Using a 12K Naniwa Super Stone with Chromium Oxide Strop

Dear Fellow Razorheads-Has anyone else heard of this method? I just spoke today with a well known honemeister and he educated me on doing 7-10 strokes on a 12K naniwa, followed by a Chromium Oxide strop and then felt or canvas and then a regular bridle leather strop. Did not realize that a person could refresh a razor to shave ready status using this method:) Another well known strope maker hooked me up with a sweet 3" bridle leather and canvas strop using lower grade leather for a great price! Thanx again to both people! Any input here greatly appreciated also:)-Gearhead222

Yep..heard of it. :p

There's nothing unusual about that progression. The use of paste after the hone is certainly optional - the edge after the Naniwa 12k is quite sharp and smooth by itself, the chrome ox is just a little "icing on the cake". And stropping on material and then leather is standard before any shave. In any event, it works :)

That's a standard touchup aka refresh routine, to be used when your edge is starting to pull or not delivering smooth comfortable shave anymore. If the razor is actually dull you will probably need to drop down a grit or two before heading to the 12k.

Yup, That'll work, as will other finishing hones, like Escher or Thuringinan, even a Barber hone.
Like Ryan said, The Crox or Chormium Oxide is "icing on the cake". Also, Diamond or CBN are popular finishing spray's. The .50 Diamond spray on wool felt is awesome.

Once that doesn't work, you'll need to drop down in grit, maybe 4/8k level. It all depends on the blade.

The only thing I would add is that sometimes you only need the CrOx and other times you may need to go to lower grit than the 12k.

It just depends. I usually work backwards (start with the CrOx grit then test, if not satisfied I go to the 12k...and so forth).

Ideally I touch up earlier than later and less is needed. But I'm not yet very good at realizing when my edge is starting to slip away. Generally, I pull out another razor and have that "wow" moment and realize that my primary razor needed work several shaves back.

I have read great things about CBN and tried diamonds personally (did not like the diamonds...but some do;))

One of the reasons crox on felt/linen/leather eventually doesn't work is the rounding of the bevels surface. Jared had a fine page on it at superiorshave. Now - IIRC, Ron, a former (wonderful) member tried crox w/ a hard backing on thin single sheet cardboard from a cereal box and was pleased w/ the results. The hard backing would keep the bevel from rounding. Crox on a couple sheets of newsprint, backed by a hard, smooth, flat surface (like a stone) would do this also. It lacks the 'cool' factor, but is quite effective. No hones? a pc of plate glass or polished marble/granite/corian tile would do fine.

Unit: I'm w/ you on the 'feel' of diamond - not my pref. Now where I *have* found it useful is on those heavy ground blades that want to go silent (no feedback). A very few strokes - I use 3-6 on a pc of .5 diamond on hard felt that's 4"x5". Its enough to get it talking some (in many cases - prob not all) without bringing on the diamond feel. When I found that worked - I wondered if I'd been premature at pronouncing various blades as 'silent' - such as the Satinwedge. You Hart Steel guys that think they're "silent shavers" (like a sheffield), let me know if this method brings back your Hart's conversational voice. They're really nice - but they're nicer when they can carry a conversation w/ you.

Thanx guys! Great answers! So after 7-10 strokes on the Naniwa 12K, I should do at least 40 strokes on the CROX? Then 20 on the felt and 20 on the bridle leather? How do I test the sharpness touching the thumbnail? Do I do this test after the Naniwa? Would nto ask, but I didn't totally understand the thumbnail sharpness test on the GEMS video and I'm running out of arm hair!;)-Gearhead

You shave. :)

Jonathan

I prefer trying another medium than the face, when testing razor sharpness, due to pain levels;)

do not use the thumb nail test once you're razor is finished.. that is more for checking bevels off a 1k..
you may try the thumb pad test, or some arm hair, or just shave with it..

Thanx EZPZ!:)

You hone with the 8k, strop and shave. Then if it's shave ready you can go to 12k and further.
IF after 8k you still are at pain level it's too early to go on 12k.

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Originally Posted by gearhead222

Dear Fellow Razorheads-Has anyone else heard of this method? I just spoke today with a well known honemeister and he educated me on doing 7-10 strokes on a 12K naniwa, followed by a Chromium Oxide strop and then felt or canvas and then a regular bridle leather strop. Did not realize that a person could refresh a razor to shave ready status using this method:) Another well known strope maker hooked me up with a sweet 3" bridle leather and canvas strop using lower grade leather for a great price! Thanx again to both people! Any input here greatly appreciated also:)-Gearhead222

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WHy in the world would you question this "honemeister", especially before you even followed their recommendation & tried it?

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gearhead222

So after 7-10 strokes on the Naniwa 12K, I should do at least 40 strokes on the CROX? Then 20 on the felt and 20 on the bridle leather?

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I usually do about a dozen laps on the Nani 12, but 40 laps of chrome is excessive. 10-15 is all you'll need, perhaps less. Experimentation is in order here. As for stropping, you'll want to increase your laps. Staright off the hones 40 material/60 leather, regular everyday stropping 20 material/60 leather.

Speaking of experimenting, try touchups with stone only vs stone+paste for comparison sake. It lets you know just what chrome ox adds or detracts from the final result.