Thread: New AOS Razor

Let me do a pre-emptive explanation for 'scopes: They are great, they help a lot, they can make us more efficient by avoiding backtracking, they can make us more efficient by showing us the need to backtrack, they are optional.

You can still learn how to do it by feel and estimate steel hardness and make reasonable assumption of when an edge is finished on a stone before progressing to the next one. Last night I cleaned up the untaped spine and cleaned up the far side of the bevel (to prevent large flakes of semi-corroded steel from ruining things) of a wedge. Plenty of surface area to feel the metal's conversation with the stones. I really enjoyed just movin' on up through the stones without a worry, simply feeling the difference of the stone, feeling the difference of the metal's surface changing on the stone, moving up and feeling the transformation at every level. I've taken a few edges from a pre-polished stage up through finishing without looking at the edge with a microscope. It was an option, and I've enjoyed it. Not having the option is a bad way to do it.

One of the things that helped me the most when learning to hone was learning what properly honed razor should feel like on the stones. Get a razor or two honed professionally and shave test to make sure it meets your standard. Do not strop. Take the razor to the finest stone you have and perform some laps light as a feather, Taking special notice to how the razor feels as it glides across the hone. It should feel this way off of each hone before you go to the next one. IMO, microscopes and loupes are great, almost indispensable tools for the initial steps in the honing process, but nothing can replace the feel of the steel on the stone.

thank you for all of your information. It is a huge help. is it possible though that stainless steel could be giving me the effect of a weak steal? or is it just the edge i made is not sharp enough to go atg?

I have purchased many razors from numerous store front businesses on the web but only a scant few send you truly shave ready blades. Be prepared to send them out or be prepared to learn to hone correctly.

I have close to 200 razors and if I didn't know how to hone, I would be in deep trouble. Good Luck.....

Jerry
____

. . . or is it just the edge i made is not sharp enough to go atg?

That would be my bet. But I haven't seen, or shaved with, the razor.

. . . When you hold it 1/8" above your arm, and "shave" with it above the skin, does it "pop" arm hairs ?

. Charles

Originally Posted by Jp1munoz

Scott!! how are you? i hope the holidays were great.

Life is good and God is great, thanks for asking Juan!

We need to get you on the right track & one of the best ways to save a LOT of frustration is to find a mentor, someone who is good on the stones & can show you the ropes. A couple hours of face-time with a veteran honer will really show you what's going on & the proverbial light-bulb will flicker to life