Successful Wapienica Honing Process
I had tremendous honing results with these razors and just wanted to share the honing process I used with everyone. Generally I would not make a big deal about getting a razor shave ready, but I would equate the degree of sharpness achieved to a DE merkur blade. Probably the best results I have had to date.
So here goes... I purchased 3 Wapi's after reading about everyones enjoyment with them over the past few month. Purchased from 2 different sources, all three are 5/8 French Point, 2 new but in need of honing, and 1 came shave ready compliments of Jon.
About a month ago I converted from using the norton 4/8, to exclusively using the beligian stones sold by Howard. Sticking to my new honing recipe I did as follows on both razors....
1) 100 laps on the Blue Belgian (6x2) with medium slury (letting the slurry diminish after 50 laps, then generating it again and letting it diminish into the 100th lap)
2) 50 laps on the coticule (6x2) using just water (refreshing the water after 25 laps, and lightening pressure on the last 10 strokes)
3) 100 laps on a TM Horsehide paragon strop (just the leather side, I generally do not use linen right off the hone)
4) Shave test - Using both razors I shaved this morning with some Castle Forbes Lavender shave cream. No pull, no irritation, and the hair just wiped away effortlessly. I immediately got the same skin contact feeling as using a DE, but without the irritation. :)
James