Shave off of an 8k

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07-13-2009, 05:25 AM
StraightRazorDave

Shave off of an 8k

Hey all,

So after reading suggestions to try and just shave off of the Norton 8k before trying to use anything higher, I decided to try it out. I haven't just shaved off of the 8k since I first got the nortons, at which point I didn't really know how to use them properly! It is an excellent suggestion, as if the edge isn't ready after the 8k, everything else is just pointless.

So I took out my small Wade and Butcher, whom I have pretty much dedicated to experimentation :), and lightly ran the edge over the rim of a glass. I ran it over to arm, and lo and behold, it cut absolutely nothing and was dull as a kitchen knife. :dropjaw: I just wanted to start from scratch for fun and to practice. So I set the bevel on my DMT 1200 which didn't take too long at all since it was fine before I lightly dulled it with the glass. I then used my 4k/8k norton, first 20-30 laps on the 4k side, then I did a little pyramid, finishing with a few extra laps on the 8k side. I then did nothing else but stropped, showered, and shaved. I got a surprisingly great shave out of it!! It wasn't as effortless as if I finished it on something higher, but it was surely sharp and smooth enough to get the job done comfortably with no cuts or irritation.

So now everytime I'm going to hone a razor I will strop at 8k and shave with it. If it's ready for higher grit, it will still give a great shave just off of the 8k side. It surprised me to be honest, but I'm pleased to say that I didn't need pastes or fancy stones (not that I don't like to use them....) to get a great shave.

I know this has all been mentioned before, but I just wanted to share this experience to emphasize the fact that 8k is all that you really need.
07-13-2009, 05:45 AM
DwarvenChef

Quote:

Originally Posted by StraightRazorDave

dull as a kitchen knife. :dropjaw: .

HEY!!! I have shaved with mine :p

For the first year of straight shaving I ended with the 8k Norton. Not a bad shave :D

Always good to try new things, thanks for posting your experience (except for that crack about kitchen knives :p ).
07-13-2009, 05:50 AM
Utopian

Many of us in this forum try to reach the ultimate shave quality with a vast arsenal of honing tools, yet I got along for 4 years with nothing but a Swaty. Many on this forum get by with nothing more than the Norton 4/8k.

It doesn't have to be complicated!
07-13-2009, 05:57 AM
demetriustracy

I love it...
07-13-2009, 06:47 AM
RetroGrouch

Absolutely. I can shave right off an 8K no problem.

We on this forum are probably an obsessed minority. In the old days, I'll bet people shaved off lower grit stones all the time, and thought nothing about it. They'd probably be amused at some of the threads here.
07-13-2009, 06:49 AM
jendeindustries

I think there is always a minimum standard of what is "good enough", and everything else is dessert. For example, even though I have access to 30K, I usually only sharpen good quality chef knives to 5K-6K, and low level ones to 1K + a quick CrO2 buffing.

Another issue is maintainability. Again I have access to 30K, but if a customer only has 4K or 8K, then it is unnecessary to sharpen to such a refined level (unless they request it) or to expect them to purchase the equivalent stone.

8K leaves a pretty smooth edge. Everything else is because we can!
07-13-2009, 06:52 AM
StraightRazorDave

Quote:

Originally Posted by RetroGrouch

Absolutely. I can shave right off an 8K no problem.

We on this forum are probably an obsessed minority. In the old days, I'll bet people shaved off lower grit stones all the time, and thought nothing about it. They'd probably be amused at some of the threads here.

Too true. It really can become an obsession looking for the perfect edge, can't it?? I'm not one of those obsessed minority....I don't have a couple of coticules, thuringians, and a nakayama maruichi in the quest for the perfect edge....not me.... :w
07-13-2009, 06:53 AM
StraightRazorDave

Quote:

Originally Posted by jendeindustries

8K leaves a pretty smooth edge. Everything else is because we can!

That sums it all up very nicely!
07-13-2009, 07:19 AM
jendeindustries

Quote:

Originally Posted by StraightRazorDave

Too true. It really can become an obsession looking for the perfect edge, can't it?? I'm not one of those obsessed minority....I don't have a couple of coticules, thuringians, and a nakayama maruichi in the quest for the perfect edge....not me.... :w

Obsessed? :confused: Who's obsessed here on the SRP? I thought the SRP was a 12 step program that stopped that sort of thing!
:D
07-13-2009, 06:26 PM
Ben325e

Quote:

was dull as a kitchen knife.

Me shaving with a kitchen knife (Old Hickory 3" paring knife):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GVyEL...er_profilepage
07-13-2009, 06:38 PM
hi_bud_gl

i saw the whole video great one. Damn i have to use axes for shave to impress rest of the srp.
07-13-2009, 06:43 PM
Oglethorpe

Quote:

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

i saw the whole video great one. Damn i have to use axes for shave to impress rest of the srp.

HAH! Sham if you do that you BETTER take a video.
07-13-2009, 07:11 PM
Seraphim

Lately I've toned down my honing from going to the 1um diamond film and above, to stopping now at the 3um (~equiv to 8k grit). I follow that with 10 laps on the Cromeox to smooth it all out, and I feel that the edge is definitely more comfortable than when I try and take it "too far" with the higher grits.

The key to any great shaver is to get the bevel set right. I do that by seeing if the razor will cleave arm hair mid-shaft off of the 1200 (~9um equivalent). If it does that, then I go to the 6um, and then the 3um. By that point it usually does the silent HHT, and is ready for stropping and shaving.
07-13-2009, 07:25 PM
JimmyHAD

Quote:

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

i saw the whole video great one. Damn i have to use axes for shave to impress rest of the srp.

IIRC Bruno sharpened an ax to shaving sharpness and with a cotucule no less.

Back on topic, since Randy advised me some time ago I always shave off of the 8k at least once before moving up the grit level. If on the test shave it isn't there yet then I go back to the 4/8. Once I get what I feel is as good a shave as I want off of the 8k I will polish on higher grit synthetics or naturals. Some razors i hit on paste. Whatever I feel like doing with that particular one but if it ain't shaving sharp @ 8k it's not good enough to move on up.
07-13-2009, 07:33 PM
StraightRazorDave

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

IIRC Bruno sharpened an ax to shaving sharpness and with a cotucule no less.

Back on topic, since Randy advised me some time ago I always shave off of the 8k at least once before moving up the grit level. If on the test shave it isn't there yet then I go back to the 4/8. Once I get what I feel is as good a shave as I want off of the 8k I will polish on higher grit synthetics or naturals. Some razors i hit on paste. Whatever I feel like doing with that particular one but if it ain't shaving sharp @ 8k it's not good enough to move on up.

It was actually reading an older post of your's talking about Randy that provoked me to just shave right off of the 8k. It went well yesterday, but I can't help but wonder how much time I've wasted in the past trying to polish a dull bevel. :p

Oh, and I was only joking about the dull as a kitchen knife thing. What I should've said is dull as our kitchen knives! I've seen your video before Ben, great job. :tu I don't think I'll be trying to shave with anything other than a razor for a while....
07-13-2009, 07:39 PM
hi_bud_gl

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

IIRC Bruno sharpened an ax to shaving sharpness and with a cotucule no less.

Jimmy did he post shaving video with axes? if yes can you post a link please i will check it out.
07-13-2009, 07:45 PM
hoglahoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

IIRC Bruno sharpened an ax to shaving sharpness and with a cotucule no less.

he says he has used a belgian blue whetstone - I'd like to see of video of that as well!!
07-13-2009, 07:48 PM
fccexpert

I rarely go beyond the 8K anymore. Just strop and shave; works for me.
07-13-2009, 09:03 PM
JimmyHAD

Quote:

Originally Posted by StraightRazorDave

It was actually reading an older post of your's talking about Randy that provoked me to just shave right off of the 8k. It went well yesterday, but I can't help but wonder how much time I've wasted in the past trying to polish a dull bevel. :p

Yeah, that is what Randy got across to me. If it won't shave well at the 8k level then it is not ready for the higher grit.
07-13-2009, 09:04 PM
JimmyHAD

Quote:

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

Jimmy did he post shaving video with axes? if yes can you post a link please i will check it out.

Sham, I don't remember him posting a video. :shrug:
07-13-2009, 10:37 PM
thebigspendur

yep, if I ruled the shaving world I would dictate that until you can get a great shave off the 8K you simply can't get any higher grit hones. In the end it would make you a better honer.
07-13-2009, 10:50 PM
spazola

Quote:

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

yep, if I ruled the shaving world I would dictate that until you can get a great shave off the 8K you simply can't get any higher grit hones. In the end it would make you a better honer.

This may be the best post of the year.

Bigspendur for Dictator!

Charlie