Thread: Is this microchipping...

Originally Posted by BeJay

I'd like to ask you a serious question that may come across sounding sarcastic so please don't take this the wrong way. Are you trying to make this bevel shave better or are you trying to make it look better? I can understand and respect that some want their bevel to look perfect but looking perfect and shaving perfect are not necessarily the same thing.

Just to answer directly. I'm looking for an improved shave, from the baseline (a microchipped edge that was uncomfortable). I got there with the 12k and Cr-Ox. Now, I'm looking to experiment with film and see how it works out.

In addition to the true test, the shave, I'm looking at the edge to see how it changes at different stage, to see if something bad happens (not getting good coverage, more chipping), and to get a feel for how the edge looks at the varies stages of the process(es) I'm doing.

Probably movie curiousity, but I look at the edges for new blades, and blades I get from pro honers too, like the one I just got back from Lynn, with the free hone I had for my Boker.

Update: Your point is well taken though, not to rely too much on the look.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Now go ahead and look at it again after a couple of shaves and see how much it really mattered.

Indeed, I will!

To me, it's useful to try several different ways, see what I like, see what time I invest, and decide on the ROI.

I think it's useful, to a point, to question whether added process helps or is just burning cycles. Maybe I'll find that the 12k is fine for me. Maybe I'll like the feel of using a fine film, or the finishing from Cr-Ox, maybe I'll try higher grits some day.

Lots to explore!

I did about 15 rolling X strokes, with the 1um film. Looks good. Will test shave tomorrow, and then work on .03um and test shave that on Saturday.

Shaved this morning with the Spike (this is rigt after using the 1um film). Closeness seemed to be similar to that which I obtained when shaving rigt off the 12K Naniwa, so no difference there.

Irritation wise, there was no irritation at all! So I did detect a more comfortable shave. Will do the 0.03um and see how that feels on Saturday.

This opens up an idea for future tests. Comparing 12k shave, to 12k + linen + leather strop shave, and to 12k + Cr-Ox + linen + leather shave (what I did with the JA Henckels razor I just did) Maybe as a result, I'll adjust the last step, or maybe what I do will be ok. It'll be useful to see how that works out.

Actually, I dug around, and I can't find the white 0.3um film. I found the paper, but not the film. Not sure what happened. I'll have to order some. Where do you get film from?