Thread: Filarmonica Doble Temple 7/8

I am still working on the Filarmonica Doble Temple 7/8 that I bought from Ray several weeks ago. It seems to take a long time to get it just right. I know some of you got a razor out of the box that was shave ready, but because of my "tree trunk beard" most out of the box razors just don't do the job except for the feather of course. Anyone else out there finding the Filarmonica Doble Temple 7/8 a bit challenging to get it super sharp?

jmsbcknr

I also have one of those razors from Ray. As I recall it was very close to shave ready out of the box. I think I used about 15 passes on the Norton 4K and 25 or so on the 8K and about 10 minutes on the 15K and it was scary sharp.

The one I got from Ray responded well to some passes on my .5 diamond pasted strop and then about 50 on the finishing strop. That is one beefy blade!






Wayne

I had one a while back from Ross Cutlery. Mine was a 7/8 square point and I too had trouble getting it where I wanted. I sold it on eBay to a group member and described it as needing honing. Last I heard he liked it but figured he knew more about honing than I.

Tony

I just got a Filarmonica 7/8 on ebay. I hope it sharpens easier then you mentioned.

Mine just needed a little stropping and it was fine. What's taking you so long? Does it shave at all?

Even if it wasn't shaveready out of the box, I would think a little freshening on the 8K would have done the trick. If you wanted to really go beyond that I would try a pasted strop with .5 or .25 micron paste.

Originally Posted by RichZ

I just got a Filarmonica 7/8 on ebay. I hope it sharpens easier then you mentioned.

If you figure anything out let me know. I worked on my over the weekend and though it cuts ok, it never gets as super sharp as my Dovo or TI that are almost as good as my Feather. If you get yours super sharp, would like to know what you used to get it that way and how many stokes.

jmsbcknr

I think these are hit or miss.
I bought one from Ray, (fast service btw its the first thing other than the SRP that I ordered from him). It arrived and would not shave me at all, it needed some work. Others have raved about theirs right from the box.
As for Dovos, so far they are among my best shavers. I have a Dovo Bismarck that shaves so smooth its simply ridiculous. Straight from the box.
John P.

Jim -
I don't think that there is anything special about getting the Filly sharp.
I just use standard Norton 4K/8K pyramid as described by Lynn.
I follow with 6 micron HandAmerican and CrO2.

The Filly is one of my favorites - like it better than myTI.
Nothing will be as sharp as a Feather, but the Feather can be
too sharp. Unforgiving is how Lynn puts it, and I would agree - especially if not using the guarded blades.

15 passes on the 4K Norton sounds extreme to me. Mine may not see that many passes in my lifetime.

Any secrets? I think that the Norton Stone (2" with an X pattern) is superior because it really cuts. Glad that Lynn and Ray talked me into that - I was looking at other brands. Also, the Dovo Best leather strop was a significant improvement over my old Illinois.

I have been really surprised that honing was not nearlyl as tricky or hard as I thought it would be. Follow the directions for progressive hone and it works every time.

Bob

I have a few Filharmonicas of different miodels and sizes and they're all great, among the best. In particular, they're easy to work on. If you don't overwork them. They respond very quickly.

One of the problems I'm seeing is that there's all this great advice here on dealing with problem razors and people just assume their razor is a problem and jump into a complicated routine. With a new razor of this quality it shouldn't take a lot of work to get going.

The most important thing you can do is evaluate the razor before you touch it. If it's not shave ready, how far away is it? A razor that just needs a little refreshing can be made unusable pretty easily.

Originally Posted by JohnP

I think these are hit or miss.
I bought one from Ray, (fast service btw its the first thing other than the SRP that I ordered from him). It arrived and would not shave me at all, it needed some work. Others have raved about theirs right from the box.
As for Dovos, so far they are among my best shavers. I have a Dovo Bismarck that shaves so smooth its simply ridiculous. Straight from the box.
John P.