Thread: Finishing strokes: when, with what and how many?

Originally Posted by alx

Onimaru, that last post was an echo. haha

LOL... , Fixed.
My old powerbook has doubleclickitis .

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Also another thing that I have found is that the more attention that is paid to the honing and finishing routine the better the edge becomes regardless of the method ie: When people take the time to actually slow down pay attention and experiment and try to push the envelope they usually do... Unfortunately they sometimes think it was the new method or stone instead of the attention they paid to the task

Once i learned that simple fact everything changed...

Originally Posted by onimaru55

Sometimes I wish I did have a formula that worked for every razor but it might not be as much fun.

That sums it up for me - 10 strokes, 100 strokes, forwards, backwards, upside down - Whatever makes YOUR face happy is the best method for you. That said I'm inclined to believe those with a few (thousand) more sharp razors and happy customers.

These are my findings too. I don't do anything special to the edge, I lighten up the pressure as much as I can while still making nice contact with my finisher. With my 10k SS I am experimenting with stroke counts, but I usually do around 30 laps after a 8k Snow white. With my Jnat, I start with a 8k edge, and go to light slurry diluting slowly as I go, I finish with about 10 strokes on clear water. With my coti I do the same as the Jnat, and that works just fine. If I had to guess, I make about 100 strokes total, maybe more maybe less depending on the razor, but I have a small coti, and the Jnat is a slow and hard stone in razor size.

What is clear so far from this post is that there are several methods which may produce excellent results. This is why I love this hobby. The journey, the experimentation is really what makes it interesting. However, there are some common themes from this thread worth emphasizing.

1. "Less is more" but that means less pressure not necessarily fewer strokes on the 8k plus, pasted balsa, or leather.

2. Finishing strokes are spine leading at a minimum by the time you hit the pastes or leather.

3. Newbies should acquire a lighter touch for the finishing strokes to achieve the best edge.

Thanks to all for your input.

Gammaray

Usually 7 to 15 laps, edge leading, on a barber hone or "Frankonian". It's often closer to 7 than 15. About half the time add in around 80 to 100 laps on newspaper, spine leading.

Originally Posted by Sticky

Usually 7 to 15 laps, edge leading, on a barber hone or "Frankonian". It's often closer to 7 than 15. About half the time add in around 80 to 100 laps on newspaper, spine leading.

I too have found newspaper to be an excellent finisher when my best strop is not available.

I don't hone near as many razors as some of you do, only the ones I shave with and with a number of them being pretty bad shavers I do more honing than I sometimes wish to.
ONE thing I have learned, no 2 razors hone up up or finish the same way, if you all think about it, you will know that is true.
It's a facinating hobby, takes patients and a will to experiment always.

Just my IMO, tinkersd