Thread: Is 3000 grit enough

Hi, I've just posted about having had my first full face shave with a straight.

I've been cleaning up 2 vintage/antique razors to bring back to life and let them do what they were made for.

Long story short, the wife wouldn't let me use my new dovo which I'll get next week. I honed one of the vintage razors and had a shave.

I used my grandads old stones to hone, I've done knives, chisels and planes so had a go.

Passed the hanging hair test but still pulled a bit.

My question is in the title of the thread. Is 3000 grit enough to get a decent shaving edge?

I`am no expert as I do personally go with honing as far as I can with grit, however I have one King 4000 hone (which has really great performance) and if i would go with low grit shaving 4-6K will be at least what I would choose.

Maybe this will help you with your choice: http://straightrazorpalace.com/hones...ur-help-2.html

To me 3000 is not enough 8000 to get a good shaving edge, Once you try that Dovo you will not want to go lower then 8000 for sure.
Just my opinion!

That sounds sensible. Definitely sharp, just not quite there yet. I'm thinking they will be sent to a chap called Neil Miller here in uk to do for me. He may be able to clean them up a bit better for me too.

Not an expert but I suspect it is really too course a hone to get a comfortable shave off. I use a 3000 grit stone to set the bevel, then got to an 8000 grit and can get a decent shave off that. To get the best edge I can get being new at it I have to go to a 12000 grit hone as a finisher. So really I do not think 3000 grit is a fine enough grit to get a decent shaving edge off of.

Bob

Originally Posted by Martin103

To me 3000 is not enough 8000 to get a good shaving edge, Once you try that Dovo you will not want to go lower then 8000 for sure.
Just my opinion!

I'm writing it off a a manly shave

It sliced though but not quite as well as I'd hoped.

I'm going to send the dovo off for a hone too

I did a couple of 4000 grit shaves when I started and you will definitely appreciate a higher grit. The toothy edge combined with the extra pressure required is just a bad combination.

Originally Posted by eod7

I did a couple of 4000 grit shaves when I started and you will definitely appreciate a higher grit. The toothy edge combined with the extra pressure required is just a bad combination.

Some sore skin going on now. Gutted I'm not going to be able to use them for a couple of weeks till they've been done properly.

Still off to a very very good barbers in Newcastle next week. If he shaves like he used to I won't need to shave for a week after

No, it's not.

I suspect once you get the blade back from Neil the difference will be rather obvious.