Thread: Unbeleivable Edge

I just purchased this razor and am amazed by the edge the seller was able to put on it. I have been honing for awhile and use a coticule and a thuringian as a finisher. I get comfortable shaves with my honing but the edges I produce are no where near this level. My question is how do I improve? Am I using the wrong hones? I can't figure out what the path to an exceptional edge is. Please enlighten me.

Is that a Henckels?

Yes, it is a Henckels stainless 8/8. It arrived today. I was blown away. The razor is terrific but the person who honed it was an expert.

Originally Posted by Phrank

Is that a Henckels?

Friodur 7/8 or 8/8. Those take awesome edge and shave superbly.

I wish I had the answer. I have a few razors that I use as benchmarks. Over time I have found myself able to hit my benchmarks, however, not every time and with no great consistency. All I know for sure is the base of every great edge is a perfect bevel. On restored edges I have started killing my edge and starting over if the whole edge is not there. The thought being that the entire edge should hit refinement at exactly the same time. This combined with my constant checking with the loupe has gotten me to a more consistent place. If I work the bevel too much then when I get to the finish it is already getting fragile. It is all theory and I have not produced enough edge nor have I produced enough consistent edge to really feel that I have a great handle on everything, but this is where I am at in my thinking about finding that perfect edge.

I have purchased quite a few razors from Classic Edge in Canada. Phil also imparts an excellent edge. I don't understand what guys that can get those excellent edges know that I don't.

Originally Posted by dcaven

I have purchased quite a few razors from Classic Edge in Canada. Phil also imparts an excellent edge. I don't understand what guys that can get those excellent edges know that I don't.

Phil from Classic Edge puts a sublime edge on razors, have several of them.

What model is that razor, gorgeous....

Those are reground blanks with added spine work, no model. The blanks should be #17 though.
They also are notorious for having very funky tangs and issues fitting straight in scales.

Originally Posted by Phrank

Phil from Classic Edge puts a sublime edge on razors, have several of them.

What model is that razor, gorgeous....

Phil can put an edge that good on a razor because that is what people pay him to do! He also has tons of experience doing it. I love the edges he puts on razors. Hell if I was paid to and spending 8+ hours a day honing and in the razor zone I would be very good at honing and my edges would be a lot better. Not at all to say that you have to be a pro to put an excellent edge on a razor because that's clearly not the case. There are a lot of excellent honers around the world that deserve credit. I would rather shave with a blade I honed out of the satisfaction and learning experience it brings. It is just hard to compare yourself starting out honing to someone who is very seasoned at it and that is their profession. (Helmet is on)

Funny thing but I swear I put a better edge on for someone else than I do for myself. Everything I sell or send back honed I want to keep awhile :<0) I started to change that this year. For me it's a matter of paying attention to basics and details. Now if it isn't going perfect I chalk it up to attitude and come back to it a little later. I have more variety of stones than you listed and sometimes 1 route feels better than another but most of that is at bevel set or just above it. I always finish out the same way. 8k Norton 12k Nani and Zulu to smooth that out.
Practice practice practice. Some of these guys have honed a million razors so it comes natural.