Thread: Oh My Goodness What HAVE I Done!

Hey Carl,

I don't *know* that 16k is too much for Sheffield steel, but if you find your Sheffield edges break down quickly that may be the problem.

Case was an American manufacturer. The American blades (Genco, Case, etc.) tend to be harder than English or German steel. Because of that, you can hone them out onto finer grits and that skinny skinny edge is still strong enough to cut hairs for more than one shave.

A hair is as tough as a strand of copper of equal diameter, for a real-world reference.

I like your buttress idea. It's all kinda hard to wrap your head around, isn't it? Steel is steel... until it gets really really skinny. Then it's really really skinny steel and acts all funny like.

It'd be nice if Glen would chime in on this thread... if I'm blowing wind up your kilt about the 16k being too much for Sheffield, he'd be the one to call me out.

Gotta go pick up a pizza now.

Oh, OK, if that ends up being the case maybe I'll stop at the 8k? I'm loath to buy another stone. American steel harder than English or German? Oh? I wonder why? This is all getting very technical. I was thinking German and English were the ones to get. Though I've heard Swedish steel is hard, which is one reason I'm awaiting the next razor with anticipation. Actually, as much as I love the W&B, it's 'different' than the Burrell. To add another item to confuse this even more, would it be a little true that softer steel is smoother (to the face) steel? That is, is harder steel always better? I'm guessing it may keep the edge longer, but may there be a trade off for feel? All very esoteric I know...

Originally Posted by carlmaloschneider

I'm loath to buy another stone.

WHAT!?? AAGGhh! Begone Foul Demon! I cast thee...

I haven't sorted out the comfort factor yet. That comes down to how the steel pairs up with your hones and your honing. Again, if Glen (gsixgun) was reading this thread he could bring some focus. Someone with his experience (or Lynn's, too) knows how to draw the smoothest shave from any edge.

I've lucked into one no-name blade that plays just perfectly with my hones and honing. It is the Miraculous Hair Squeegee, the thing Arthur and his Knights were actually looking for when they made up that whole Grail story. I'm pretty sure it's been rescaled.

The only Swedish blade I've got is a minimal Berg frameback, whose every detail says "entry-level price point." It might have been produced for the Swedish army. It's a fine little shaver, but I'm reluctant to judge Swedish steel in general based on it. I think a lot of Japanese straights used Swedish steel, too, and that Dovo's stainless is Swedish. I missed out on a nice affordable Swede on the Classifieds a week or two ago. Hesitated and was lost. I'm interested to hear what you think of yours.

Originally Posted by roughkype

...WHAT!?? AAGGhh! Begone Foul Demon! I cast thee...

Yeah, heresy, I know, sorry...

Originally Posted by roughkype

...I missed out on a nice affordable Swede on the Classifieds a week or two ago. Hesitated and was lost. I'm interested to hear what you think of yours...

I'll let you know when I get it. I guess as always beauty is in the eye of the beholder (and feeler). What looks right and feels right is all that matters. I keep raving a little about how much I like my humble Burrell that cost less than 50 bucks. For me, the main point of all this is that I shall never (NEVER! NEVER!) go back to using those little plastic things. My young son laughs each time a shaving ad comes on TV, 'cause I always shout with utter disdain "That's not SHAVING!!"...

Came across a bag full of the tacky little green and white plastic tykes in the bathroom drawer the other day. The horror, the horror...