I'm looking for input on the particulars of honing "old" steel. I have a couple of recent reclamation razors, a W&B and a Jonathan Crookes, both pre-1890 from what I understand as neither have the country of origin, just "Sheffield" along with their various makers marks and names. Both are about 1/4 ground. Both have a great looking sway back and corresponding smile. The W&B shows more hone wear than the Crookes. The W&B has a lot of heft to it but the Crookes isn't far behind. Both are more stout than the full-hollow early/mid 20th century razors I've been using (mostly a Krusius Brothers KB Extra).
My honing arsenal is simple; a couple of barber hones; an Old Timer I generally use with water and a Victory hone I use dry per the instructions written on it (dry with a rub from this round disk that came with it. The disk seems to clean it and leave a dry powder behind...kinda like a dry slurry). I have, on occasion, turned to a 2K ceramic stone I use for my woodworking tools when I need to remove a lot of metal. I've only used that twice, once on an old Hess that was badly frowned and on this Crookes...which I now think was not needed).
I've got the W&B sorta/mostly passing the HHT, and can feel a smooth reasonable draw on my thumb nail after honing and thumb pad after stropping. I can get a close shave with it, just not as comfortable as I'd like yet, which could be getting used to the dynamics of the different shape, grind and heft of the blade. I'm thinking this one just needs more stropping and I need more practice shaving with it.
The Crookes isn't that far along yet. Based on what I've done, felt on my thumb nail, and seen with a microscope, I'm thinking I need lighter honing strokes than I'm used to with my 20th century razors. I'm thinking as I approached a keen edge, with my usual firmer stroke I'm breaking off that final edge. Trying lighter strokes (and lots of them!), I'm getting a little more drag on my nail, but stropping hasn't finished it off.
Is this old steel more brittle? Am I imagining the difference? I'd appreciate any input from those of you who have experience honing this type of razor.
Thanks!
- Dale