Thread: Second shave after honing

I would like to believe my honing skills are improving nicely. However, while I have wonderful shaves after honing (and stropping on bare leather) I find the second shave to be much more mellow.


Does anyone have any suggestions on why this may be, or what I might do to get these results on the FIRST shave?

Current procedure.

Repairs (if needed) are done on DMT plates (1200 and on real problems I use the 600).
Then set the bevel (if not already done) on Norton 4k, (20 circles, 10 pigtails, 10 Xs), kill the edge (on the corner of the stone 1-3 passes), then repeat (20 circles, 10 pigtails, 10 Xs).
Move to the Norton 8K (20 circles, 10 pigtails, 10 Xs).
Then Naniwa SS 12K (20 circles, 10 pigtails, 10 Xs).

All the while I am inspecting things with a 10x lens.

Then 20-30 laps on my webbing, then 60-70 laps on leather.

I know there are many viable methods used, I just thought I would share mine in case someone sees something glaring.

My second shaves are FANTASTIC, but my first shaves are a little harsh (but still good).

Perhaps additional stropping?

Originally Posted by unit

I would like to believe my honing skills are improving nicely. However, while I have wonderful shaves after honing (and stropping on bare leather) I find the second shave to be much more mellow.


Does anyone have any suggestions on why this may be, or what I might do to get these results on the FIRST shave?

Current procedure.

Repairs (if needed) are done on DMT plates (1200 and on real problems I use the 600).
Then set the bevel (if not already done) on Norton 4k, (20 circles, 10 pigtails, 10 Xs), kill the edge (on the corner of the stone 1-3 passes), then repeat (20 circles, 10 pigtails, 10 Xs).
Move to the Norton 8K (20 circles, 10 pigtails, 10 Xs).
Then Naniwa SS 12K (20 circles, 10 pigtails, 10 Xs).

All the while I am inspecting things with a 10x lens.

Then 20-30 laps on my webbing, then 60-70 laps on leather.

I know there are many viable methods used, I just thought I would share mine in case someone sees something glaring.

My second shaves are FANTASTIC, but my first shaves are a little harsh (but still good).

Perhaps additional stropping?

Additional stropping for sure after honing, you didnt mention how is shave 3 etc do you get good edge retention?
I really dont understand your bevel setting?Kill the edge? after some repairs on a dmt i think setting a bevel on a 4k would take quite a while!

Sometimes, depending on how you hone and what you use you can be left with a harsh edge and a shave or two will mellow that out. .25 Diamond is famous for leaving a harsh edge on a razor.

This thread might help a bit Unit - http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...too-sharp.html

I have found, in my experience, that correct stropping has a positive effect on a properly honed edge. The charnely forest edge is my go to example. The edge I get off that stone is beautiful, but the first shave is never the best. After some extra stropping, that CF edge moves into my "unbelievable" category.

Stropping is King.

Try an experiment:

hone up to your 8K level and test shave after 100 passes on leather, no linen.

does this shave smooth and nice?
If not then there may be something in the honing before finishing the razor.

I never move past the 8K level until I test shave some of my face after 100 passes on leather (Mrsell aka Jerry taught me this).
If it's not acceptable then I have to either do more on the 8k ( a little more, don't over do it), or the 4K wasn't good enough. I don't use linen until I have shaved twice with a razor.

let us know!

Originally Posted by Martin103

Additional stropping for sure after honing, you didnt mention how is shave 3 etc do you get good edge retention?
I really dont understand your bevel setting?Kill the edge? after some repairs on a dmt i think setting a bevel on a 4k would take quite a while!

Shave 3 is good and edge retention seems fine. Killing the edge is basically dragging the edge through the corner of the stone (on the side of the stone), some guys will use a thumbnail for a gentler means, others will use a bit of hardwood. (if you want a visual example, skip to 3:05, http://youtu.be/qq4bB7oTCLc) Basically it removes any burrs or irregularities. Actually setting the bevel on a 4K seems to take only a few minutes if the razor is not in really bad shape (in which case I may step back to the DMT).

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

Sometimes, depending on how you hone and what you use you can be left with a harsh edge and a shave or two will mellow that out. .25 Diamond is famous for leaving a harsh edge on a razor.

I sure learned this the hard way. I honed my first few razors on diamonds up to 14K...shaved good but felt like a garden rake.

Originally Posted by earcutter

This thread might help a bit Unit - http://straightrazorpalace.com/shavi...too-sharp.html

I was thinking that...see below.

Originally Posted by Disburden

Try an experiment:

hone up to your 8K level and test shave after 100 passes on leather, no linen.

does this shave smooth and nice?
If not then there may be something in the honing before finishing the razor.

I never move past the 8K level until I test shave some of my face after 100 passes on leather (Mrsell aka Jerry taught me this).
If it's not acceptable then I have to either do more on the 8k ( a little more, don't over do it), or the 4K wasn't good enough. I don't use linen until I have shaved twice with a razor.

let us know!

I have done that...sort of. I finished on the Norton 8K and did approx 70 passes on leather then put the razor away and then shaved the next day as usual (10 laps on webbing, and 30-40 on leather) it actually shaved very well (better than the first shave off the Nani, but not as good as the second)

I guess the next test needs to be more stropping after the Nani...

I enjoy the pursuit!

Check out this thread!
http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...er-honing.html

Thanks all.

I honed another one today (after doing a partial restore on it). 100 labs after the Norton 8k was a great shaver. 100 laps after the Naniwa 12k and it was an amazing shave.

I am loving the results I'm getting now guys thanks!