I thought i failed on a honing.

I do like the IDEA of the extra stroping after the fact, aligning the edge again. This does make some sense to me. Tha ks for explaining.
When folks talk about the magic in honing it is cool, but i just know there is science behind it all. And im working on understanding all these little bits of science that explains the differences. I feel at that point a person can know for a fact when something is needed and what it is. I keep picking up a little more know-how evry time i find an issue.
This is what makes it so fun. Rubbing a blade on a stone and going from corse the fine grit and watching the scratches get thinner is just the first step in honing. There is so much more to it!

Another thing to bare in mind is hydrated lather, if your lather is dry you'll have a sub par shave, shave again with a good lather and, hey presto! Your shave feels great again.
This can happen to me when trying out new soaps or creams.

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Originally Posted by Gasman

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So if your like me and think you got a good grip on honing and find one just not quite there, be sure to go back to the strop before the stone as it might come around for ya.

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Yep. I’ve had the same experience. I was sure it was honed up right and finished on an Escher. Wouldn’t pop hairs sufficiently. Took it back to the finisher and same issue. Thought maybe an issue with the blade or steel.

Finally did som extra stropping and it was great. NowI just do the extra stropping after every hone.

This has been an enlightening thread!

Ya know, you read this and that, try it out, read some more, and the pattern keeps going and then finally snap! You've got it!

This happens a lot to me :)

About the dry lather, thank you Mark for bringing that up. I've been so busy shaving that I forgot my lather was getting dry and sticky.... lather up again and presto!
Smooth shaving.

I know that it's only a test but when all that I had was a coticule, blades would absolutely NOT pass HHT until I had stropped 40-50 laps. Not sure what that means as I never tried shaving right off the coticule without stropping.

Ive never had much luck with HHT. When it does work it doesnt mean its a keen or comfortable as i like. My finishing test is the shave. And before that, its how well it looks and feels on the stone, and knowing i didnt make any bonehead moves while honing.

But the strop is more important than i have given it credit. I can strop for hundreds of laps, but never thought it was doing much after the first dozzen or three. WRONG!

Yup, gave up early on the HHT also. Bet the blades I shave with still can't pass the HHT.

Bob

[QUOTE=onimaru55;1837613]For those that haven't read this:
WONDER PHOTOS REVEAL UNSUSPECTED FACTS ABOUT Razor Blades and Shaving (Oct, 1931) | Modern Mechanix

Thought the part about micro rust on the edge was interesting. I haven't been oiling the edges of my razors but maybe i should be.See if it makes the edge last longer.

Like I've said before, Jerry. Honing doesn't end at the hone, it stops at the strop...

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Originally Posted by kelbro

I know that it's only a test but when all that I had was a coticule, blades would absolutely NOT pass HHT until I had stropped 40-50 laps. Not sure what that means as I never tried shaving right off the coticule without stropping.

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Most reports suggest the coticule will take you to 8000 grit and if you want a finer edge, you have to go to another finisher. Before I got my Vermio, I would use a CrOx pasted balsa paddle strop. That seemed to make the edge keener without sacrificing the smooth coticule edge. The Vermio seems to do the same thing. Now I only use the pasted paddle strop when the blade needs a touch up.

I still have not mastered the HHT even afterstropping. Maybe it’s my honing technique, but the shaves I’m getting seem comfortable and most end up with a 2-pass BBS, so I must be doing something right.