Thread: Touching up an edge

I am using a yellow Belgian coticule with water and have experimented with as few as seven half strokes followed by seven X strokes to as many as twenty five half and X strokes. This is followed by twenty strokes on felt permeated with diamond slurry then twenty strokes on balsa with chromium oxide. Finally, I strop the razor. I never seem to be able to bring the edge back to the condition it was in when first honed. What am I doing wrong?

For touching up at the very first signs of edge deterioration (less comfortable, slight pulling), the consensus is doing at least 30 x-strokes on water, followed by whatever stropping regiment you prefer. I just use linen and leather afterwards, for example.

This like all re-touching is a factor of many variables..

The Razor and it's actual condition
Your Coticule
Your honing technique

IMHO it really really is dependent on if you are doing a scheduled "Maintenance" or if you are waiting for the edge to degrade to a noticeable point.. I found it much easier when I was "Maintaining" my edge for 20+ years to do scheduled by-weekly maintenance rather then waiting for the edge to de-grade.. Then it is way more set in the procedure..
Otherwise the amount of honing is dependent on the edge of the razor, needs sharper ?? then do more honing, pretty simple really..
Have you tried starting with a light slurry, then diluting out ???

Not seeing you hone it's hard to advise however with what you are doing if a touchup is truly all that is the issue you are in overkill territory already.

You might consider your honing skills are what need to be touched up first.

Originally Posted by dcaven

I am using a yellow Belgian coticule with water and have experimented with as few as seven half strokes followed by seven X strokes to as many as twenty five half and X strokes. This is followed by twenty strokes on felt permeated with diamond slurry then twenty strokes on balsa with chromium oxide. Finally, I strop the razor. I never seem to be able to bring the edge back to the condition it was in when first honed. What am I doing wrong?

As Pieter said, 30 x-strokes on water or maybe 30 on very light slurry followed by 30 on water usually refreshes a Coticule edge.
You should not need the diamond or CrOx in addition (I imagine this is what TBS is alluding to).
I wonder what size diamond is in your slurry? Anything larger than 0.25 micron has likely convexed the bevel enough that the edge is no longer contacting the Coticule or the Balsa.

What is diamond slurry and how do you obtain it?

I may be dim, but what's a 1/2 stroke?

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I may be dim, but what's a 1/2 stroke?

Str or oke, you can choose Carl it is the weekend after all

Originally Posted by unit

What is diamond slurry and how do you obtain it?

Diamond slurry would be diamond particles in water or oil, used for polishing - you could buy some on ebay if you wish. I expect the OP means diamond spray.

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I may be dim, but what's a 1/2 stroke?

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...lf-stroke.html

Originally Posted by edhewitt

Str or oke, you can choose Carl it is the weekend after all

No but really...