Thread: Question x 3

Hi all,

Three quick questions:

1. Could I please have some feedback and comparisons on the pro's and con's of the finishing stones before purchasing one,ie-Belgium,Shapton etc etc?

2. I also live down under so was hoping to find a company that will ship here for a reasonable price.

3. I was wondering what I need to be looking for when looking at a blade under a microscope?What do the striations look like for a sharp blade as opposed to a blunt one,and any other helpful info?

Thanking you in advance,

Pete

I can answer part of your third question. Before I start though I'd like to say that I think a Norton 8k stone is a great finishing stone.

One, you can see if its overhoned. It looks torn up and craggily. Like a mountian range instead of a straight bevel. You'd be shocked if you saw what some of the edges I've tried to shave with looked like before I bought a microscope. The characteristics of overhoned are similar if you have an old Ebay razor that has oxidized metal, torn up.

You can't really see sharp. We'll let me say that I don't see sharp. I do see smooth. I find that two smooth bevels converging is a smooth shaver and from there sharpness is just a shave or two away. They get glass black smooth at some point that starts to look nice. Once you move it around and get the light better you see the striations again, but there nice and smooth too.

You can see bevel width clearly too. Its not critical but if someone has added pressure to the honing process you see this wavy sorta width bevel that just looks...ununiform.

You can even see the difference proper stropping creates on the bevels, thats one of my favorite parts. It gets all "micro striated" in like a million directions.

At the microscoping level you begin to see edges as artwork and beauty all to them selves. A sub set of the razor itself. Its a very pretty thing to look at. Honing begins feeling like drawing art on the head of a pin.

I had bad experience with a Belgian, but that could have just been a bad stone. So far I've been getting much better results with a leather-surfaced bench hone. Rhyme not intended

I agree with Alan re the Norton. A local barber recommended I get a Belgian, and I fully intended to but then my Norton arrived. I can honestly say I've never needed more than that to get my razors shave sharp (and see the concurrent thread on "how sharp off a Norton?"). I should add, however, that I have no experience with any other type of hone, so my opinion should be weighted accordingly...

I got my Norton from the Australian branch of Lie-Neilsen for AUD 119 including shipping (at current exchange rates, approx. USD 93).

As for under the microscope, there's been a couple of threads. One that I found quickly this morning using a search on "wire edge" turned up:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/showp...1&postcount=10

James.

From my own experience the Norton 4K/8K should be required equipment for any straight shaver. Basically you can do it all with just that one stone (well almost all anyway). The yellow coticule is great to put a great finishing edge on the blade but its not necessary but yes its very nice. I have one and use it all the time. Thats not to take anything away from using barber's hones and pasted strops. There are many routes to the destination. you pick the one you want to follow.

Thanks for the feedback...I'm sorry I should have mentioned that I already have a Norton 4/8.I did see Lynn hone on some finishing stones in his DVD and thought I would get some advice if I was going to purchase one or not.
I have also found some photos in the gallery of microscopic photos and thank you to Jimbo for the link as well.


Thanx all for your help,


Pete

where in OZ are you
Kind regards peter

In Sydney Peter,How about yourself?


Pete

Originally Posted by Keenasmustard

In Sydney Peter,How about yourself?


Pete

origioly from Hornsby, did my time working in the city I now live in Maleny QLD, Gods country
kind regards Peter