Thread: "Too Sharp"?!?!

I just heard that my edges were too sharp.
Like many my primary goal in honing is to increase smoothness. I have held back my HAD recently...seriously...well...my hope was to focus on what I have and get the most out of each.
The razor in question was one of my smoothest shavers yet. It was high quality american steel honed on a japanese progression. I even offered a buyback policy to the new owner since I really enjoyed this edge.
I might have to start rolling my edges before I send them off
So, what is your take on the "too sharp" statement?

I have never experienced an edge that was 'too sharp'. Including the various feather razors with different types of their blades.

P.S. I don't consider overhoned razor 'too sharp', I consider it simply overhoned. There is a limit of each razor beyond which the steel cannot support a smooth and straight edge but going beyond that limit doesn't make a razor any sharper, actually in many important respects it makes the razor duller.

Perfect person to answer that question is Gugi, as he owns the absolute "Sharpest" razor I have ever honed... his Frank Hess XX is sooo sharp it rivals and maybe surpasses most Japanese Kamisori yet is also silk on the face...

First thought to mind is that a properly sharp razor really demands good technique. A razor that cuts beard well is sharp, no question there, but some go far beyond that. For me, there is no limit to how sharp I want my razors to be - nor is there a limit to the smoothness I want in them. On the contrary, the sharper the razor, the better the (potential) ability to give a totally smooth and comfortable shave. Unless you nick yourself

I call these edges "under-stropped"

Originally Posted by gugi

I have never experienced an edge that was 'too sharp'.

+1

I've received the same comment off razors honed off Shapton GS stones a couple times & I never let a razor leave my house without shaving with them...so I knew that they were right. Funny thing though is that I have never had that comment stated when I use the Naniwa's...

My question points more towards the user and questions their shaving experience.

I had a razor that was too sharp once and through my whiskers it just sailed.
I thought I could improve upon that edge but in the effort I sadly failed.
So I breadknifed it, started at 1K went to 4K and up through my normal progression.
But after a wire edge, some micro-chips and multiple failed HHTs, I realized my transgression.

[QUOTE=deighaingeal;795321So, what is your take on the "too sharp" statement?[/QUOTE]

Ignorance.

Seems to me that it may be the end user, who thinks it is "too sharp", may not yet be proficient in shave technique. Mistaking too much pressure, inadequate stretching, as the source of irritation and/or nicks.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Seems to me that it may be the end user, who thinks it is "too sharp", may not yet be proficient in shave technique. Mistaking too much pressure, inadequate stretching, as the source of irritation and/or nicks.

Well, sure. If you want to be more polite about it.