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  1. #11
    Member AFDavis11's Avatar
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    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.

  2. #12
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    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
    Last edited by barneycg; 06-04-2008 at 11:44 AM.

  3. #13
    Cheapskate Honer Wildtim's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by AFDavis11 View Post
    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.

  4. #14
    Never a dull moment hoglahoo's Avatar
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    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.
    Find me on SRP's official chat in ##srp on Freenode. Link is at top of SRP's homepage

  5. #15
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    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.

  6. #16
    Cheapskate Honer Wildtim's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by hoglahoo View Post
    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.

  7. #17
    There is no charge for Awesomeness Jimbo's Avatar
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    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.
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  8. #18
    Super Shaver xman's Avatar
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    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

  9. #19
    BHAD cured Sticky's Avatar
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    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).
    Last edited by Sticky; 06-05-2008 at 01:38 AM.

  10. #20
    Hones & Honing randydance062449's Avatar
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    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,
    Randolph Tuttle, a SRP Mentor for residents of Minnesota & western Wisconsin

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