Thread: Diagnose: Sharp but not smooth

Also just as a side note to the above...Yes I understand the whole theory and practice of "Double Bevels" from TZ and "Microbevels" too, even the theory of using a pasted strop to "supposedly" create a rounded bevel (that doesn't really bear out it testing)

I have read all this stuff over and over and even tried most of it... but honestly I think it all comes down to proper finishing regardless of the system used... You either get all the rough off or you don't, you have to remove the microchips, period ...

bart recomended it for the chipping problem with ti's as i'm sure he experianced a similar thing ,i'm sure he would explain better than me . I just thought the chap could give it go . I my self don't use tape at all unless its for serious bevel work . then i will remove tape once bevel is set, set bevel with out tape and finish from there on. i have used ti paste and it did work well for me its worth ago . so no ofense glenn and your most likly right in what you say. i have tryed my self and it does give a good edge i have also got a great edge with no tape on both my ti's it just took a thew rehones to get there .

Makes perfect sense what your saying then Gary,,,
Basically another arrow in the quiver of getting to a smooth comfortable shave...

We all like more options (arrows)

For what i thought about the picture is that maybe you should try to change the direction you are honing. Now all the scratches seem to run parallel (sorry if my English term is incorrect). Try honing on different directions; lessening the pressure towards your final strokes. That might help.
I might be wrong as well. Wouldn't be the first time (or last).

From time to time I read posts where people describe their razors as just like wiping the whiskers off or like using a velvet squeegee. Or some other such thing, meaning they can't feel the blade pull at all as it cuts. I'd like to know how they do it. Can someone explain how he gets such a smooth shave?

Originally Posted by fdennis

From time to time I read posts where people describe their razors as just like wiping the whiskers off or like using a velvet squeegee. Or some other such thing, meaning they can't feel the blade pull at all as it cuts. I'd like to know how they do it. Can someone explain how he gets such a smooth shave?

The correct combination of Skill, Luck, Fate, Kismet, and perhaps the alignment of the stars...


First the right razor for your face slides across the correct combination of hones with your skill to bring that edge to it's ultimate point and no more the the proper beard prep combines with a perfect whipped cream lather and the skill that you have practiced at all this time allows for that perfect Velvet Squeegee Pass Good luck with finding it often...

Originally Posted by bonusmarple

Thanks for the reply. I did not do the initial honing, however Martin did and he did a good job. After about 10-15 shaves the razor started to dull and I wanted to work with finishers and that is how I got here. At the end of the day, I decided to start over with a Dilucot. At the end of the Dilucot I noticed a couple of things. First, the edge is very, very delicate. I noticed a very small chip after the final pass on the Coticule.

The razor shaves very well and I only did 5 passes on CrOx beyond Bart's Dilucot. What my guess is is that the razor angle is very narrow. The spine width is 5/8 but the width from the edge to the honing flat is wider than my other 5/8ths. My guess is that the edge is a tad on the thin side and that led to some deformation and why I could not get a smooth shave after some time on the razor. I need to haul out the micrometer and run the measurements through the angle algorithm. I think the edge angle is just wide enough to last a few shaves, but not wide enough to really hold up. More to come on this one.

I'm wondering why the razor began to dull after so few uses. (10-15) Poor stropping? Maybe this is still the problem if in fact this was the case causing it to dull so quickly? Just a thought.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

The correct combination of Skill, Luck, Fate, Kismet, and perhaps the alignment of the stars...


First the right razor for your face slides across the correct combination of hones with your skill to bring that edge to it's ultimate point and no more the the proper beard prep combines with a perfect whipped cream lather and the skill that you have practiced at all this time allows for that perfect Velvet Squeegee Pass Good luck with finding it often...

It also helps if you are "the Glen", Thors older brother.

Originally Posted by fdennis

From time to time I read posts where people describe their razors as just like wiping the whiskers off or like using a velvet squeegee. Or some other such thing, meaning they can't feel the blade pull at all as it cuts. I'd like to know how they do it. Can someone explain how he gets such a smooth shave?

Glen said: "The correct combination of Skill, Luck, Fate, Kismet, and perhaps the alignment of the stars..."

I would add shave prep. i.e whisker and skin prep.

I keep an Artist Feather open blade razor handy for
the days when I put-zed up my honing and stropping
of a razor.

Some days the Feather-str8 does wipe whiskers other days
it is simply a darn sharp blade that: tugs, pulls, growls,
snaps, bites and nicks.
I mention this because in a container of Feather blades
they are going to all be birds of a feather one just as sharp
and harsh or what ever they are as the next. So the difference
is my technique and my shave prep. Not full hollow,
not wedge, not natural .vs. man made, not cowhide
.vs. shell etc.
But me myself and I: my technique and my shave prep
and yes a sharp blade is part of it.

Which reminds me... My D.R. Harris is lathering as fine as
my MWF. Took a couple of tries to dial it in.... it is
turning into a very fine face lathering soap. Very fine...