Thread: Is 3000 grit enough

No, 3k is not enough. IMO a shave ready edge starts at 8k.

You have to understand the concept of the edge.

1K: Bevel setting. This stage does the sharpening and the edge is about as sharp as you are going to get it. For a mental picture on the microscopic level, think about a old cross-cut saw used to cut logs.

3/4K: Prepolishing. This stage continues to sharpen a little, but the key is that it is refining the edge. Visualize the handsaw that carpenters used to cut 2x4's.

8K+: Polishing. This stage doesnt really sharpen any more, it refines the edge to shave-able. Visualize a hack saw.

I know these visualizations are extreme, but they help to paint a picture. Normally 8K and finer is where we prefer to finish our blades.

Yes, 3000 grit is plenty fine enough to put a good shaving edge on a razor. So is 600 grit - if one has experience honing. If one doesn't, then even 10,000 grit isn't fine enough. But in any case you will really want to have a good leather strop (and even better, a canvas strop also) to smooth and refine the edge for shaving.

Originally Posted by JeffR

Yes, 3000 grit is plenty fine enough to put a good shaving edge on a razor. But you will really want to have a good leather strop (and even better, a canvas strop too).

I got a bit too excited and didn't strop the razor. I feel this may have been to my detriment.

Actually you can shave after 1k too, but to have a really nice and comfortable shave, imo a 8k stone is the minimum.

Originally Posted by jeness

Actually you can shave after 1k too, but to have a really nice and comfortable shave, imo a 8k stone is the minimum.

My intention is to send my 3 razors to Neil Miller, the new one for honing and the vintage ones for a clean/polish and honing. I'm going to get a crappy razor to practice honing after I've pilfered my dads tool shed for stones over Christmas.

I'm sure he won't mind.

Originally Posted by JeffR

Yes, 3000 grit is plenty fine enough to put a good shaving edge on a razor. So is 600 grit - if one has experience honing. If one doesn't, then even 10,000 grit isn't fine enough. But in any case you will really want to have a good leather strop (and even better, a canvas strop also) to smooth and refine the edge for shaving.

NO, 3K is not fine enough much less 600 grit for a comfortable shave with a strop. If a man is asking, he is obviously not experienced on the hones. I respect a person who asks a question that they don't know and wants to learn properly. Please DaveTheGeordie, understand that a 3K edge can be sharp enough to shave, but remember the saw teeth reference? The finer the teeth, the smoother the edge...but they will all cut.

Next we will see that you can get a good shaving edge off a cinder block with experience...NOT.

Neil is a good choice and practicing on a old razor is a good choice as well.

Originally Posted by shooter74743

Neil is a good choice and practicing on a old razor is a good choice as well.

I've been emailing him and will send after the Christmas rush. Seemed a bit pointless sending in the run up to Christmas.

I am looking forward to a decent edge on all 3 hopefully. Cycle through them.

Like others have said, if you want a comfortable shave you will need a refined edge that 3000 will not give you. You need to go up to 8000 at least and higher is even better. Stropping is a double edged sword, if you don't have good technique you can degrade the edge not improve it.

When I hone a razor the first shave I try is directly off the hones. If that was stratifying enough the following shaves are preceded with hopefully a good stropping as opposed to a bad one. A good stropping should add a touch more smoothness to an already good edge.

I am sure that when you get your razors back from Neil Miller you will then know what a good edge is and what to aim for in your practice razor. I would do the first shaves with your freshly honed razors without stropping first. That is to eliminated the possibility of degrading the edge by stropping. When you do the next shave after stropping you will know if you have an issue or not with your stropping technique. If it feels duller then you have an issue and if it feels the same or slightly smoother you are off to the races.

Apologies for being long winded but there is quite a bit that goes into getting a smooth comfortable close shave.

Bob