Thread: Should Blade be Smooth or Stickey @ Shave Time??

I am in the process of learning to hone.

My proceedure, so far:

Standing over the sink making laps on my Red Devil Barber'shone while the water runs. When I feel the blade getting stickey, I move to the Yellow Coticule, about 20 to 30 passes. At this point, the edge becomes smooth. I then do 20 to 30 more passes on the Coticule,w/o slurry. Next 20 - 30 (I seem to be stuck on this number) passes on a .5 CR02 pasted paddle, then 60 passes on the strop.

I've been shaving with 2 - 4 blades a day trying to find what will work. Yesterday I did the above proceedure on 3 blades (two of them were my Grandfather's). I wasn't confident due to what I thought was a smooth edge that wouldn't perform. WRONG! All three blades shaved beautifully. In fact, I completed the shave with one of Grampa's, the entire neck area, and was able to actually go ATG on the neck - a 1st for me. I considered the experiment a success! I got a beautiful shave!

1. Is is normal when you move to the polishing proceedure for the blade edge to get smooth?
2. Should I get a Blue Belgium (4K) and replace the Barber'shone?
3. Should I get a 12K or 15K Shapton or Japanese stone as part of the polishing routien?
4. Do any of you have suggestions, or advice, in regard to how I am proceeding now?

Thanks,

Steve Boyd

i am really interested to follow this up..... very similar curiosity of my own...
thanks

You know, I'd say 'If it ain't broke ...". You might want to keep experimenting though, I mean, that's what got you this far.

X

If it ain't broke.

It's very possible to think that your edge isn't the best or you need more stuff and such.
It's a disease.
Step away from the PayPal !!!

No, really.

I honed and honed and honed and honed and finally sent a razor out to a honemeister just to find it prettttyyyyyy close to what I was getting myself.

If you are getting good shaves then
don't worry be happy
don't worry be happy now don't worry be happy

I think your doing fine. When I want to really work an edge to absolute perfection I have to focus on only that one edge. That might be my only suggestion.

Steve,

It sounds like you have a system that works well for you. I'd only add that a Belgian blue isn't essential. I like mine, but as you've discovered, I think it's quite possible to get by with "just" a coticule.

If you plan on restoring a lot of eBay razors, a blue hone might help save some wear and tear on the more expensive coticule, though.

Keep up the good work,
Josh

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

... When I want to really work an edge to absolute perfection I have to focus on only that one edge. That might be my only suggestion.

Great advice! Don't do 6 or so at the same time. Work on one with patience, frequent tests - and you would be rewarded.

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by izlat

Great advice! Don't do 6 or so at the same time. Work on one with patience, frequent tests - and you would be rewarded.

Cheers
Ivo

Thanks, Ivo (and Josh)