Must I Reset Bevel If 8k Touchup Won't Bring Blade Back

This is the scenario I'm seeking advice on. Say I have a razor which has given me numerous great shaves over an extended period of time, so there's no doubt the bevel was properly set and the blade was honed to shave ready condition . Along the way it's been touched up with a few laps on felt with CrOx. Further along the way, when the CrOx didn't do the job, it was touched up with a few laps on the 12k. Even further along, when the 12k didn't do the job, it was touched up with a few laps on the 8k.

My memory may not be correct, but I recall a posting by gssixgun in which he suggested dropping down 2 grits for a touchup. Now that I'm down to the 8k for a touchup and the razor is not responding, do I drop down to 4k and do a full honing progression from there? Or do I drop down to 1k, reset the bevel, and do a full honing progression from there?

I would just magic marker the edge and do a couple of swipes on 4k. If everything comes off, then I'd do x-strokes or some circles on 4k until it was popping hairs and go from there to a higher grit.

I'd be surprised if that didn't work given that the razor has been well treated and is only dull from regular use.

Michael

Under normal circumstances you should not have to reset a bevel unless the edge received damage or the bevel was never set right to begin with. usually a good shaving razor just needs a touchup and if the 8K doesn't do it I'd be inspecting the edge very closely and if all seems right I'd next inspect my honing.

It's not like a restore bevel set or damage, but at some point when you've done all the touchups that you mention it's not a bad idea to drop down to 1k, especially if you have a Chosera 1k and do a basic reset. It doesn't take that many strokes and then go to the 4, 8, 12k. If you drop back to the 4k, you're doing the same thing, just more strokes to get there. I'm not sure I would do it with a Norton 1k because the scratch pattern is heavier than the Chosera and would still take about as much work as just doing it on the 4k to start. Of course, I'm talking about a minor bevel reset issue. If its a restore or damage, the Norton might be the first place I went and then the Chosera to smooth the Norton 1k edge. Have fun!!

Regards,

Howard

Stop guessing!
Look through a microscope. Veho on Amazon. $62. Best money spent. Absolutely NO DOUBT when it comes to honing. ( I tried posting the link but it didn't like it)