Thread: 4000/8000

Hi, if I use a 4000/8000, assuming I do it right, should that (along with stropping) produce a "shave ready" razor?

...............Yes.

You might find this article useful: What hone(s) do I need? - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Originally Posted by Chris L

...............Yes.

I Concur. If you feel like you want the blade sharper, and many of us do) you can strop on newsprint to see if you like it.

X

Originally Posted by xman

I Concur. If you feel like you want the blade sharper, and many of us do) you can strop on newsprint to see if you like it.

X

Do you strop on newspaper just like leather?

Originally Posted by bokaba

Do you strop on newspaper just like leather?

I don't strop on newspaper at all. Just heard tell of it, but those that do talk about making it function like a paddle strop. Some even paste the paper.

X

You can definitely get a shave ready razor with just the 4k/8k. I think Xman suggested stropping on newspaper not as a daily routine, but as a sort of finishing hone. The black ink contains a very fine abrassive, so it smooths the edge out even further than the 8k.

Some of use prefer to smooth the edge even further and use a finishing stone (coticule, chinese 12k, escher, Japanese natural stone, or a high-grit shapton). All of these have their merits, and one pitfal: price. Try getting a good shave off the 8k - it it shaves nicely and you think you'd like a bit more smoothness, try stropping on newspaper wraped around your hone.

If you really want to take your edge to an even higher level and don't want to fork over for the finishing stone (and this won't sharpen a razor that's not already sharp - this does not replace your 4k/8k), you could strop on a dedicated pasted strop with some chromium oxide.

Hope that helps (and not confuses).

Mark

that if you go the newspaper route, be very mindful of your stropping technique as it is easier to roll and edge on a hard stropping surface.

Have Fun!


-Rob

Originally Posted by Chris L

...............Yes.

------+1----------


And with practice you can get damn fine shave with just this.

If you'd like to go one step beyond, you can get a 2x8 Chinese 12K from Woodcraft for $20, or the 3x8 for $35.

Another option would be to find a cheap barber hone on ebay, or preferably, elsewhere.