Thread: Help me understand "touch ups"

Had a razor that was still a bit sharp, lost some but didn't have the smoothness it once had. Still shaveable, but needed more effort.

I had one the other day I touched up on my C12K and CrOx strop and it was great. No problems. First time I've used CrOx and liked it in a very long time. Guess this metal, razor, etc. seemed to like it.

But... I had another razor I put on the C12k. Tests were fine afterwards on armhair. Did a shave and it was okay. Better than before but still not where it was when I got it. Only off by a little. If it was a 10 it was now a 7.

So, I said it needed a touch more. Took it to 8k. (probably where messed up??). Then 12K. Test...maybe an 8 now. Tried CrOx. Mehh... 7.5? Felt a little smoother but seemed to lose some sharpness to it a little. By this time I'm running out of limb hair. Took to C12K again, spent a little more time there then finished it off on the Escher or Thuringianarnaanan (whatever I have) in hopes of getting back that great smooth feeling it once had. It was originally honed on Jnat.

So, my question; what should I have done? What's a good way of knowing where to go back to which stone? Was 8k too far back? Should I have gone back to 1K or 4K? Or more time on 12k? Or am I asking to much to get near the smoothness of a jnat?

Just did my test shave and really lost a lot of sharpness and smoothness.

You've only left me confused. So, essentially, that wasn't a "touch-up". Chances are though it wasn't what you did, but the way you did it.

I can only suggest that if you think you messed up the edge on 8K, as you mentioned, that is likely what you did.

For a touch up, 8K was too far back.

But, at this point, since you probably messed up on 8K, you should go back to 8K and undo what you did.

Okay, so by going back to it maybe spend more time on it before moving on?

rickboone,

I am a great believer in the 'little & often' approach.

I touch up my blades weekly with CrOx, then monthly on a Naniwa 12 k.

I would suspect that the current view on SRP, is that this probably too often to be touching up, but it works very well for me.

I must admit that when I have similar experiences to what you have described, I go right back to the beginning and start off with re-setting the bevel, then working upwards.

Again this would probably be viewed as excessive

I do this, because I am a relative newbie at honing, and do not have the experience needed to do otherwise

Good luck !

Have fun !

Best regards

Russ

Originally Posted by rickboone

Okay, so by going back to it maybe spend more time on it before moving on?

You really shouldn't need to. Figuring out what went wrong though is pretty hard, without just guessing.

I would spend more time on the 8K, correctly. And then spend more time on the 12K.

Most likely the razor is lifting during your stroke and your damaging the edge, or your using pressure, or your using two fingers (one incorrectly), or some other issue. The further you go down in grit the more magnified the errors become.

Better than before but still not where it was when I got it.

This quote is the crux of the problem.

So, let's talk a minute about what a "touch up" is. A touch up is a gentle honing of the razor to return it to it's original sharpness. From your quote I can't really tell if you personally got the razor to a level of sharpness it once was, or if you are simply trying to hone the razor to a level of sharpness that someone else accomplished.

only go to the 8k if you cant get the results you desire on the 12k and what are you use the CrOx on ? i use mine on balsa wood a nice flat surface i have also found which works with most of my razors is 50 round trips with slurry and 100 round trips with with water on the c-12k and your razor should be super sharp hope this help's

ok after rereeding your post if you seek smoothness finish with diluted slurry !

the number i gave you 50/100 round trips is for getting to the 12k level for the first time if your just touching up and already sharp razor do 25 to 50 on water for a sharp razor for more smoothness do the 25 to 50 with a very light slurry

Hmm, sounds like you're not sure what you are doing.

I agree you didn't perform a touch up and since we don't know the state of the razor it's hard to say what you should have done. However if the 8K messed up I agree that's where you should fall back to. You won't do any major honing on an 8K it's still a finisher. Of course if your skills are lacking here you could do more damage so assess what you are doing wrong and don't just hone with too many strokes. After some reasonable strokes, if things don't improve just stop or you might make things worse.