Thread: How sharp is sharp?

I've been getting a great edge off my Norton 8k and the best shaves in my shaving career. I mean these shaves are usually two pass efforts with little touch up that last until well after I get home from work. Even the wife is impressed.

My question is how much sharper can a razor get? I've been thinking about getting a 12k but how much better will the edge be? How much better will the shave be?

It all depends on who hones the razor.
I can get good shaves just like you & even a few Great shaves, the past year.

But,,,,,

There are members here who take the edge to a higher level,,, they put in the time studying the hones & how particular razors respond to the hone. They test & push different ideas for success or failure.

IMO,, it's not that you need that 12K, but will you put the time into learning the hone with the razors you have.

If your getting good shaves off the 8K,,, then I suspect you will see a slightly better edge from the start with the 12K,,, then the question, "Was it the 12K or are you good at honing?"

If your edges are good at 8K,, then your a good honer.

Hard to tell but I get shaves like that with one pass on razors that I consider 'sharp'. A 12K may get it sharper but will definitely make it a little smoother.

Depends.

Razor honing unlike tool or knife honing is not just about sharp. After 8k you edge becomes very straight, the finer you can make the stria on the bevel the straighter the edge becomes and the straighter the edge, (less serrated) the smoother the shave.

A proper 8k edge can be very comfortable, well stropped and or with Chrome Oxide (about 30k), even better.

A proper 12k synthetic, like the Super Stone, is almost a guarantee of a bullet proof edge, and stropped on Chrome Oxide, better. The natural stones touted as 12k are hit and miss and rarely close to 12K, though some may finish.

Bottom line a 12k will be a little sharper, but definitely more comfortable, of course depending on the condition of the edge, (a fully set bevel) and the technique of the honer.

Originally Posted by RFP357

I've been getting a great edge off my Norton 8k and the best shaves in my shaving career. I mean these shaves are usually two pass efforts with little touch up that last until well after I get home from work. Even the wife is impressed.

My question is how much sharper can a razor get? I've been thinking about getting a 12k but how much better will the edge be? How much better will the shave be?

These humble words speak volumes:

"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

I've used a Naniwa 12K for several years and have been using a Zulu Grey for about a year and a half and feel that I know them pretty well. However tonight I honed up a razor and finished on the Zulu and got a decent shave off of it but I'm going back and see if I can get a better shave off of the Nani 12. However I may just drop back to the tried and true Norton 8K before I do.

I truly believe that you never stop learning when honing, stropping etc this age old art is a wonderful teacher all in itself.

Send a razor to a forum member that has the hone you are thinking about and get them to finish it, or better yet, send three razors to a single pro and have each razor finished on a different hone. Figure out what your favorite is, in a blind test of course, and buy that hone and learn to use it well. I imagine all of the pro's here have multiple hones that are easily obtained and could all easily do the task for you.

Originally Posted by cudarunner

"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

,,,,,,,,,,,,,u

The bottom line,,,,,

The question to ask yourself is this. When you shave does the blade glide down your beard and remove the whiskers so effortlessly if you were blindfolded and someone shaved you, you would hardly even feel the presence of the razor on your face. If the answer is no then you aren't getting perfect shaves.

To get to that state may mean adjustments in your technique or additional honing or use of a finer stone.

The shave will be smoother, IME. Not necessarily better.

Actually, a year from now, the shave will be better and smoother regardless of which stone you use.

A good Synthetic 12k will make it easier to get a smooth straight edge that will give a better shave.

So if you are getting Great Shaves now, wait a year, after you have learned how to squeak out performance from your stones.