Thread: Shapton's & Charnley Forrest=Amazing

I've been honing now for a little while and am actually sending a care package out to one of the honemeisters to see where I can improve. The package consists of a video of my hands while shaving, the return of a razor, and several razors that I honed.

I've been waiting on the return of my 8mm-to-dvd video with the razors neatly packaged up & the opportunity to purchase a Charnley Forrest stone came up and I had to pull the trigger. I had just bought a set of Shapton stones (4/8/16K) from SRD, so the funds weren't really there...but I literally rolled up my change. It's a gallon wine jug that I use for my other passion, guns.

Everything is packaged up to send to the honemeister, but I had these stones that should really put my honing over the top. I had this idea that if I were to work up my normal progression, then the 16K, followed by the CF with oil, that edge should be flawless. I took eight razors from my rotation that were really just fine, but wanted to experiment since I had no razors that needed honed at the time. I took all of them to the 4/8/16K's and then to the Charnley Forrest with oil.

My little pea-brain was dead on. I did my normal shower-n-shave routine and took the best of the razors I honed & shaved with it...that's right, no stropping at all. All I can say is holly smokes batman. That shave was as close and comfortable as the ones honed by two of the best in the business. Was it a fluke, I don't know...there are seven more razors to shave with.

Next I plan on doing the same with the same number of razors up to 16K sans the Charnley Forrest. I've heard that the CF makes the edge softer feeling, but have to "know" for myself.

Before someone jumps to conclusions...I'm not comparing myself to a honemeister, I'm just saying that I got one razor right.

Thanks for listening/reading...
Scott

How many laps did you do on the CF after the Shapton? I usually go to the CF after the Escher and do about 30 laps but under running water. Without running water the water just turns to beads and rolls away. Lather works nicely too.

I went 20x with oil (3n1). My understanding is that if you ad a bit of dish soap to the water you are trying to hone with you can have good results with using a CF as a waterstone...but under water I'm not sure if you would be gaining anything over the escher or 16K Shapton. The oil creates a cushion between the razor and the hone, polishing more.

Of coarse we are talking about natural stones (escher & CF), so some may cut more than others/be finer than others. I had a theory/hypothesys and I hope it works out like I was hoping for. Hopefully one of the honemeisters will step in and offer some experienced advice/input.

I have used 4 different Charnleys under running water and they have all improved the Escher's edge. Not by much, but they improved it. I have used oil once but Im not certain as to how much difference it makes over water.

The seller of my CF mentioned that you can add a bit of dish soap to your stone so that you don't have to hone at the sink & could also assist with removing some oil...if that's what you are after. Adding a light oil could only polish/smooth the edge even more, but that's just an opinion at this time.

Originally Posted by shooter74743

The seller of my CF mentioned that you can add a bit of dish soap to your stone so that you don't have to hone at the sink & could also assist with removing some oil...if that's what you are after. Adding a light oil could only polish/smooth the edge even more, but that's just an opinion at this time.

Shooter

I have heard many say that oil gives a better edge, including respected honemeisters. I'm not sure why, but it may be that some hollows have a tendency to glide over the stone without any abrasive action what so ever, where oil provides more of a suction effect and allows the hone to work more effectively. I admit it provides a greater degree of feedback, although I do not know if it actually gives rise to a better edge.

I have found that a light yet firm touch works well particularly with hollows (if using water soley) and it does take a while to become used to this hone utilising this technique. It provides little, but increasingly better feedback after 20 laps say, and takes experience with the stone to confidently use it this way.

Basically oil makes it easier to use and I believe it can give the user a better control over the hone. I just dislike using it as can be impractical to clear up.

I think the key to the oil is a "thin" coat. I did notice when I first oiled the blade and started using it that I had overoiled the stone. Simply put, I was hydroplaning the blade over the stone. It took about 10x, wiping the blade very time, to get the oil thin enough that I had any "feedback". I didn't use any pressure, only enough to keep the blade flat.

I did just wipe down the CF and take a dorko razor to the CF with soapy water. Feedback felt like it was rougher than 16K, but actual scratch marks magnified by 16x loupe showed they were about the same. Maybe that's why the CF excels when you use it with a thin coat of oil. I will ahve to experiment more...

Originally Posted by shooter74743

I think the key to the oil is a "thin" coat. ...

Exactly that, I squeezed a few drops of oil over the Charnley (machine oil that came with some beard clippers) and spread it over the hone with my finger to apply a light coat. You don't want to use anymore than that.

My limited experience agrees 100% so far...

Hey, If one of ya'll want to send me a Charnely, I'll give you my "expert" opinion"