Thread: Seems to lose edge on Eschers

So I've recently started honing razors for a few people where I live and have run across a slight setback in my (limited) technique.
It seems that whenever I start to get a decent edge using 1k and then 4k on my Norton; that when I move on to my Eschers that I lose some sharpness (I always use the hair trick method to see how it catches).

I usually do bevel setting with circles and then move on to x strokes.

Any suggestions as to what I'm doing wrong?


Edit: shoot, wrong forum. Sorry guys.

I would first suggest you move up in grit and don't worry about the HHT. Second, do you use a slurry with the Escher? If so, that could be part of the problem.

I'm not really that familiar with the Escher though. Should be some more responses soon.

If your getting proper results off the 4k and loosing something when you move to the esher I would be looking at what is happening to the edge durring that transition. I'd check for flatness, stone edge issues on all stones, and so forth.

Still there are many reasons that the edges can go south, it just a process of elimination

Same here.
I have norton 4k/8k and on 4k I get good results with HHT but after 8k not so good, although after stroping all is well again.

Well there have been posts by honemeisters that say the 'toothy' edge left at the 4k level will catch hair while the smoothed edge left by the 8 or above will not catch as easily. The toothy surface grabs the hair better. As for the Escher, Sham (hi_bud_gl) pointed out to me that it is best to move to the Escher after you are already at the 12k level. Less strokes and wear on the expensive stone.

Moving to a fine finishing stone too soon can mean a lot more time on the rock. The above is not necessarily the source of the problem, if there is one, but might be or might have something to do with it. Now that it won't cut your hanging hair as well as it did does it offer a good shave ?

I think Jimmy is right on target here. His question about the shave quality is really the key point. If you are going backwards when it comes to how the razor shaves you have a different problem than the variability in the HHT.

I use an Escher almost every day for finishing razors. The key is to limit the number of strokes and definitely limit the pressure. These two things can kill and edge without question.

I typically on so 10 strokes with water on the Escher following an 8K stone.

Have fun,

Lynn

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Well there have been posts by honemeisters that say the 'toothy' edge left at the 4k level will catch hair while the smoothed edge left by the 8 or above will not catch as easily. The toothy surface grabs the hair better. As for the Escher, Sham (hi_bud_gl) pointed out to me that it is best to move to the Escher after you are already at the 12k level. Less strokes and wear on the expensive stone.

Moving to a fine finishing stone too soon can mean a lot more time on the rock. The above is not necessarily the source of the problem, if there is one, but might be or might have something to do with it. Now that it won't cut your hanging hair as well as it did does it offer a good shave ?

Hi JimmyHAD,
I think that it must be the 'toothy' edge (microserrations?) that catch so well. My blades do strop up well, but it seems like I have to strop them frequently (during the shave even) in order to keep the edge going.

It seems like my main issue, as you say, is jumping grits too quickly. I'll pick up an 8k asap.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I would first suggest you move up in grit and don't worry about the HHT. Second, do you use a slurry with the Escher? If so, that could be part of the problem.

I'm not really that familiar with the Escher though. Should be some more responses soon.

I switch up the slurry use. One of my Eschers makes a good slurry (using an old arkansas mini) , while the other is too hard

How does slurry effect edge? I was under the impression that it leaves a less serrated edge.

Samual, are you going to the Escher after the 4k???? that is what I am reading