Thread: Touch-up with a Chinese 12K?

Originally Posted by Mike_ratliff

You also might consider reducing your use of linen. I've found linen to be good for smothing a rough edge, but too much might actualy dull your edge

Oooo thanks I'll try that (I've spent the last 2 years using the linen before every shave)

Barney

I still would use it before every shave. I do.

I only use it for 20- 25- laps though. I only go 30 to a max of 40 on the leather too.

Any more than that and I find no real benefit.

Ah right that makes sense now, I misread Mikes meaning ... need to get to sleep.

Barney

I should have been clearer, a few passes on linen can be beneficial before each shave depending on the razor... but I would stop at 10

I refine my edges on newspaper, and find it gives a better edge than linen... for that reason I don't use linen (it feels like a step backwards after the newspaper)
and I don't use the newspaper every time, only for refinement.

What is considered excessive honing on a 12k chinese stone? I touch up a razor with no more than 10 passes on a swaty. 75 just to touch up a razor seems like alot.

It seems that these stones vary from one to another in terms of hardness/softness and cutting speed. So 75 might be a bit excessive for some and not too bad for others. And the fact that personal technique is a factor just adds to the variation.

But that raises a good point, try testing the edge after every 10 or 20 strokes, see if you can accomplish the same sharpness in fewer strokes. Never know till ya try (unless you already have, in which case, carry on as per usual).