Thread: Should this work.

Hi all,
i have a vintage razor carborundum 101a barbers hone and a home made paddle strop. At this point I did some work on the stone and stropped and am getting a slightly uncomfortable shave when going against the grain. The razor shaves arm hair easily. At this point I am assuming that I have a good bevel and just need to refine the edge. If I continue using the hone I have should I eventually get a shave ready razor or is this stone not going to get me were I want to be. I am afraid to over hone so I didn't go crazy on the stone. Is this a fine stone were I am going to have to put some time in or is it coarse and I am right about the concern of overhoneing and maybe I need to get a finer stone. The stone has been lapped flat with wet/dry and when I used it I started dry the used lather figuring that might be a good progression .

Can't tell what grit the stone is. I generally go from 6k to 12k then finish on strop. You may need finer stones for finishing before stropping.

Are you sure that is a 101a? What are its dimensions?

Box says 101a

Most barber hones are to be used sparingly to refresh an already shave ready edge that is starting to pull. I don't believe most of them are to be used as a finishing hone. I am not familiar with carborundum hones that is Utopians area of expertise. I use a little 00 frictionite with lather 6-8 x strokes and the blade comes back. Sometimes I find the edge harsh also so I add another 10 laps on a chromium oxide pasted strop to smooth it out plus the usual 50 or so on plain leather then I'm usually in business again. Sounds like your blade is shave sharp enough but just has harshness which is pretty common using silica carbide maybe try the chromium oxide and try a lighter touch and shallower angle when you shave and prep very well. These measures will improve the quality of your shave all things considered. Good luck tell us how its going.

I think the need is even more small stones, and only then the belt.

Did some more work on that 101a and shaved this evening. Seems to be getting better but not great. I ordered some of the 3m micro abrasive film (5mic,1mic and .3 mic) picked up a marble tile that I plan to lap and use as a base. Hoping that I can use the film to refine the edge a little better and get were I want to be.