Thread: EDGE MAINT. FORMULA

Jerry,

Thanks for the useful post.

Overkill ... not in the least. It gives some direction and that's always a good thing. No doubt, the procedure you noted will refresh a razor for quite some time going back to an 8K. Much longer than a quickie 5 pass touch up on a baber hone!

Marc

Originally Posted by Doop

Jerry,

Thanks for the useful post.

Overkill ... not in the least. It gives some direction and that's always a good thing. No doubt, the procedure you noted will refresh a razor for quite some time going back to an 8K. Much longer than a quickie 5 pass touch up on a baber hone!

Marc

In what way is it not overkill?

Dropping down to an 8k as compared to just refinishing on a barber hone will have no effect at all on how long the edge lasts.

Originally Posted by BeBerlin

Just thought I should mention this in case any beginner should develop the urgent need to spend serious money on an army of expensive hones (one of which can, conveniently, be found in the classifieds) when something like a balsa strop or a barber's hone will do fine.

Regards,
Robin

I like that phrase: "the urgent need to spend serious money..." It describes my various ADs to a tee.

thanks, Bruce

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

While I do not doubt that your method works, I have to say I think it is... serious overkill. A little pulling can usually be sorted with 10-15 strokes on any finisher, including passes on a pasted strop. If it doesn't get there the first time, do it again....

+1.... Sorta...

I wouldn't just jump down to an 8K right away. Once I feel a razor could be better, I'll hit a pasted strop (~5 laps). A few shaves later, the paste might not work so I'll jump down to a finishing stone (same 10-20 lap deal as said before), then back up to an unpasted strop.

I got a good 40 shaves outta my professionally-honed Dovo before needing the finishing stone though.

Thanks for sharing your formula. It sounds as if you can apply
your formula to consistently get the razor's edge back every
time, whereas what some of the guys here are referring to is
a more `conservative' approach, where the minimal amount of
metal is removed. This requires another shave test, and
possibly going back to the pasted strop or a finishing hone for
a few more strokes if the initial amount didn't cut it.

Different strokes for different folks, and I would count myself
into the conservative crowd because I only have 1 razor and
I'd like to make it last.

Regards,

- Scott

Agreed. Some quick things work for me, but not every time. Whereas, the OP method sounds like we're whipping the damn thing into submission. Be sharp now, or else!

Well, it is important to make sure your razors are shave sharp. And from a certain point of view whatever it takes for you is certainly the thing to do.

But I have noticed honing is a journey, and at least in my experience the journey has not ended, nor do I see an end in sight. There have been times when I thought I had it licked, only to stumble across another method, or a razor that did not respond, or whatever. Not to mention learning my hones and how to get the most out of them with the least amount of effort. That certainly takes a lot of time, particularly if you are like me and have a lot of stones. I'm always learning something new about them, just as I am always learning something new about my razors, brushes, soaps, creams and so on.

So I guess I am saying that if your formula works for you, that is great! But do not be surprised if that formulae changes as time progresses.

James.

Aha!! So many of you boys seem to have fallen for my "reverse psychology" ploy. I did this thread on purpose because I wanted to flush some edge touch-up ideas and opinions out of the woodwork. And it worked.

Your many ideas and opinions are just what the new guys need to help them over some of the honing rough spots. And it sounds like some of you more experienced guys appreciate a different honing strategy.

I have very few problems concerning honing an edge to shave ready.
I do, however, need a very polished sharp razor for my "barbed wire beard". An ulta tough beard is a problem we of Bulgarian ancestry have struggled with for eons.

There is no way I can get a smooth shave off the 8k like most of you.
I need to take it a step or two further. And thank you all for coming out of the woodwork.................

I have a few razors with over 30 shaves on them. I also have a very tough beard. What works for me is 10 laps on a balsa strop with crox. If that doesn't work. I do 10 strokes on a escher then back to 10 laps on the balsa again with crox. I have never needed to go to a lower grit than my escher. Also please note that all my razors have been honed professionally. I believe good stropping technique along with proper razor care can keep a good edge for a very long time.

Originally Posted by mrsell63

Aha!! So many of you boys seem to have fallen for my "reverse psychology" ploy.

How droll. Well, rest assured it will not happen again. "Reverse psychology is often used on children due to their lack of psychological understanding and higher rate of reactance. Reverse psychology can also prey on a person's ego, as when it is used, it can make the target feel incompetent; effectively persuading the person to perform the desired action."