Obsessed Newbie With First Impressions And Questions

It all happened about two months ago. I was shopping for an Arkansas Surgical Black for my cutlery. In doing so, I stumbled across ClassicShaving. Fast forward to present day and you will now find a DOVO Ebony and a TI Sicilian, both of which are 5/8’s. In addition to the razors, I have two DOVO strops, one with red paste and a linen back, and a Norton 4000/8000.

Specifically, I have been focusing my attention on the DOVO. I have not had much of a problem with my honing or stropping. I relate my moderate success to my vast experience with my cutlery—I have about fourteen Wusthof-Trident knives that are all well used and well maintained. I have used Japanese water stones on all of them since day one, which is about a dozen years ago--I apologize for the foray into knives, but I wanted to give everyone my experience with stones and honing.

Anyway, I have been getting around six shaves using only the strops. I generally go linen, pasted strop, and finishing strop. I have been able to get the razor to pass the hanging hair test, not with the relative ease I admit. Overall, I am extremely satisfied with my split-second decision to suddenly and completely rid myself of the over-priced over-bladed junk that I was using.

Regardless of the insignificant stuff, I have been reading every thing I have been able to find regarding the straight razor, stropping, and honing. In doing so however, I have started to experiment with different stones; it appears that with my razors, I purchased some OCD behavior. I admit I am obsessed with the search for that perfectly honed, ultra sharp razor. Does it truly exist oh Zen master?

The greatest aid in my quest has been the addition of the ten-dollar microscope from Radio Shack. Seeing the edge, that close, has really helped clarify a lot of the material in which I have been mulling over. All of which has made me think that adding a Belgian or 12,000 grit Japanese water stone would help polish the edge just a tad bit more, and help me take another step toward edge enlightenment.

Unfortunately, my knowledge on honing runs dry after the 8000 Norton. Achieving the ultra-sharp knife edge is much easier! In short, with everything that I described, how much better of an edge would I have with one of the aforementioned stones? In addition, I would truly appreciate some comments and feedback on my described techniques. I am sure I am doing something wrong, as it all seemed to come to me to easily. Finally, I want to express my gratitude to everyone on this site. You all helped in one way or another. This is a fantastic site, one that I am overjoyed in finding. I look forward to chatting with everyone. In closing, I wonder if my grandfather ever obsessed over his straight razor? To think of all the trouble some of us go through to enjoy a shave. A shave that my grandfather probably did not thank twice?




Regards,
Gianni Cappuccilli

P.S. I quck final word, I now use the Arkansas Surgical Black instead of the 4K Norton. I read that the surgical black is close to 5k. It has made a slight difference.

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Originally Posted by Gianni_Capp

Anyway, I have been getting around six shaves using only the strops. I generally go linen, pasted strop, and finishing strop. I have been able to get the razor to pass the hanging hair test, not with the relative ease I admit.

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Typically, you should just use linen & a finishing strop for daily use. Probably 20 round trips on each. Pasted strops are mainly for final polish after honing, or refreshing a slightly dulled edge.

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Originally Posted by Gianni_Capp

I admit I am obsessed with the search for that perfectly honed, ultra sharp razor. Does it truly exist oh Zen master?

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I'm not a Zen master, but I would caution against the perfection trap in every aspect of your life. It is an impossible state to achieve. If it is perfect, it won't be once you make your first pass. You'll overlook many incredible, great, truly wonderful things because they don't measure up to some crazy idea we fabricate. If the razor shaves you well, then call it good. If you want to have a solid benchmark to measure your skill against, send the razor to Lynn or one of the other honemeisters.

Go for it. That OCD thing your describing isn't OCD, its just passion. And its what life is all about. Get another hone, any hone. Just remember, its not about buying the hone, its about enjoying it while you have it. Try a barber hone if you wanna go cheap and or one of those Belgium thing a ma-bobs. I haven't found two hones that behave the same yet.

P.S. this stuff really isn't that hard at all, some guys get it and some guys need more time, no biggie, consider yourself lucky

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Originally Posted by Gianni_Capp

I have been getting around six shaves using only the strops. I generally go linen, pasted strop, and finishing strop. I have been able to get the razor to pass the hanging hair test, not with the relative ease I admit.

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Is it just me or should he be getting more than six shaves between honings? Maybe I misunderstood this statement.

Nope, I also get ~5-10 shaves between honings. What can I say, my beard is tough stuff... ;)

Nenad

I just want to say something about the higher grit stones:

I'm finding that they are not the be-all-and-end-all. It seems more important to create a nice cutting edge with the 4k or 5k or even perhaps 6k and that everythying after that is minute improvement in comfort. Go for that improvement by all means, but don't lose sight of creating a strong foundation with the lower grits. That's all MHO and I might change my mind next month. ;)

Good to have you here.

X

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Originally Posted by JLStorm

Is it just me or should he be getting more than six shaves between honings? Maybe I misunderstood this statement.

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I have shaved 25 shaves with my Lynn honed Genco. I used
nothing but linen and leather. Shaved with it this morning and
it shaved great.

How's this for wacky, I have a calender and each time I shave
I write down the razor I used and which soap or cream. :o


Terry

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Originally Posted by JLStorm

Is it just me or should he be getting more than six shaves between honings? Maybe I misunderstood this statement.

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I understood the same as you, which is why I asked for clarification. My razors made a trip to Lynn when I first started. The past year and a half has been pasted strops to maintain the edge, and it's more than six shaves.

Now, Gianni may be one of those folks with barbed wire for a beard, and if so this may not be out of the question.

I think about 10 shaves between honings is about average. I know there are guys who say they get way more but I really wonder about that.

Foremost, thanks to all that replied! Instead of another hone, I was thinking of going with the diamond paste. I read that the results with the paste are a bit better. Now I am sure everyone has comments, and I would love to hear those. Also, can someone suggest how I should set-up a four sided paddle. I was thinking of going with 9, 1, .50 and .25. I figured if I needed something more than the 9, I always have my collection of stones.
Oh! it is not that I am in the search for perfection, but I am looking to master a technique. I believe if you are going to do something, you might as well do it to the best of your ability, and if someone else can master something, so can I. After all we are all human. The only difference, it might take some people longer to do it than others.

Again, thanks to all,
Gianni Cappuccilli

I think the finer hones are very worthwhile and I like them much better than finishing with a pasted strop, although finishing with a pasted strop is easier. With a Coticule (expensive), Chinese 12000+ grit waterstone from Woodcraft.com (29.95) or a quality fine finishing barber hone ($10.00 + up on Ebay), a very good shaving edge can be produced and you sound like you have the skill necessary to get the most out of it, so I'd encourage you to try the finer hones.

Everyone has to do some experimentation on their own because it's impossible to know what the next guy's "great shave" or "lousy shave" actually felt like. It's all too subjective and measured on different scales of experience.

My first pasted strop was a TI with 1.0 and 0.5. Once I started making strops I went with a 9, 1, .5 and .25 setup and do 95% of my customers razors on it. This would be more than adequate especially if you already have hones.
My current personal setup is a 9, 3, 1, .5 on a 4 side and another 2 side with 0.25 on both balsa and leather. I also have maybe 20 barber hones, a Norton a few Belgians an an Escher. For my personal collection I still use the 9,1,.5,.25 the most.
Tony

I agree 1000 %.

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Originally Posted by xman

It seems more important to create a nice cutting edge with the 4k or 5k or even perhaps 6k and that everythying after that is minute improvement in comfort. Go for that improvement by all means, but don't lose sight of creating a strong foundation with the lower grits. That's all MHO and I might change my mind next month. ;)

Good to have you here.

X

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