Thread: Harsh edge

After reading OP and nothing else in this thread, if the bevel was set, I'd be most inclined to blame the Swaty hone:

https://scienceofsharp.wordpress.com...e-barber-hone/

Originally Posted by Fruiteater

After reading OP and nothing else in this thread, if the bevel was set, I'd be most inclined to blame the Swaty hone:

https://scienceofsharp.wordpress.com...e-barber-hone/

I've read that article before, and I still don't want to blame the hone. I'm still too new to razor honing for it to be anything but me. More likely that I'm miss using the Swaty, or moving up in the progression too soon.

It's fairly rare for me to do a shave test at the 1k stage, i don't norally do an arm hair check til 4k. Usually I move on when the loupe shows the edges have met and there are no chips on the edge.

I think Utopian (and the others that have mentioned it) are onto something when they say get it shave ready at 8k before carrying forward. When I run it through again I'll stop at 8k and make sure it shaves right before moving on.

Couldn't leave well enough alone, so I messed with it tonight. Went back to 1k and made sure the bevel was set heel to toe. When you look straight down at it the edge pretty much disappears under magnification. Zero shinies, and did pop arm hairs at skin level.

I discovered there's a rough patch on my 4k hone. Feels a little extra gritty in that region, probably needs to be flattened (again). Definitely causes scratches when the blade is run over that area, so I avoided it and polished away the marks left by it on the 4k.

At the 8k I honed until the 4k marks were gone, then did a little shave test. I went back and forth from the hone to the shave test until I stopped seeing improvement. Not perfect, but much improved - particularly for a razor that was as yet unstropped. There was a tiny bit of tugging, but if I had used the CrOx and stropped it, or maybe even just stropped it I'm sure it would've shaved OK.

Again - I couldn't leave well enough alone. I went ahead and broke out the Swaty. I figured at this point IF it did any damage a trip back to the 8k would resolve it so I took a gamble and did 10 swipes. I checked under the loupe to see if there was any edge damage - none that I could find under 60x magnification. Definitely made a world of difference on the edge - I almost saw the reflection of my eyeball on the surface. Little shave test, no tugging but still harsh.

Hit it with CrOx again (10 passes), 20 on linen, 50 on leather. Definitely cuts hair, but my God that thing is unreasonably harsh. I dunno if it's because I burnt the stuffing out of my face yesterday, it's been too long since I shaved with a decently sharp razor and my form was off, or because I need to back down to the 4k and do a little more work once it's been lapped and prepped. Definitely going to wait a bit for the face to heal, so I can at least eliminate that possibility.

Honestly read the old thread and shave after the 8K, and keep working at the 8K until you get it figured out.

Don't give up! You didn't mention it in your first post- did ever get a good shave from the blade? It is possible, though remote, that you have a dud!

That was the plan. Once I got it there I couldn't resist the temptation to go further. Well, no harm done. The bevel is still good, no shiny spots. I'll just back it down to the 4k and do a few light laps, then polish it out on the 8k when the time comes to tinker with it again. For now I need to find a distraction, take a step back and a few days off.

Edit - I have gotten a good shave off it in the past. Not the blade, just something I'm doing differently. I think it was a cluster of problems. Not enough time at bevel set/1k. Scratches on the 4k I've been putting off addressing, and not enough time on that hone either. Not enough time at 8k, (seeing a pattern here...) and too many swipes with the B. hone.

That's good news if you have gotten a good shave in the past from the blade! Now the fun part is getting it there again I would take a break from it and then come back with a better mindset tomorrow.

Ten laps tends to be too many on a Swaty. Try just 4 or 5. Also, how many strokes are you doing on the 8k? 10-15 should be more than adequate.

Originally Posted by puketui41

Dulling the edge before bevel setting makes it easier judge when you have reset the entire length of the bevel. If the bevel is correctly set you should be able to shave arm hair with a light touch, similar to what you would use to shave your face. The arm hair should shave smoothly, once again similar to shaving your face. Is this where your bevel is at before you move up?

And that exact same assessment can be done at the end any bevel setting regimen, regardless of any jointing or dulling.