Thread: Experimenting with Finishing Methods?

One thing I can tell you with complete confidence

My De-Fi is close to my heart

Originally Posted by gssixgun

One thing I can tell you with complete confidence

My De-Fi is close to my heart

You know, during my research into the brand I read that you had and liked them. That fact played a big role in my placing a bid on the razor.

I dulled the edge on my bottle of Frank's Red Hot, and started over. It took about 10 rounds of circles and x-strokes to get the edge to reliably pop hair from my arm. This is likely due to the lighter pressure I used this time on the 1K. I got it done though, then went through the 5 micron and 3 micron film, followed by some time on the Imperia with a light slurry, then water (followed by some bare leather stropping). It felt nice and sharp, but wasn't registering on the HHT, so I then stropped it on the nano cloth with CrOx then .125 CBN. Immediately, it was much keener and was probably HHT4. Looking forward to the shave tonight.

The bevel was probably not set, the first time.

Make sure your substrate for your film is flat, glass is not flat. Lap with a diamond plate or 320 grit Wet&Dry. It will also make your film stick to the plate better. Use Aluminum Oxide film.

Learn a foolproof way to set the bevel, looking straight down on the edge with magnification is the easiest, most foolproof way. Any shiny spot reflecting light is a chip or un-set edge, continue honing until, they are ALL gone.

Then spend extra time to remove all the deep 1K stria is removed with the 5um use lite pressure, the other progressions will go quickly.

Most probably your natural stone is going backwards, doubtful that it is 12K and just one partical larger than 1um will scratch the bevel and end in a chip, that will give you a harsh shave. Eliminate unknown variables until you have mastered honing, then experiment with naturals.

Hone on the 1um removing the 3um stria, then add the paper under the 1um and do 10 more weight of the blade laps to finish, just the edge.

Strop on Chrome Oxide and .125 um CBN misted with Distilled water both with very lite pressure.

Too much pressure honing or stropping will cause micro-chipping on the edge and a harsh shave.

Forget the hair test, they are completely unreliable and have nothing to do with how it will shave. It is a parlor trick, a cool one… but, judge your edges by your shaves.


The shiny spot are chips or unset bevel, the red is tape.

Originally Posted by DocMartin0321

Haha, no such thing as the Brrrrrr method down here in Tampa. I actually interviewed at VCU for residency, but it was 19 degrees with snow on the ground when I went. That was enough for me to drop it to the bottom of the list, even though it was an amazing program. We FL boys don't do cold too well.

I moved from St. Pete to Chicago 20 years ago. You get used to the change, and man do you learn to appreciate summer. 80 degrees and low humidity compared to Tampa.

Well, thanks to all of your help I had an amazing shave with the freshly re-honed blade. It was probably the first time that I had absolutely no burn with the alum after the shave.

I scrutinized the edge with my loupe before and after shaving, and it was far less effected by the shave than it was with the first hone. I remember looking at the edge after the first shave prior to re-honing, and the edge was ravaged. This leads me to believe that Glen was correct in saying that the bevel using the burr method was fragile, and the current bevel is much more stable.

I can't wait to find another old blade to bring back to life. Ah crap, I think I'm coming down with RAD. lol

Once you feel better and better with "Sneaking" up on the edge using lighter pressure and smoother stokes the edge will just continue to get more comfortable on your face..


Way to go :

Originally Posted by DocMartin0321

Haha, no such thing as the Brrrrrr method down here in Tampa. I actually interviewed at VCU for residency, but it was 19 degrees with snow on the ground when I went. That was enough for me to drop it to the bottom of the list, even though it was an amazing program. We FL boys don't do cold too well.

Go Rams!!!!!!!!!