Thread: "Touching Up" Guidelines?

Originally Posted by Ryan82

If anyone else has an opinion on good touch-up hones feel free to put in your $0.02.

You bought a coticule already.
You're done.

Originally Posted by Utopian

You bought a coticule already.
You're done.

Yeah, you're probably right. I just keep hearing that Shapton 16k calling my name, or is that an escher, or a Swaty, or ........ oh, HAD's a bih, isn't it?

Well, among those options, at least a Swaty is cheap. You might want to start with that and see if you can stop there. I've got a few Eschers but so far I have avoided the Shapton allure. I'm trying to convince myself that I don't need them. I'm trying to convince myself that my natural stones, like my Chinese 12Ks, my coticules, my Eschers, and my Japanese stones, plus the fact that my wife will eventually catch me, are all that I really need and that Shaptons are just an unnatural fad in which I don't need to get caught up.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Well, among those options, at least a Swaty is cheap. You might want to start with that and see if you can stop there. I've got a few Eschers but so far I have avoided the Shapton allure. I'm trying to convince myself that I don't need them. I'm trying to convince myself that my natural stones, like my Chinese 12Ks, my coticules, my Eschers, and my Japanese stones, plus the fact that my wife will eventually catch me, are all that I really need and that Shaptons are just an unnatural fad in which I don't need to get caught up.

yuh, like that's gonna last. you are so doomed. you will just buy the whoe shapton system, pond and all, when the dam of your resistance bursts.

Originally Posted by loueedacat

yuh, like that's gonna last. you are so doomed. you will just buy the whoe shapton system, pond and all, when the dam of your resistance bursts.

Oh, and don't forget the coveted Shapton diamond on glass lapping plate!

Where does a Chinese 12k fit into this discussion. I have a 12k but do not have a couticle. It is my impression that the 12k is a slower cutter than a couticle, so for touch-up would I use the 12k with slurry, then water, then dry (then paste and leather)?

+1 Utopian. I have several Barber hones that are my first line of defense. I even have a copy of the old instructions, it say's 3 - 5 strokes. I'll have to post a pic if I can find it. I think it's on my work computer. I think touching up can be a personal thing. I don't believe there is any set pattern. To quote Bruce Lee, I favor the formless. In other words, whatever works for you and your razor. Whatever the situation calls for. Keep a log, what works on a Wade and Butcher, may not work on your Duck. Ryan, my friend, Don't loose faith in the Coti of yours, it is a very versatile hone and a "must have" as far as I'm concerned when it comes to Str8 Shaving. Just remember that when you hone, you leave behind steel. So Truly, Less is More here. It depends what i start with when my razor drags, sometimes, Crox, Sometimes Diamond paste, mosty though the Barber hone because several of them sit out on my counter with my razor rotation. If the Barber hone doesn't work, I may use the Coticule with water only, 15 strokes average depending on the blade and how bad it is, if that doesn't do it, I make a slurry, still not enough, i go to the BBW....

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Yeah, you're probably right. I just keep hearing that Shapton 16k calling my name, or is that an escher, or a Swaty, or ........ oh, HAD's a bih, isn't it?

Maybe we can get a package deal on a couple of Shapton 16k's, I've been wanting one for a while....

You'll never have enough hones, There's alway's going to be that one you want......

Originally Posted by Roadkill

Where does a Chinese 12k fit into this discussion. I have a 12k but do not have a couticle. It is my impression that the 12k is a slower cutter than a couticle, so for touch-up would I use the 12k with slurry, then water, then dry (then paste and leather)?

I use mine on an already shave ready razor to bring the edge out just a bit more. With a C12K, you do 50 with a slurry, 100 without, it is a slow cutter. 12k is a polisher, but if your razor is just starting to pull a bit, you can try the 12k, but it may take a while. It's an excellent hone, just slowwwww.

I've been shaving for 3 years with a straight i have that many razors so i don't seem to ever get to the pulling stage . but i no one thing for sure bbw then yellow will defanatley bring a razor back or improve a good razor that is what i find and of coarse chr.5 for good measure . I will let a razor get to that stage and i would probably try yellow if that did'nt work i'd go bbw test shave if good add yellow and then chr.5. i no i could try ch.5 and drop back to yellow if that does'nt work drop back to bbw and then finish yellow , chr.5 that will work every time that is what i find to be consistant.