Thread: How sharp is sharp?

Ummm. The OP has been a member for quite a while, he is not a particularly active member, but has been at this for a while. I would think that by this time he has already figured how to shave and is getting very good performance out of his 8K. So it is likely that he has already learned to max that. I think the time to move up is likely now or never. Some like the feel of a synthetic edge while others like the feel of a natural edge. If you can get t o a meet they are great places to learn about the other edges and experiment with those who already know the hones well. Otherwise try some different edges. Also you can buy a new hone every year until you find exactly what you want.

You know, I must be messed up in the head, or at least I think I am. However, as I read through all of these posts, I have to ask myself a few basic questions. "Am I satisfied with my razors performance, sharpness, my techniques, my abilities to hone my own razors (instead of relying on someone else), and am I getting a good smooth shave without butchering my face? I can say yes to all of these things.
I use a 1K / 6K set of water stones and a leather strop (Linen and leather) to sharpen my razors and maintain them. I am content!

So here's my question - Why or what else is there to consider? Told you I was messed up.....

Originally Posted by Johntoad57

You know, I must be messed up in the head, or at least I think I am. However, as I read through all of these posts, I have to ask myself a few basic questions. "Am I satisfied with my razors performance, sharpness, my techniques, my abilities to hone my own razors (instead of relying on someone else), and am I getting a good smooth shave without butchering my face? I can say yes to all of these things.
I use a 1K / 6K set of water stones and a leather strop (Linen and leather) to sharpen my razors and maintain them. I am content!

So here's my question - Why or what else is there to consider? Told you I was messed up.....

Welcome to Alice's Rabbit hole.

Originally Posted by cudarunner

Welcome to Alice's Rabbit hole.

It must be the agent orange...

Originally Posted by Johntoad57

It must be the agent orange...

You will find that 99.99% of EVERYTHING about straight razors is Personal Preference. If you are happy with your shaves with what you are using that's all that matters.

However there will be others who will insist that you would be better off using this or that hone.

IF you want to try 'their' better way (hones), it's your choice. However I for one think that your doing fine.

Originally Posted by Johntoad57

You know, I must be messed up in the head, or at least I think I am. However, as I read through all of these posts, I have to ask myself a few basic questions. "Am I satisfied with my razors performance, sharpness, my techniques, my abilities to hone my own razors (instead of relying on someone else), and am I getting a good smooth shave without butchering my face? I can say yes to all of these things.
I use a 1K / 6K set of water stones and a leather strop (Linen and leather) to sharpen my razors and maintain them. I am content!

So here's my question - Why or what else is there to consider? Told you I was messed up.....

I've read that 8K is entry level for a comfortable shaving experience. I've also seen a thread regarding a 1K challenge. Been meaning to try it myself, but the general concensus was you'd be surprised how good a shave you can get off a 1K hone. Seems like it all cycles back to this:

"No amount of money spent on a Stone can ever replace the value of the time it takes learning to use it properly"
Very Respectfully - Glen

To answer your question - I can get a close/clean/comfortable shave off my 8K hone. But the edge off a synthetic feels more crisp, and seems to more readily give razor burn. This can easily be circumvented by adjusting the pressure I shave with, but it is noticeably less forgiving. This could be my imagination (or questionable technique), who knows. Taking it beyond 8k with a good natural somehow takes that crispness off it and softens the shave, making the blade more forgiving while maintaining (or even improving) it's ability to cut through hair.

I've also noticed that the 'bite' is eventually removed with proper stropping. Eventually either way will feel the same, until the edge starts to tug and the blade goes back to the hones. So it isn't to say that one way is better than the other. Just different. And as Cuda said, all up to personal preference.

Originally Posted by Johntoad57

You know, I must be messed up in the head, or at least I think I am. However, as I read through all of these posts, I have to ask myself a few basic questions. "Am I satisfied with my razors performance, sharpness, my techniques, my abilities to hone my own razors (instead of relying on someone else), and am I getting a good smooth shave without butchering my face? I can say yes to all of these things.
I use a 1K / 6K set of water stones and a leather strop (Linen and leather) to sharpen my razors and maintain them. I am content!

So here's my question - Why or what else is there to consider? Told you I was messed up.....

My question would be have you ever shaved off a razor done by one of these "real hone guys"? If your satisfied with a 6 k edge I would propose you try it, cause till you know what your missing you won't know and a 6k edge is well,,,,, , or just shave off the edge you have, no worries.

But like most of us we thought we were getting Good edges till we learned otherwise. Tc

Well Ill put simply. I loved my 8k edges until I met my 12K and Loved the 12k until I met my 20k. Yes they all cut hair off my face but the comfort and ease that higher grit provides is just better. I would not go back to an 8k shave for any reason other than necessity. Am I spoiled ? You bet, but that's why I do this not for necessity but for luxury.

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

My question would be have you ever shaved off a razor done by one of these "real hone guys"? If your satisfied with a 6 k edge I would propose you try it, cause till you know what your missing you won't know and a 6k edge is well,,,,, , or just shave off the edge you have, no worries.

But like most of us we thought we were getting Good edges till we learned otherwise. Tc

Hey TC - You're probably right. However, I won't ever miss something that I've never had. I'll just have to be content and satisfied with what I currently have. It works for me. My Grandfather used to give me hell for wanting a second pair of shoes growing up. His philosophy was you only have two feet therefore you could only wear one pair of shoes at a time and didn't need a second pair of shoes.
It took me 30 years to overcome that (I have probably 20 pairs now). My point - In time I will probably get my razors honed professionally. Since I'm just a rookie, I need some time to adapt. But I do appreciate your input as always!

Well, to the OP and others, not that much. It has long been said the difference that we all argue about, over 6-8k, is really a 2-5 percent improvement… in distinguishable sharpness.

But it is not so much about sharpness, it is about smoothness and the feel of the shave.

It is much like the modern advancement in horsepower, with Turbochargers and Nitrous Oxide, (and really these technologies, are not that new) and motors in the 800 to plus 1000 horsepower range, how much does it matter?

Traction matters. If you can’t put the horsepower to the ground, it does not matter what the horsepower is.

Sharpness does not matter if it is harsh. For hundreds of years guys have been honing on natural stones and Barber Hones, in the 6-8k range, producing very acceptable shaves, and stropping them to comfortable edges on plain old leather.

It is the madness of videos of hair test that drives this sharpness obsession, (and yes, they do look cool) but does HHT really matter to the shave?

No, not really. If you are happy with your current honing regiment, spending hundreds more for a 2 percent improvement does not make a lot of sense.

Perhaps the best advice is to have a razor honed to the extreme, by a capable honer and see if you are missing something. I suspect probably not… that much, especially if you have been shaving and honing for a while and have mastered stropping.