Thread: Here is a hot potato!

Interesting thread and I think Sham may be right. An overhoned edge makes sense anyhow. I will say that I used to have to strop or maybe hit the edge on chrom ox between passes a year ago but not since. I'm not saying anything about your honing Kristoffer but mine had improved to the point where I haven't found that necessary.

Your maintenance tip gives me questions. You say the coticule strokes remove very little material, yet it is enough to remove 30x visible chips.

The issue sounds a bit confused, micro-chipping and micro-rust. While inter-related in many ways; they are separate issues. To help with rust try adding some baking-soda to your rinse water. If this helps you know it is acidity that causes the excessive oxidation.

More than one razor does this?

Is it vintage? heavily restored? Swedish?

I have found, even though I don't see any trouble, that after 3 or so good honings a vintage razor that suffers mchips settles down.

if it was heavily sanded, could be the steel is thinned down too much.

I have one swedish razor that seems to be more prone to tarnish than all others.

I agree with Sham that a layer or two of tape may strengthen the edge enough to stop chipping.

Well, I like to use one razor for a couple of weeks, then put it away and pick up next in line.So far I have only tried this method with two razors.A new dovo special and a vintage "golden rule", its american.I know that you guys think this is exessive, but I'd like to remind you of the coticule finishing thread awhile back.Bart told me that he uses a coticule with plain water only for much more than 20 laps as a final stone.This is for smoothnes only.I have been experimenting with this for about six months.And I have found it very useful.I actually use the coticule after my shapton 16k.And it seems to get me less facial irritation without damaging the sharpnes.I only mention this because I don't agree that 20 laps on a coticule after each shave will cause overhoning.I would never use the shapton after each shave, but the coticule?
As far as stropping after each pass.What can I say? I like stropping

Kristoffer

Hi kevint

OK, forget the rust.It's missguiding for what I mean.I expressed myself porly.I'll try to explain.You know when you are examining an edge under mag.when using a strong light source, the edge can look like a shiny perfect silvery line, and then if you turn the angle slightly you see this small "micro bumps" on the edge itself? I don't know how to explain it any better.English is not my first language.This surface is what I refer to as rust spots.And all my razors get microchips after 5 or so shaves.What I am trying to do, is reducing this gradually.I must point out that micro in this context, really meens micro tough.

Kristoffer

And BTW.I have quit using tape on all honing, even wedges.
I feel it f###s up the movment of my razor on the hone.

Kristoffer.

Originally Posted by KristofferBodvin

And BTW.I have quit using tape on all honing, even wedges.
I feel it f###s up the movment of my razor on the hone.

Kristoffer.

It is a known fact that those who don't use tape on their blades when they hone suffer micro chips, microscopic bumps on their bevels and have to strop between passes.

Thats nice Jimmy.Mock me.

Originally Posted by KristofferBodvin

Thats nice Jimmy.Mock me.

All in good fun Kristoffer .... if I didn't feel we were friends I wouldn't have done it.

Kristoffer, as an aside: are you near the sea and do you think the silty sea air could expedite oxidation of your razors?

I've heard people use coticules or barber hones before each shave, albeit with fewer passes IIRC. It doesn't seem illogical. A fresh edge each time can't be wrong. The thing that worries me though, is that this steady abration shortens the life span of the razor (and the hone).

I wonder if that little line you see is not the result of too much pressure from honing rather than from microchipping. Does it only appear after you shave? Is it possible its just soap residue or residue from your strop? The strop does leave something on the edge when your done with it. I usually clean the blade using a stropping motion on a soft cotton garment, like an undershirt or an eyeglasses rag before looking at an edge under magnification.