Thread: ?? re: Killing the edge

@Paul you might want to read what Marty aka Euclid and I are both saying again, it is actually the same thing, I just think the TNT is more effective then he does
The top corner of the hone or the side corner of the hone works very well you just need to be more careful on using it..


If you look at many of the Vintage Eschers and Coticules you can find evidence of the "Corner Drag" left on the hones

Too many acronyms! Too many processes to honing a razor! It's actually not that hard. And you don't need a plethora of high dollar stones to get a razor honed to where it will actually give you a great edge and shave comfortably.

However, I do understand the need for perfection according to some. Unfortunately, perfection has always lead to frustration in my case, so I settle for excellence. No complaints here! My razors shave just fine!

Originally Posted by Johntoad57

Too many acronyms! Too many processes to honing a razor! It's actually not that hard. And you don't need a plethora of high dollar stones to get a razor honed to where it will actually give you a great edge and shave comfortably.

I know what you mean. I don't hone all that often, I don't have an extensive array
of exotic stones, and 99.9% of what I do is just touch-ups and renewals. I'm just
trying to develop a more or less simple routine, so when I do haul out the gear,
I can count on a reliable result.

I appreciate all the advice, and I'm especially grateful for the tips that only take a moment
but make a difference in the quality of my next shave.

Thank you.

Paul

Yea, keep in mind what we are talking about, are microns here.

Does it make a difference? Totally subjective. We are all working with different stones, different razors and steels, different technique and pressure and different skin, beard type and shaving styles.

And it is all theory, what we think happens and why. Yea, some if it makes sense and is backed up by results, but it is the mystic 2%.

Personally, I am always looking for more. More keenness, comfort, repeatability, speed, evidence of what I think is happening.

In the end, it is that first swipe on you face that tells you, if you have a winner…

Paul, try jointing before the finish laps on your Ark. 10-15 laps and you are back to where you were before.

I always do a TNT to check the bevel but that’s at the 1 or 4k level and not past that and after doing it I always do another set of laps to erase the affects of doing it

Well, I had 6 razors in a rotation for 6+ months, and they all needed a touch-up.
So, I took the opportunity to give "kill the edge" a try, and I like the result.

All were previously finished on a translucent black Arkansas stone, so I ran them
all through on a Naniwa 12kSS first; then killed the edge on the corner of the
black Arkie.

For the final finish, I used a Suehiro 20k for the first time (new stone). I honed until
the edge was under-cutting the light slurry, then I very lightly killed the edge on the
corner of the stone. After that, I re-honed until the edge was under-cutting the slurry
again. I rinsed the stone and did a final few laps with water alone.

Two razors in the rotation are identical, so I left one with the 20K finish, and the other
I did a final few laps on the Arkie. I just want to compare them before I decide which
final finish I like best.

The 20K feels really sharp, but I'm wondering how long that level of keenness will last.
I will strop them all on linen and roo, and then go for a shave-test comparison.

Shave test to follow. I'll report back.

Lately when my edges drop off I just give 10-15 laps on .5 CrOx and they seem to keep going, my edges are doing up on a year old and so far so good, are they as good as coming off the hone.....NO they are not but they all yield a very acceptable shave

Originally Posted by gssixgun

If you tend to finish on hones with a light slurry you will notice that a case of the Sparkels is rare

Hi Glen,

When you say finish with slurry, are you only talking naturals or can I slurry a 12K Naniwa SS?

Well, I test-shaved the Suehiro vs Arkie duo, and there is a difference between them,
as you might expect. Both were honed to the 20K level, and one of them was finished
with about 10 laps on a translucent black Arkansas stone. Before the final finish laps,
I killed the edges on the corner of the stone and re-finished...with water only on the Suehiro
and a light oil on the Arkie. Both were stropped on Gab's roo hide strop.

The Suehiro finish is scary sharp, and the shave was very close...only a slight stubble remains
after 24 hours. The Arkie finish didn't feel quite as keen, but the shave was still very close,
with only slightly more stubble remaining than the Suehiro.

Both edges gave a smooth shave, with no irritation and no aftershave alcohol burn.

I still like the feel of the Arkie edge best, but the Suehiro 20K edge is a tad bit more keen.
This is my first go on the 20K, and I'm not an expert honer, so take that into consideration.
YMMV

All in all, I'd say that killing the edge before final finishing definitely improved the Arkie edge
over what I was able to get in the past. The jury is still out on the Suehiro, because this was
a first-time effort.

Thank you all for your tips and comments. This was a step up the honing ladder for me.