Thread: Herder--Is this normal?

So I have this old Herder...it came in a lot and I really like the shape of it, and I'd heard good things about them, but it had some pitting RIGHT at the bevel, so I was kind of leery about putting any time into it.

Well, tonight I was bored so I cleaned it up with some polish, and it looked really great. Surprisingly good for no sanding at all.

Then I put two layers of tape on and hit the 400 to see about that pitting.

Under mag, after 10 passes, the putting was gone and the tiny little bevel was smooth and clean. Huzzah! I thought, and went to the 1K.

15 passes on the ik, and the bevel was popping hairs. What? Yeah.

15 passes to get past the 400 bevel with 2 layers of tape. I checked with marker and everything...right out to the edge. Is that normal? It isn't, right?

SO anyway, I gave it 10 more passes, just to make sure and just because I couldn't believe it.

Total of 25 on the 1K.

Moved up to 2K super stone. 20 passes, and the bevel is looking polished under mag. It's popping hairs more smoothly, as well, so I figure OK, up to the 4K. 20 passes, and it starts popping hairs above the arm. 10 more, and the arm hairs are dancing away...30 total on 4K.

Up to 8K, 10 passes, and the hairs are starting to fall.

10 more, and they're dropping like flies. The TPT is sticky icky.

A total of 95 passes form damaged, pitted edge to ready for test shave.

I shaved (no stropping) and it was such a sharp edge..I'm a little stunned. I got a great shave off of an 8k edge. And what's more, it was easy. It was like, you know how you thought it would be before you first tried to hone? Rub a piece of steel on some rocks and it gets sharp? I mean, this is even a smiling edge!

It was really like that. No fancy tricks, no frustration, just zip zip shave.

I can't wait to feel it after some high grit polish...

So are Herders always this easy? Cause if they are, I'm getting some more...

Can you post a picture so I know what to look out for when I go back to Austalia on my next razor hunting safari?

Jim, IME the first thing is if you run into a great brand don't tell a soul until you've bought as many of them as you'll ever want.

I've run into some Solingen brands that are easily honed up like that and some Swedes too. OTOH I've gotten some of the same brand that honed up easily that were a nightmare to get sharp. Now I've got to go to ebay and see if there are any Herders listed.

Originally Posted by OLD_SCHOOL

Maybe you honing is simply improving Jim.

I go with this JIM

Jim, sounds like you have the touch. Watch out Lynn Abrams !

This Herder might take you a little longer to hone. You can find out for just the low, low price of $59.99, chip and all.

Vintage Herder Bone Straight Razor Solingen Blade w/Box - eBay (item 270428218197 end time Sep-14-09 21:20:46 PDT)

There are razors made by R. Herder and by F. Herder. I have a couple of them.

The old Japanese barber was right when he challenged you. He recognized your potential...and much more I believe.

Skill as well as good steel! I have a herder around here somewhere, now I have to go find it....again.

sorry if I didn't get this the first time around, but were you using all naniwas?... you gotta tell me how the edge is after some time with your japanese finishers (Oh I want one of those babies badly). cool post, although I gotta side with Jimmy on this one, you shouldn't have let the cat out of the bag... now everyone is going to be buying them up!