Thread: 8k not fine enough?

I'm a little surprised by all these comments. I find the 8K plenty of honing power and I find that all hones cut too (although polishing is a great way to describe it).

I think in the beginning you'll get a better edge out of the higher grits though.

As you progress I think you'll find that an 8K and some effective stropping will produce a really nice edge on your razor. It just takes some patience.

Until then I think you'll enjoy all the suggestions though. They will all hone an edge very nicely.

Having recently done some experiments with some 8k hones I've found that doing some laps on a Chromium Oxide pasted paddle strop after the 8K stone makes a huge difference in both comfort and closeness of the shave. I've no idea if it would be better off of an equivalent stone (some say 30k and others say 50-60k) but so far this is good enough.

Barney

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I'm a little surprised by all these comments. I find the 8K plenty of honing power and I find that all hones cut too (although polishing is a great way to describe it).

I think in the beginning you'll get a better edge out of the higher grits though.

As you progress I think you'll find that an 8K and some effective stropping will produce a really nice edge on your razor. It just takes some patience.

Until then I think you'll enjoy all the suggestions though. They will all hone an edge very nicely.

This is the best piece of advice so far.

Just let me add:

By your description in your original post I would guess that you went a couple of strokes to far on the 8K and had a blade that was possibly a touch over honed. I wouldn't run back to the hones or anything, but see how it does for a few shaves, it will either improve or get much worse, then go back to your hone if you need to, you will only be a couple of strokes from perfect.

If you want to try something really cheap but pretty effective, order the CrO from Chris L. then apply a tiny bit to a thin pad of newspaper, strop on that to polish up your edge. It doesn't work as reliably as a dedicated bench strop or paddle but it can let you know if you are going to like what CrO does for your shaving edge.

I haven't been able to get a shaving edge off of my 8,000 grit Norton yet. I don't know if I ever will without a finer abrasive.

I have had the same experience as AFDavis and Wildtim. the Norton 4/8K is all I've ever needed (although I do like to do a few strokes on CrO paste as a finishing touch). IMHO, if you can't get a great shave with the 8K then you need to change your technique a little. In the end, however, we each must do what works for us as there is not right/wrong in this.

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I haven't been able to get a shaving edge off of my 8,000 grit Norton yet. I don't know if I ever will without a finer abrasive.

I can always get a hair removing edge. That is one that cuts the hair well with little to no pulling, it's still rare that I can get a comfortable no burn shave off the 8K though. I think that getting this is sometimes up to the razor as much as the handler of it, I have one razor that comes silky smooth off the 8K and another from the same maker that just plain doesn't.

Until HAD kicked in, I only ever shaved off the 8k. Even now only about 10% of my razors have a higher grit edge. I guess personal experience and preference plays a role in this as in everything.

James.

An 8k finish will do the job, but I'm one shaver that certainly prefers a super sharp shaving edge that a 12k waterstone and/or 0.5µ Chromium Oxide and 0.25µ Diamond paste can provide.

X

I'd prefer a 0.5 chrome oxide edge if only it lasted, for me, as long as a honed edge. I just cant get a pasted edge to last very long. Operator error maybe. I like the edge from an 8k hone ok, but will use a barber hone whenever it's available (probably 9k or 10k equivalent).

You have received a bunch of good advice here. There is one option that has not been mentioned... Use a 6000 grit stone as a finishing stone.

In the past it was posted that the guys in Germany used a 6K stone, supposedly because they did not have access to a finer grit, and received very good shaves. It has also been mentioned here that some people with really tough, dense beards prefer a coarser finish on the edge.

The description of your beard making trash of other edges would lead me to suggest that you try a 6K finish on your razor if the other options do not work out. I would use a 6K and then 20 passes on some 0.5 chrome oxide followed by, just before shaving, 30-50 laps on a plain leather hanging strop.


Just my two cents,