Thread: Stone vs Stubble

Howdy all,

While on this site I've learned many useful things to do with honeing.
I've learned what stones and grits I need to use to get a nice smooth shave, and I've also learned is that no two natural stones are alike. They may be similar but there is always a difference.

But one thing I have not yet learned but would love to is how the different stones affect the stubble.

I've seen some users post how they prefer one stone over another because that stone gives them a bbs shave that lasts longer.

I was wondering how this is possible? If the same sharpness is being acheived wouldn't the hair grow the same way?

Or is it because of the different scratch patterns left on the blade by individual stones which affects how the hair is cut and therefore grows?


I would love to hear what other members have to say about this topic or if anyone has come across a thread where they have tested this out.

Maybe it is psychological ..... power of suggestion .... but I think I get a more comfortable feel from the edge when finished on a coticule or an Escher than if it is finished on a high grit synthetic. YMMV.

+1.

I prefer the edge from a natural finisher to that of a synthetic or that of a paste. Like Jimmy I really like coticule edges, those are really fantastic stones, and I'm also a huge fan of my Maruichi. I also like Charnley Forest edges.

I find high grit synthetics can be a little harsher on the skin, but of the ones I've tried the Naniwa 12k is my favourite.

I'm so-so about pastes, I dont love them but I dont hate them either! I have a CrOx pasted strop in the shave den which I use for quick touch ups but I dont use it as part of my honing progression. I prefer CrOx to diamond spray as it seems to be a little softer on the skin.

Now if only I could track down an escher for less than a million quid and I'd be one happy camper..!

IMHO , it's not so much which finish hone you use . It's more a matter of how well you use the hone you have .

This is just a theory, but it's one that I have thought about for quite a while. I think that when an edge is smoother and more comfortable I can use slightly more pressure than I can (or am willing to) with a harsher edge. So, even if both blades are adequately sharp the one that is smoother allows for a closer cut.

An example of this is the Feather AC which uses a blade that is unquestionably plenty sharp. Because I make a conscious effort to "lighten up" when I use one I get a BBS shave that doesn't last as long as one from a conventional razor, which is probably cutting whiskers slightly below the skin level.

Since the razors smoothness is in large part affected by the final polishing steps in honing it makes sense to me that the method used to polish could affect the ultimate closeness of the shave.

Like I said..just a theory.

There are several things to be considered.
The most important factor in shaving is technique that can be devided into:
honing technique
stropping technique
shaving technique

If you change one of these things the shaving experience will vary.
I find myself a very good honer, but a poor stropper and only a good shaver.
My lack of stropping skills get me (or my skin) in trouble from time to time.
Like all men I tried to compensate the lack of skill with buying better and more costly strops. But instead of blaming a miracolous improvement on better equippment I realised it was my skill that had improved while playing with my new toys. That being said I don´t think special equippment will lead to less stubble, but proper equippment with good skill will lead to very good shaves!

The quality of the edge (that includes quality of stones being used from bevelsetting to finish, each equally as important as the other, and quality of the blades grind and steel) has impact on shaving experience in respect to baby butt smoothenes for sure. But I tend to believe that proper technique on the three major tasks will lead to a near perfect shave faster. Trying different finishers is a thing of enjoyment and can vary things and even improve the experience while shaving but will not make up for a lack of skill.