Thread: 8k not fine enough?

I have a norton 4k/8k and i used the 8k on a new dovo that came from the factory ( i ordered it awhile back before i knew about the shave ready issue, and in the mean time have been shaving with a shave ready razor i bought from a vendor on this site). after many passes, it passed the HHT, and a few more and i was able to split a hair in half with it - like you would split a piece of wood, and figured that was plenty sharp - maybe i'm wrong? i then stropped it and shaved with it. i got an acceptable shave, but not the closest, and it took extra passes on several rough areas to get them done. Some of this i attribute to inexperienced honing - parts of the razor may not have been as sharp.
On my other shaving razor, i found i had to strop between passes to get a decent shave, and i don't know what the finest stone used on that one was. I have the misfortune of growing a beard that is similar to steel wool (or a boar brush maybe) ... and skin thats about as tough as tissue paper. Not a good combination. Using a DE gives me a close shave, but with a LOT of irritation. These straights are much nicer! For reference, i can use a disposable razor pretty much ONCE - and by the second pass its getting to where its scraping and pulling my skin. Does it sound like i should invest in a 12k stone? I don't mind to do so if a super - polished edge might help.

My beard certainly isn't the toughest. I sport a goatee so most of my shaving is neck and cheek. I find I have to do two or three passes to get it all close. I figure I didn't stretch skin enough in those places or what ever. Its just part of the deal. My razors probably ain't honemeister sharp but they cut my beard and do not irritate my skin. I think its unreasonable to expect a "perfect" shave on one pass, unless you are being shaved by a barber who is pretty damn good. 12K isn't super polished in my opinion. Get some chromium oxide and a leather paddle or strip and polish that boy. You can get some chromium oxide from a member here, delivered for $4. I think people even put it on Balsa wood to strop with.

I have a 4K/8K norton and a 12K stone, just so you know. For $25 Id go ahead and get one used and flatten it and see how I liked it. You can always use it on kitchen knives too.

8k was never all that comfortable for me, 12k is good, CrO is better and cheaper but not necessary.

2 to 3 passes is the commonly accepted number of passes necessary to get a good shave.

Probably your best bet is to pick up some CrO on the cheap and see if the sharper blade works better for you, if not, it's a technique problem that will just take time to fix.

I agree i have a 12k kitiyama and i just purchased paddle strop pasted with cronium oxide from hand american and the differance is unbalievable you must get some i purchased a hole pot from hand american it is not that expensive cheers gary.

Originally Posted by geoffreyt

You can get some chromium oxide from a member here, delivered for $4. I think people even put it on Balsa wood to strop with.

Would you mind telling me who that member is please?

Thanks in advance
Adam

Originally Posted by Adam_MA

Would you mind telling me who that member is please?

Thanks in advance
Adam

I hate to say it but my memory fails me. Go to the Buy/sell/trade forum and post you want to buy some. Several people will step forward Im sure.

Cool, I'll do that.

Thanks

Originally Posted by Adam_MA

Would you mind telling me who that member is please?

Thanks in advance
Adam

ChrisL is who sells small amounts...
Also don't confuse sharpness and smoothness, After 4k in general, you are done sharpening the edge, the 8k 10k 12k 16k and even 30k stones are polishing stones... They polish the edge and refine the striations on the edge, they, and/or pastes will not make a dull blade sharp..... I guess they could if you spent enough time at it, so lets just say they are not designed to sharpen... YMMV of course..... From re-reading your original post it seems like yer on the right track though, if the DE blade cuts close, but leaves irritation behind....

Originally Posted by justdan

...
I have the misfortune of growing a beard that is similar to steel wool (or a boar brush maybe) ... and skin thats about as tough as tissue paper. Not a good combination. Using a DE gives me a close shave, but with a LOT of irritation. These straights are much nicer! For reference, i can use a disposable razor pretty much ONCE - and by the second pass its getting to where its scraping and pulling my skin. Does it sound like i should invest in a 12k stone? I don't mind to do so if a super - polished edge might help.

If your beard is really tough, you might find that the edge from a hone lasts longer than the edge from the finer chrome oxide paste. I also have a tough beard and the edge from chrome oxide doesn't last very long for me.

I've found that the edge from a hone (of around 10k to 12k) gives me the best all-around mileage regarding sharpness vs. edge retention (between stropping or touch-up honing).

Trying the chrome oxide is still well worth the effort. There are so many variables it may be exactly what you're looking for.

Glen, I agree with you for the most part, the 8k+ grits will not reasonably bring a dull edge back to shaving sharp. But there is a decidedly noticeable difference in sharpness between 4k and 30k, on top of smoothness.

A 4k blade won't cut hair without some extra pressure, a 30k will nearly scare it in half. The edge has become ever so slightly sharper, a difference that is only detectable in instances like shaving.

Not that this means anything for actual applications, just discussing some honing theory.