Thread: Sheffield Steel?

Could also be a case of the hones. JoeD has posted somewhere about binder strength relative to steel strength and how that can affect honing. Not sure if it is the hones, but something to consider. Maybe ask Ivan what he honed the Bengall on or post your hones for input from others.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

Could also be a case of the hones. JoeD has posted somewhere about binder strength relative to steel strength and how that can affect honing. Not sure if it is the hones, but something to consider. Maybe ask Ivan what he honed the Bengall on or post your hones for input from others.

My experience with them prior to this thread was with Shaptons, an unidentified Japanese Natural, and a Coticule (which was the best result). As mentioned, I tried some that were honed by guys that I have extreme confidence in as well, but I'm not exactly sure what systems were used...

Also, remember that I said (at least I think I did) that I was able to get them shaving and having good results, but it wasn't as smooth as I was used to (edges seemed crispier than I like).

Had to chime in here because of the relevance. I as well had just finished honing a Sheffield razor (along with a Solingen and a Gold Dollar). I was shocked at the rough shave of the Sheffield. I put it down about half way through initially blaming my honing. To prove my theory, picked up the just finished Gold Dollar to see if I got the same shave. Great Shave! Hmmm............ Houston, we have a problem.............

Am on the other side of the big blue marble right now, but on my return, I will try to take the Sheffield back to my Nortons and try again. I will also try a shallower angle when shaving as directed by this thread.

I just wanted to let you guys know that this is not an isolated problem. However, we do have two areas of similarities, both razors are Sheffields, and both razors were honed by "relative" newbies. Rich, I wil pm you when I get home. "Would love to compare notes......

Originally Posted by flylot

Had to chime in here because of the relevance. I as well had just finished honing a Sheffield razor (along with a Solingen and a Gold Dollar). I was shocked at the rough shave of the Sheffield. I put it down about half way through initially blaming my honing. To prove my theory, picked up the just finished Gold Dollar to see if I got the same shave. Great Shave! Hmmm............ Houston, we have a problem.............

Am on the other side of the big blue marble right now, but on my return, I will try to take the Sheffield back to my Nortons and try again. I will also try a shallower angle when shaving as directed by this thread.

I just wanted to let you guys know that this is not an isolated problem. However, we do have two areas of similarities, both razors are Sheffields, and both razors were honed by "relative" newbies. Rich, I wil pm you when I get home. "Would love to compare notes......

Don't lump my newbness in with yours

My observations extend to razors honed by very very competent men (3)... Remember, my edges shaved successfully but were harsher than I like..

Originally Posted by richmondesi

Hey guys, I have a little bit of a problem. I have been able to get great edges off of every type of razor that I have tried except for Sheffield Steel. I recently got a coticule and it was a lot better than anything else I've tried.

Any thoughts on a) is this mental, 2) what do you do to get your edges silky smooth with Sheffield Steel?

I'm not a huge fan of sheffield steel myself. Rodgers are pretty consistently good but W&B tends to be pretty inconsistent, I've got some W&B that are merely ok, and one that is really excellent, and plenty others that are somewhere between.

The excellent one gets honed up to the S30 like solingens and better americans, but for the run-of-the-mill sheffields I generally stop at either the 8k or 15k Shapton, or for the wedges I stop at 1.8 micron boron carbide on a pasted hanger.

This is an interesting thread.

I have the completely opposite experience. Perfect shaves off Sheffield steel, and have never yet tried a Solingen that I did not find scratchy or sub-par in some way (with the possible exception of the Friodur - but even that does not give the smooth feel of a well-honed Sheffield). In fact, I flatter myself that, in a blind shave test, I can pick Sheffield steel over non-sheffield steel 98.7% of the time. I have either given away or sold all my solingen razors with the exception of 4, which I keep for other reasons.

I believe these things are all personal. But the above have been my findings. Most of it probably comes down to what you are used to and what is mostly available in your area, your skin type, your experience with honing, your experience with shaving, blah blah blah. Bottom line, we are all different. Bottom, bottom line - the more people who like non-sheffield steel, the more Sheffield steel left for me!

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

This is an interesting thread.

I have the completely opposite experience. Perfect shaves off Sheffield steel, and have never yet tried a Solingen that I did not find scratchy or sub-par in some way (with the possible exception of the Friodur - but even that does not give the smooth feel of a well-honed Sheffield). In fact, I flatter myself that, in a blind shave test, I can pick Sheffield steel over non-sheffield steel 98.7% of the time. I have either given away or sold all my solingen razors with the exception of 4, which I keep for other reasons.

I believe these things are all personal. But the above have been my findings. Most of it probably comes down to what you are used to and what is mostly available in your area, your skin type, your experience with honing, your experience with shaving, blah blah blah. Bottom line, we are all different. Bottom, bottom line - the more people who like non-sheffield steel, the more Sheffield steel left for me!

James.

I am with you on This James.

I agree, this is a very interesting thread.

Two of my best razors ever – including a 8/8 George Savage I stupidly sold to holli4pirating a couple years ago – were Sheffields. When Sheffields are good, they're good. Very smooth and buttery; I agree that for better or for worse, the steel is softer than American and German razors.

But I've also had two real clunkers. Both were highly respected Sheffield brands. Chris' post about the reasons for possible inconsistency in Sheffield razors has piqued my curiosity.

I've had good luck with Sheffields but I love Solingens. My ratio is like 20 Solingens to 1 Sheffield. Most of my Sheffields are heavy grinds and a different animal from the majority of my full hollow Solingens. As the popular saying goes ....it's all good. What Holli4 said about the hones may be something to look at. If one setup doesn't work well an alternative might do the trick.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

This is an interesting thread.

I have the completely opposite experience. Perfect shaves off Sheffield steel, and have never yet tried a Solingen that I did not find scratchy or sub-par in some way (with the possible exception of the Friodur - but even that does not give the smooth feel of a well-honed Sheffield). In fact, I flatter myself that, in a blind shave test, I can pick Sheffield steel over non-sheffield steel 98.7% of the time. I have either given away or sold all my solingen razors with the exception of 4, which I keep for other reasons.

I believe these things are all personal. But the above have been my findings. Most of it probably comes down to what you are used to and what is mostly available in your area, your skin type, your experience with honing, your experience with shaving, blah blah blah. Bottom line, we are all different. Bottom, bottom line - the more people who like non-sheffield steel, the more Sheffield steel left for me!

James.

Another in agreement with James