Thread: "Too Sharp"?!?!

I think you probably did very well in the razor that you sent out. You stated you used a Japanese progression which tells me that the bevel had the typical matted finish and smooth homogenous edge which is just about perfect for anybody that has a modicum amount of experience with properly honed razors. I usually stop at a very light slurry on my Asagi and that is about right for someone that I do not know. There is also the point to be made that if one stops there, and is giving it to someone who has a lot of experience, that a few laps on the felt will tune up any properly hone razor. Me, personally, I like 5 laps on CBN which is my weapon of choice after the final step off the rocks and I would never think of giving such an edge to anyone that I did not know.

It is very hard honing for someone else and I tip my hat to the guys that do a lot of it. I would like to do more because I really enjoy honing with my J-Nats but I have enough going on in my life without adding more.

Good luck,
Richard

"Sharp is what sharp does! " Put it to the leather!

Originally Posted by deighaingeal

So, what is your take on the "too sharp" statement?

my take is that it was possibly said in jest, by inexperience, or a misunderstanding of the term

Originally Posted by deighaingeal

So far the comments have supported my theory. I will send another email to him suggesting he send it back. If he wants i might just hit it with a coticule, I found out that he is used to those edges.

Gerrit, I'm just starting to hone for others, and am fielding the other complaint - not sharp enough w/ an HHT4. 'Not to put too much weight on HHT, but they're clearly at minimum, in a decent ballpark. I use cotis and asagi. They're not the crispy/brisk edge, but deliver the goods. I found after repeated discussion, one person thought the edge should feel like a DE edge. We're kinda shooting in the dark, trying hard to guestimate or interpret verbal reports of preferences.

On 'too sharp', I find at some level of keenness, it gets so demanding of technique, I no longer enjoy the shave. I'm sure it says more about my skills than the edge. If the person involved is used to coti smoothness (I'm ducking here while Glen reacts to my saying cotis are smooth ) it would make sense to crank the smooth side. I also think that the offer to take it back and refund is extremely classy, and I applaud your making the offer and the wisdom in doing so. I did the same.

'Hope it resolves well. I know its a hard target to hit sometimes.

I did a Shumate for a local member a year or two ago, he said it was so sharp he had to put it down, he came back to it a couple of weeks later and decided he needed to pick up his game. Though he has other more expensive blades, he loves the old Shumate.

My take on this is pretty much the same as everyone elses, too much pressure while shaving.

drawing from my limited experience in straight razor shaving the same thing happen to me i was use to a coti edge when i went to use chromium oxide .5 and diamond spray .25 on felt the razor i thought was to sharp i had weepers all over the place i came to realize that it was my technique using to much pressure thats what honing and shaving have in common using a lite touch will give best results.

Originally Posted by eleblu05

drawing from my limited experience in straight razor shaving the same thing happen to me i was use to a coti edge when i went to use chromium oxide .5 and diamond spray .25 on felt the razor i thought was to sharp i had weepers all over the place i came to realize that it was my technique using to much pressure thats what honing and shaving have in common using a lite touch will give best results.

+1

A lot of people have harsh shaves because of bad shaving, or honing techniques. It is easier to blame the diamond pastes for being harsh, than to learn to use them, and to shave with them. If done right, you can have a smooth shave from nearly any finishing method, be it paste, hone, lapping film, or anything else.

"Too sharp" does not exist for my beard! Harsh is another thing & I totally agree w/ the poster who said that a basically overhoned (maybe not a true wire edge, but perhaps microchipping or something similar) edge will actually act duller than a properly honed edge--I learned that the hard way years ago.

For me a nice sharp edge that cuts effortlessly is not only much smoother on my face, but also lasts much longer before a touchup is needed (less force required to move it through the barbed wire i.e. beard equals less stress on both the edge & the skin). In short: it's a technique issue.

I really can't understand someone wanting a blade to be "less sharp" as I would equate that with a tugging uncomfortable shave.

Re "too sharp", I think that can only correctly be applied in reference to the steel eg "this edge is too sharp for the steel to hold integrity for more than half a shave." Even then "too sharp" is probably better described as too fine or too thin, or the old favourite, overhoned.

You guys that are starting to hone for others have to consider some VIP things. The customer is always right, even when they're wrong
They're paying you to hone a razor how they like it not how you like it. If both overlap you're doing well
Of course newbs need to learn technique with a properly sharp razor but all I'm saying is don't force your beliefs on them. In time they're skills may improve & they may seek a closer shave... or not. It's really their choice & experience.

Not everybody's face & skill level with a blade is the same as yours & customers with sensitive skins will test your mettle. Also as hinted not every blade can take those sub atomic edges we strive for & hold them. What you send out believing to be pristine may be quite degraded after you tested it, in which case you may need to hone more with durability as a priority & also have a method & parameters to test for this.
Just my 2ç ,YMMV, yada yada yada