Thread: Too sharp?

Saying a razor is too sharp is like saying I'm too rich or too hansom.

A razor can NEVER be too sharp. Once you reach a certain point it becomes damaged however that is really hard to do if you know what you are doing and especially with finishing hones.

Totally agree with Nelson. You can overhone but it's not possible for an edge to be too sharp.

This is Natural.Every single person when start to learn honing tries this at first.
The day you will find out when to stop You can call yourself Pro on honing.
Not easy to get there but it is reachable.
gl

Originally Posted by mpukas

My goal has been up to this point to get the sharpest edge I can.

It seems a razor is an unusual thing. It has to shave whiskers but not easily cut the face. An interesting trade off. "Sharp" is an interesting term and commonly thought of as the smallest point where the two sides of the razor meet. Any edge has a topography. It would seem that obtaining the correct topography on the edge is a better way of thinking about honing rather than "sharp." Once the razor is sharp enough to cut hair easilty, it would seem perfecting the topography is the issue? And, this topography is subjective from razor to razor and from shaver to shaver....

+1 & that perfect meeting of the 2 sides can happen off a DMT C but that certainly ain't the point when it's shave ready. The mid & end stages is where the comfort starts to get built in.

Agree with what has been said. Definitely can not have an edge too sharp, but an edge can be too harsh in my opinion. That's why sharp AND smooth are what makes a good edge.

One thing I learned fom Lynn and other members is that the object of honing is not to get an edge that is sharpening contest, but do develop a repeatble honing routine(s) (minus odd blade shapes)that give luxurant shaves.

I have learned(slowly) that it is not a "sharpest is better" approach and getting much better shaves and stable edges.(which as mentioned has alot to do with proper shaving technique)

It might be money well spent to buy the Radio Shack microscope for $12. That will probably answer your own question, and help in the future.

Originally Posted by LarryAndro

It might be money well spent to buy the Radio Shack microscope for $12. That will probably answer your own question, and help in the future.

That is a great tool to use and a big confidence builder for me. When you can see at 100x that the edge is smooth without chips, you eliminate the honing as a variable when you are learning how to shave with a straight. I might add it took a while before I learned to hold the thing still enough to get a good look.

Originally Posted by CaliforniaCajun

... I might add it took a while before I learned to hold the [Radio Shack microscope] still enough to get a good look.

I looked up the order information on the microscope...

Radio Shack Illuminated Mini Microscope
Illuminated Microscope - RadioShack.com
catalog# 63-1313
2 AAA batteries, and magnifies 60x to 100x

I have attached several pictures showing how to hold the microscope steady using play dough. It holds the razor still for viewing, but still makes it very easy to move the scope up and down the blade (resting on the spine, away from the edge.) Using this method, you can easily view both sides of the blade along the entire bevel in about one minute.

(Notice that I use a 100W light bulb in a goose neck lamp as my light source instead of the built in (too dim) light.)