Thread: Not quite Shave Ready...now what?

OK, a blade does not meat the ST. To what stone do I return? 12K? 8K? 4K? And, how many strokes on that/those stone(s).

I have a 2-month old Dovo, a Naniwa 1K, a Norton 4K/8K and a Chinese 12K.


Thank you for any and all answers.

go back t o8 k make light strokes 15 and check the edge. try cut arm hair should cut without afford and hairs falls off. if not go head and do 10 more light strokes and test arm hair again. remember hair should fall off not pop up.
try this until you get the result. you can shave at this stage test the blade if you don't like it go head do more on 25-50 strokes on chinese 12k and strop. and shave test. gl

You say not quite shave ready. I'm not sure what that means. If it seems pretty close you can go back to the 12K or the 8K and do some strokes. if you used pasted strops go back to Chrome Ox or Diamond .50 or .25. If its pretty close you shouldn't need many more strokes. On the hone I would test after 20 strokes or so. Of course if its not really that close you will need more strokes or if you have other issues with the bevel you might have to go further back.

Thank you, guys.

If it's passing all the sharpness tests except the actual shave test, I skip the stones, and go to the webbed fabric SRD strop, then the red latigo SRD strop. 100 trips up and back on the fabric and another 100 on the latigo puts a finishing touch on a blade that I have yet to find equaled by stone or paste. But again, this is on a blade that is *almost* passing the shave test, and passing everything else with ease.

Originally Posted by FloorPizza

If it's passing all the sharpness tests except the actual shave test, I skip the stones, and go to the webbed fabric SRD strop, then the red latigo SRD strop. 100 trips up and back on the fabric and another 100 on the latigo puts a finishing touch on a blade that I have yet to find equaled by stone or paste. But again, this is on a blade that is *almost* passing the shave test, and passing everything else with ease.

Thanks. I will try this tomorrow.

I sent my first blade to be honed, but my poor stropping technique dulled the blade. I could send it out again, but then I would never learn to hone, so I have been at the stones. I want to give your advice a whirl tomorrow.