When I first started straight shaving, Mike (Outback) generously sent me four razors.
One of those razors was a smiler called an Artisan, that razor is my absolute favourite i reckon. It was so smooth to shave with, like shaving with a lead pipe as mike would say.
Anyway, I just shaved with it again, it was really uncomfortable and pully, I nicked myself for the fist time ever with that particular razor so it's time.
I am nervous because I've never honed a smiler before and it was such a nice comfortable shaver that i don't want to turn it into just any other super sharp razor. I want that lead pipe feel.
I don't know whether the feel is because it's smiling or how it was honed, I have 3 other Mike razors and although their ridiculously sharp, they aren't smooth like my Artisan.
Normally I start right back from bevel set with my razors because i want to become very very good at setting a bevel and if I don't practice it i never will. However, I really don't want to lose that lead pipe so I think a quick refresh for this one.
What do you reckon? Maybe a refresh with a Coticule will help me keep that lead pipe feel instead of a 12K Nanny?
What stroke do you think, maybe a windscreen wiper sort of stroke, or just follow the smile?
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If you read this Mike, I would love your opinion, bearing in mind that i don't have an Escher which what i think I remember you telling me you used originally.