Thread: Now I know what sharp is!

This is a triad post; Shaving, Blades, and Honing. I placed this here because of the Coti I just got From Best Sharpening Stones, and following Bart's technique I took a $15 ebay razor (shown below - Muschel Soligen), to practice on before my new Henckels arrives. Blade a little stained and the scales smell of oxidation (yuk) so I fugured it would not really be a functional shaver.



I did not do a HHT - just went to shave. OMG. This is one dainty (3/8?), feather-light blade that went through my coarse beard like a hot knife through warm butter. I could not believe it. THe blade is a perfect size for under my nose/upper lip. It sliced clean over and around my chin. Two passes and I had a BBS. Here was the kicker - NO RAZOR BURN.

I posted a couple weeks ago about my new DOVO really being sharp - should I hone it? etc. Guess what? I honed it on the Coti 30x wet - no slurry, followed by tapped spine and wet 25 passes, followed by 10x dry. Failed the HHT. Linen stropped 70x, leather 100x cut some HHT, not like the videos though.

Test lathered areas on the face and went for it. WICKED gentle, high pitched toast sound instead of low pitched. Smooth blade strokes, sliced hair cleanly. Two passes including the chin (my worst challange). BBS and NO razor burn, no scrapping nicks. When I splashed Pinaud Bay Rum on my face - NO box jellyfish sting - at all!

I had been shaving - (even that time 15 years ago), with a razor that was just not sharp enough for my coarse hair. This was a TOTALLY new shaving experience. I am floored.

Only prob is that I did not lap the stone prior. Doing that tomorrow and may re-hone both blades. Tons of thanks to Best Sharpening Stones - great service indeed. And of course, to my new friend Bart. The Coti was most definitely the way to go!


Thanks, I am stoked!

The Alpsman

Sounds like you got a good coticule. They leave blades feeling very smooth, which is why I like mine so much. Congrats on your success.

Congratulations!

It feels good when you hone a blade all by yourself doesn't it? The coticule is a great stone. Cherish your's and don't ever let go of it!

Congratulations!

I'm unsure where the myth began that large razors are better for heavy beards

maybe mine is only medium and not so coarse, but a 4/8, which is what that looks to be, does me a fine job for sure.

they just don't look as cool, so I dont search them out

Congratulations on the honing improvement and on the discovery that the shave, and not the HHT, is the end all be all of a proper honing and that the two do not necessarily correspond.

Originally Posted by Utopian

....the discovery that the shave, and not the HHT, is the end all be all of a proper honing and that the two do not necessarily correspond.

EXACTO !!

pay attention here newbs !!!

glad to hear your shave was better
my chin is the challenge as well
hollow razors sound like they are getting ready to spit !

Congrats on the honing/shaving. It is a great feeling of accomplishment to hone your own.

You sound like how I felt when I heard you can hone a razor from start to finish on a coticule and then actually did it for myself with amazing results.

That was a great day.

Nice job! Glad that coticule worked out for you. The edges they leave are definitely smooth and tough to get irritation with, in my findings.

Well done Sir