Hi Everyone,
This is a follow up to my previous post #6 when I "jointed" the edge and started over using only very light X strokes on my Ralf Aust razor. Although there were no reflections on the edge and the bevel appeared to be "set" under the microscope, the razor shaved "just ok" after progressing through the 5K, 8K, 12K naniwa stones, 20K Gokumyo, and then stropping.
Just for the fun of it, I went ahead an "jointed" the edge again just to see if I could do better, because I remember this Ralf Aust shaved better after I purchased it from SRD about a year ago.
I decided to give Lynn's method another try as he demonstrates in the video using naniwa stones, only this time I used VERY LIGHT PRESSURE. Here are the results all at 100X magnification:
1K Chosera with 40 circles light pressure
Attachment 235829
1K Chosera 25 X strokes light pressure
Attachment 235833
5K with 40 circles light pressure
Attachment 235832
5K with 40 circles no pressure
Attachment 235832
5K with 25 X strokes light pressure
Attachment 235834
8K with 10 X strokes
Attachment 235835
12K with 10 X strokes
Attachment 235836
20K Gokuymo with 25 X strokes
Attachment 235837
Strop X 60 Laps
Attachment 235838
In conclusion, the razor now shaves much better with the above sequence using Lynn's approach than when it did when I was using only light X strokes. I think the explanation most likely is that the bevel was not completely set in my first trial and the extra 20 X strokes I did on the 5K until the razor shaved arm hair really well (compared to only 5 X strokes previously in the first trial).
However, I can still see a little bit of a "toothy edge" in the above photo, and I had a similar "toothy edge" even after on the previous trial when I used only very light X strokes and no circles:
The above photo of the Ralf Aust looks especially "toothy" when I compare it to two of my other razors below:
Livi Grilletto honed by SRD - shaves fantastically
Attachment 235839
Filarmonica 14 Barbas Duras NOS factory edge that shaves fantastically, I have shaved with this razor about 20 times and it has only been stropped.
Attachment 235828
The Ralf Aust with it's toothy edge shaves close now and really does very well, but not quite like the Grefetto or Filarmonica.
So I am thinking if I could get the Ralf Edge to look like the other edges, it might shave even better.
Here are a few remaining questions.
What do I need to do to get and edge like the filarmonica or the Grifetto? Seems that no matter what I do with the Ralf Aust, the edge is going to be "toothy".
Is the "toothy edge" the reason the Ralf Aust does not shave as well as the Filarmonica and Grifetto? Or is it a difference in the steel used in the razor?
Any comments and suggestions are welcome