Thread: Touching up

Originally Posted by TJB

This may sound naive but wouldn't jointing the edge even on a 20K completely ruin the bevel?

No it would not ruin the edge if you use the weight of the razor only.

Nope,

Yesterday did 10 razors on the GS20, jointed each edge coming off a pristine 12k super stone bevel and edge.

and 10 laps later the edge was back… An extra 10, is the edge I like,

Originally Posted by Utopian

If you've been shaving with it and you start to notice a just a small diminishment in the quality of the shave, then the minimal route is all that you need. As long as it continues to shave to your satisfaction using that minimal touch up strategy, then that is sufficient for you.

In this instance I have chosen to quote myself.

“This may sound naive but wouldn't jointing the edge even on a 20K completely ruin the bevel? Why wouldn't I have to go back to a 1K to reset it?”

Because, the bevels are already flat and set at the proper angle. All you do by jointing is remove the very edge. So that, you now have a straight, super thin edge, where the bevels are not meeting.

You only have to remove a microscopic amount of steel from the flat bevels to get them to meet again, (usually 10-15 laps).

It is not bread-knifing, it is a very lite touching of the edge on a single point, the corner of the stone, usually enough to remove a micro-chip or weak steel.

When we hone a razor from a bevel set, the goal is to,

1. Flatten the bevels from heel to toe and from the back of the bevel to the edge in a single plane.

2. Set the proper bevel angle from edge to spine.

3. Grind the bevels to meet in a straight edge from heel to toe.

BTW No. 1 is where most new honers fail. And if No. 1, does not happen, 2 & 3 can’t happen…

Once all 3 goals occur, then it is just a matter of polishing the bevel to produce smaller stria, that will make a straighter (more comfortable) edge.

So if the bevels are flat and at the proper angle, you just need to make them meet, and that can usually be done on a high grit aggressive stone. You don’t need to bevel set it and certainly do not need a 1k.

A oldtimer once told me "It is easier to keep a razor honed than is it is honing a razor." Sage advice still. Proper shaving technique,correct stropping and catching the edge before it has deteriated too far is the secret to long blade life.