Thread: I can get razors very sharp but lately they have been harsh.

Have you checked it under mag. Make sure you don't have any micro chips. It can cause roughness.

I have a jewelers loupe. I think it's a 10x Bausch and Lomb. Maybe 20x. I can't remember but my bevels look fine under it. Before this comes up, I really make sure I use no pressure on the Naniwa and CrOx.

Try a few more more laps on the strop.

I have a razor here that I got in a group. Later tonight I was going hone it to 12k and see what the shave was like straight off of that. Before I got the Naniwa I was getting great shaves off just the Norton. At the same time I got the Naniwa though I started using CrOx so I never have tried to shave directly off of it. Will add more laps on the strop too. May do something like shave half my face immediately off the stone and then do something like 40 laps on linen and 100 on leather. Might be interesting to see the comparison.

Agree....give it 100 on the leather!

Originally Posted by JTmke

Try a few more more laps on the strop.

Straightoverload: The first thing I would try is skipping the linen and double your stroke count on clean leather.

1. Is this "Harsh" feeling on all your razors or just specific ones ???
2. Keep in mind as "Keeness" changes you must also adjust the pressure and possibly the angle that you are shaving at..
one of the advantages of using a Finisher is that you should be able to back way down on the pressure which ultimately will give you a more comfortable shave..

Originally Posted by gssixgun

1. Is this "Harsh" feeling on all your razors or just specific ones ???
2. Keep in mind as "Keeness" changes you must also adjust the pressure and possibly the angle that you are shaving at..
one of the advantages of using a Finisher is that you should be able to back way down on the pressure which ultimately will give you a more comfortable shave..

I can't remember to be honest. These two are the only ones that really stood out. It's definitely not all of my razors though. I have had problems with pressure in the past. I start off alright but sometimes as the shave progresses I start using some pressure. I need to take a dry erase marker and write on my mirror before I shave. Something to remind myself constantly.

It is not the shave that is making the edge smoother it is the additional stropping…

You either do not have a complete edge or the edge is chipping off the stones or Chrome Oxide.

When you say it looks fine, how are you looking at it, what do you see and when?

10 laps on the 12k may not be enough to polish 4K stria or completely set or re-set the bevel. Too much pressure on the 12K can also be an issue, the 12K can be aggressive.

It could also be the Chrome Oxide, many guys use way too much pressure, because they really want to, ”Polish” the bevel, but pressure will chip the edge, as can the substrate, a softer substrate will be less aggressive.

What is your Chrome Oxide on?
,
Eliminate the Chrome Oxide and see how it shaves, then eliminate the 12k and shave off the 8K. By a process of elimination you can find the problem, sometimes.

That stropping can make it shave,means you are very close. It is the difference between sharp and smooth. Sharp is easy…

CrOx is on a short, narrow and very thick leather strop. I must emphasize that I don't use pressure. When I get to the Naniwa and CrOx I'm only guiding the razor with my fingertips. I usually look right at the very edge of the razor with a loupe and look for flat spots that I can't see by eye. Then I look at the side against a dark background to see it at a different angle.