Thread: Edge building and arm hair test

I think I owe everybody a followup on this thread.
I took a shower and prepped nicely so as to remove that variable.
The shave was nice, nicer than it's ever been with any of the razors I honed before but not as smooth as my first one. Still, I'm very happy. I think I'm getting it.
Once I get my .25 micron CrOx, I may be able to make the edge smoother.

Forasmuch as people say honing is not a black art, it looks, feels, and smells like one though, at least to me. There's a million variable going into it but it all boils down to the shave. Funny!

I'll keep on reading the threads and experimenting.
I may even contact one of the nice people who live closeby or go to the NY meet.
Thanks to all!

Originally Posted by CatMan

I found, that the problem with those cutting hair tests is, that people rely on reports from others as to how it should feel, or work cutting hair with a straight coming from a hone of a certain grid. Everyones hair is different. I recently found a way to test that makes the different structure of hair irrelevant. I used a new DE blade, held it with a small pair of pliers and cut some hair of my arm parallel and about 1/4 of an inch away from the skin. Then I did the same with a straight coming from my DMT 8000. If it feels the same or better with the straight, I can continue polishing the edge on my higher grid hone.

Hope this helps others to get a feeling how a sharp edge is supposed to cut.

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THE IDEA OF COMPARING A FRESHLY HONED STRAIGHT RAZOR TO THE FACTORY EDGE ON A DE BLADE IS VERY INTERESTING.
I GUESS I'LL BE BUYING A PACK OF BLADES MONDAY TO SEE IF IT HAS MERIT. THANKS