Thread: Are my expectations too high?

Take that 12k & choose the best razor that you have, best, meaning the one that gives you the most comfort & closeness.
Push the edge on that razor, taking notes.

Start out with a few light stokes on a "clean" Naniwa (fresh surface with no swarf embedded),,, strop with only one particular strop.

Take notes on the strokes & strop.

Shave, evaluate & then repeat with a few more strokes same pressure,,, look/feel for a difference. take notes.

This takes into account that your razor gives you comfortable shaves to begin with & the pre-shave prep is the same throughout the testing/pushing of the edge.

****Keep in mind that the pressure , how little, how much, plays as important a role as the stone your using*********

Originally Posted by Hirlau

Take that 12k & choose the best razor that you have, best, meaning the one that gives you the most comfort & closeness.
Push the edge on that razor, taking notes.

Start out with a few light stokes on a "clean" Naniwa (fresh surface with no swarf embedded),,, strop with only one particular strop.

Take notes on the strokes & strop.

Shave, evaluate & then repeat with a few more strokes same pressure,,, look/feel for a difference. take notes.

This takes into account that your razor gives you comfortable shaves to begin with & the pre-shave prep is the same throughout the testing/pushing of the edge.

****Keep in mind that the pressure , how little, how much, plays as important a role as the stone your using*********

If you are unable to get outside hands-on help this would be the best course of action. Take one razor hone, strop, shave, repeat until you get what you want. Once you dial it in on that razor try again with the next.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

Take that 12k & choose the best razor that you have, best, meaning the one that gives you the most comfort & closeness.
Push the edge on that razor, taking notes.

Start out with a few light stokes on a "clean" Naniwa (fresh surface with no swarf embedded),,, strop with only one particular strop.

Take notes on the strokes & strop.

Shave, evaluate & then repeat with a few more strokes same pressure,,, look/feel for a difference. take notes.

This takes into account that your razor gives you comfortable shaves to begin with & the pre-shave prep is the same throughout the testing/pushing of the edge.

****Keep in mind that the pressure , how little, how much, plays as important a role as the stone your using*********

I would say take the second best shaving razor that you have, and work on it until it shaves better than your best. Then make the new second best the best again. Leapfrog your way to honing bliss.

That's one way to look at it. Keeps him from screwing up his best razor.

Meets are great. If you get a chance to travel to a few they are incredible learning opportunities.
I tend to put a lot more focus on the 1 and 4K hones than the finishers. Have you tried a 1K shave? My approach with my first 1K shave was to take my hone to the bathroom and worked my edge until it would shave and then observed is and did some sharpness tests with it. You have enough razors that you can take both approaches.