Thread: Getting a harsh edge from Suehiro 20k

Progression for touch up was as follows: coticule, thuringian, Suehiro 20k. I have been getting comfortable shaves from just the coticule and the thuringian but would like an even sharper edge. However, I want to maintain the soft edge I already have. Do Suehiro's just impart a harsher edge, am I doing too many strokes? Any help will be appreciated. I think there are some bevel issues. I am going to dull the razor and start with a 1k with tape, 3k no tape but using a sharpie to see when my bevel is correct, then on to the rest.

David

Going all the way back to 1k seems kind of drastic :<0) Harsh sometimes means very sharp. I got that when I started using a 12k Nani. Zulu made it smooth out and It stayed sharp. If somebody ever invents a way to watch as you hone at the molecular level it would sure answer a lot of questions .

Depending on why it is harsh. I think sometimes when you go to far with an edge it gets harsh. I call it a prickly shave. Some hones do and others not. I am not a user of the 20K, but have experience harsh edges from others.

+1 to both of the above posts. Try taking it back to your thuri for a few strokes. Might 'take the harsh off the edge. I've also had that experience with high grit synthetics when I was used to a natural edge. A few licks on the escher and it was more what I was used to.

Maybe I'll try that. Sitting here looking at the progression of stones I have laid out makes me sleepy. The principal reason I am considering going all the way back to the 1k is that after using a sharpie, the Suehiro didn't remove all the ink. After a while it removed most of it but not all. When I hone, I start with a 1k with a taped spine and then take the tape off for the 3k. Then I move to the naturals. In this case, I don't think I spent enough time on the 3k evening out the bevel.

Maybe so. It should have removed the ink at the bevel, not necessarily the ink that was over top of the bevel. If it wasn't catching the ink at the bevel something else must be going on.

BTW, my experience with harsh edges on high grit synthetics does not include the Suehiro 20k. That has been giving me very smooth results on a variety of razors. I've also sold a few honed with the 20k and gotten feedback from buyers saying they were pleased with the edges.

Everybody is different though, and if you're used to coticule and thuringan edges a synthetic, even a Suehiro, might be different enough to feel harsh.