Thread: I'm a slow learner.

One of the things Lynn told me in chat one night after my volunteering the info that I had endured some poor quality shaves just to see a bit more of what the edge could manage is quite simple: No need to do that! You should know on the first stroke what is gonna happen.

Sometimes my cheeks might fool me, but not around the lips.

maybe it is not so bad that you really need to stop, and each day you hone a little to see if it is better or not to find the limit.

However, if you start with some tough whiskers and you know it can be better why not add those five on the spot, shave either directly from the hone or with very, very few strap laps for good measure; I'm pretty sure you will eventually hit a sweet spot where it is the same, the same, the same.

By going directly from hone to face you can test only the hone, later you can see what more the strop adds, so if you loose anything at all; you will know it was the strap, not that it needs more honing-which it will but that not why-that it was not first honed enough.

Originally Posted by ndw76

I used to give in to the nagging thought that if five laps is good, then more must be better. Doesn't work that way. I have found the hardest part of razor honing is knowing when to leave well enough the hell alone.

Now i agree with above words.Your final finishing stone is shapton and it will act exactly how you feel.
if you make more laps on 12k it will break down the edge and you will have harsh shave.
great learning curve. you are good to go. gl

why is that, sham? I dont have shaptons, so I dont know them. why is it that the shapton will break down the age after more than a few laps?

I try to get others to hone my razors whenever I can get away with it




Sorry, carry on..

Originally Posted by Mijbil

why is that, sham? I dont have shaptons, so I dont know them. why is it that the shapton will break down the age after more than a few laps?

sharpening stones when they made don't meant to solely for straight razors.
Razor edge get so thin and fragile if you do the right sharpening process before 16k example when you get to the 16k level your edge is shave ready.
when you start to make strokes on 16k it takes no more then 5-10 strokes(depends on quality of the blade) edge start to having chips.
all above is true if you have done right honing process on lower level grit stones.
hope this helps.

sham - but why does the edge start to break down (or "have chips") after 5-10 laps (or whatever) - why does the edge start to break down after it's ready, or even at *any point*? Also, is this something unique to shaptons, and if so why?

Originally Posted by Mijbil

sham - but why does the edge start to break down (or "have chips") after 5-10 laps (or whatever) - why does the edge start to break down after it's ready, or even at *any point*? Also, is this something unique to shaptons, and if so why?

After it is ready.
Yes i have noticed on shaptons i cannot say to any other stones.
sharpening of the blade(metal i will try be as simple as i can).
Depends mainly from 2 factors.
size of the particles against the metal will move and joining compound that particular join together.
Again when factory shapton made that stone didn't mean solely for straight razor. their market was many other products knifes,axes etc.
that is why straight razor edge is fragile for shapton 16k to make it more fine.
(please do understand shapton will act like this if you have done your job on lower level stones)
In fact i had case if you stay above 5k level more then you should shaptons all will break down the edge.(chips will form).
Let me clear this more.
if you stay on 8k and just sharpen your blade in some point edge will start to having chips.
hope this helps and answers your questions.

Nathan;
I am lucky I get to visit Sham and Kelly and learn all the secrets of honing and finishing a str8 razor edge. There are many variables involved between steel and stone. It can be frustrating trying to get that perfect edge and therein lays the challenge.
It’s OK to put it down and come back later. Like most things learned, practice makes perfect. That's the fun part.

Have a nice day
Mike

Originally Posted by Mijbil

why is that, sham? I dont have shaptons, so I dont know them. why is it that the shapton will break down the age after more than a few laps?

The stone was made for tools other than razors, chisels, planes and etc. Those need to be sharp but not razor sharp with a fine edge.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

The stone was made for tools other than razors, chisels, planes and etc. Those need to be sharp but not razor sharp with a fine edge.

Ok - but what is differetn about the stone (physically, technically)? And what exactly is causing this break-down?