steel is a tad softer? I don't have the experience to be too scientific about it and no hones for comparison as of yet.
The blue compound is the oil based stuff in a bar used for buffing on a powered mop. I believe it is the same as "Steelbrite". I'm not sure what is in it but it is a finishing compound for steel which is rated 4/10 on cut and 8/10 on gloss. This version of the compound is softer and designed to be applied easier to a strop. Its called Starkie blue from Starkie sharp in the uk. I'm sure there must be something similar in the u.s.
If any of you hone misters out there want to try an experiment with it, I'll pop you a wee lump off one in the post next time I order some. I got it off Longstrider our resident king of sharp on British blades. I think his design of strop which is very thin veg tan with the rough side up stuck to a paddle helps as it really holds a good bit of compound.
My curiosity will get the better of me eventually and I will try some different hones but I think for now the subtleties could be wasted on me.