Thread: What makes for comfort?

Right on mp Spread the CrO2 gospel brotha

Originally Posted by FiReSTaRT

Right on mp Spread the CrO2 gospel brotha

I'm totally going to hop on that train myself soon. Choo-Choo on the CrO2!

I believe Keith makes pre-mixed pastes and liquids if you don't have 3-5 guys to go splits with on a lb of powder. Ever since I've been using it, I've been doing incredible amounts of faceturbation

I can't take it anymore!

That's it, I'm off to HA to get some .5 micron CrO2 for a piece of wood. I have been experiencing some less than smooth but otherwise sharp edges the last couple of times.

As was already noted, Ducks are usually pretty smooth, as well as my 8/8 Fili, 6/8 Helje and Puma... But the 8/8W&B and the 13/16 Engstrom, among few, could be smoother.

Cheers
Ivo

This ones easy. The balance between your 4K passes and 8K passes is off. You can't smooth out the edge with .5 or less without "pre-smoothing" the edge on 8k. You need more 8k.

Add 20 passes with 8K, the last 5 really lightly. Try this atleast twice before hitting .5, watch out for overhoning.

So next time increase your ration of 8K strokes. You'll not need the .5 paste if you do this correctly.

Once you do this, you'll realize this is a new month. Time to learn lots of new stuff.

The other, less likely possibility, is that your face is sensing an overhoned or what I call a "pre-overhoned" edge. It may be overhoned but not provide proof against whatever overhoning test you might be using. Again, this is less likely of the two IMHO.

Alan,

I've been following your routine--4K till the razor passes the HHT, 20 8K laps with pressure, then 5 to 10 laps with no pressure. I'm having much better luck with this than with pyramids. I can consistently get a razor to pass the HHT this way, usually on my first try.

You're suggesting that I might need another 20 or so 8K laps to smooth the edge out further?

I've been doing 20 to 30 laps on my 1 micron pasted strop before going to the .5 micron. Do you think I still need some more 8K smoothing though?

Sometimes it seems like the 8K becomes counterproductive past a certain point. Then I have to go back to the 4K for a couple of light strokes.

If the 8K is so beneficial, why do most guys have success with pyramids, which throw the 4K into the mix pretty frequently?

Thanks,
Josh

The pyramids were put together as a "structured method" that new guys could use to get a razor honed to shaving sharpness.
They are certainly not the only or best way. You are now at the point where you are beginning to understand that each razor has its own requirements and that you have to adjust your honing routine accordingl.

What I notice from your posts in this thread was that you are using a lot of different hones and pastes for each razor, .. I think you are overdoing it. Keep the Swaty out of your routine when you are using any other 8k hone. Also try dropping the 1.0 micron and see what happens.

AFDavis also has some good suggestions that you might want to consider but I do think that you are almost overhoning the edge.

Lastly, the sharpness of the edge and the smoothness of the shave are not the same. For a smooth comfortable shave a person really needs to focus on beard prep and shaving technique as much as or more than the sharpness of the edge.

The smoothness of the edge is determined by the steel itself and the abrasives used to hone it. There is no magical best method or abrasive. Use what you have and learn to use it well. Then when you are so inclined try some other methods and tools.

Your on the right track

Randy,

I was using the Swaty because I was having some trouble passing the HHT off of my Norton. Turned out it needed re-lapping, so I'm not using it anymore. Now I get it HHT sharp off the Norton and just go straight to the 1 micron paste.

With my recent discovery about my stropping, I'm feeling like I'm making more progress now. My razors are sharp enough, and I think my shaving technique is coming along, too.

I'm getting there...

Josh