Quote Originally Posted by Tack View Post
How about a departure from conventional wisdom.. how about using the stone INSTEAD of the crox for maintenance? Consider, why must you go to the stone, as you put it, "when my CROX pasted balsa strop isn't enough anymore" anyway? The reason is that the crox stropping is rounding the edge - it is becoming more and more convex with each treatment, IOW that theoretical V-shape is becoming more and more U-shaped. It is not a sudden degredation of the edge, rather you just realize one day that the shaves have been getting worse and worse and that this is the day when you've had enough.

Instead of putting up with that, you can give it a preemptive touch up every five or six shaves, strop normally on plain leather and enjoy smoother, cleaner shaving every day. IMO, crox stropping is best used after honing for putting that final increment of keeness on an already shave ready edge but a stone is far better for maintenance.

Five or six light laps on a 12K Naniwa or 16K Shapton every five or six shaves will maintain an edge without ever needing to hone the razor fully. (You can still hit the crox for a FEW laps after the touch up.) The PHIG or C12K can be used instead but be aware that they vary widely in hardness/fineness. You would probably be better off buying one from a member so you know what you are getting instead of taking a chance buying from a retailer or off eBay.

The good PHIG's are quite slow so you would likely need to give it a lot more laps than on the suggested synthetics (after following Euclid's excellent advice about prepping the surface). I'd suggest trying 15-20 no-pressure laps, then strop and shave. If it is still not up to snuff, try 15-20 more, etc.

The only thing the PHIG has to recommend it, again IMO, is that it is inexpensive. You will very likely end up buying some synthetics later on anyway, so why not take that leap now instead? Alternately, it might suit you better to send the razor out to a pro for honing this time and spend a few months saving up for that 12 or 16K.



rs,
Tack
Thanks Tack - just what I needed to read, something very succinct.

Am going to put my coticule away for awhile, as I've read enough about the stones to know they vary widely.

Just ordered a 12k Naniwa, and when I want to refresh ANY blade I have, I'm pretty confident I'll know what to expect with the 12k Naniwa, and, "5 or 6 light laps on a 12k Naniwa", is something eminently doable without fear of destroying or damaging a blade.

I assume it needs to be lapped, I requested Fendrihan to lap it for me, hopefully they will.

Thanks!

edited to add: they won't lap it for me...time to do some reading!