Thread: What makes for comfort?

I'm at the point in my honing where I can pretty easily get an edge that'll pop hairs like crazy. But sometimes that edge causes some irritation when I shave with it.

What makes an edge comfortable? How can a screamin' sharp edge feel rough and uncomfortable sometimes?

I'm using a Norton and 1 and .5 micron pastes. I usually get the razor to catch and cut hairs off the 4K side, then move on to the 8K for 25 laps with some pressure and 5 to 10 laps with no pressure. Then 10 to 20 laps on the 1 micron and 10 to 20 on the .5. Sometimes I do some work on a Swaty before I go to the pastes, depending on how the edge is behaving off the 8K.

Also, when you guys talk about a "smooth" edge, are you referring to the whole bevel, or just the actual edge?

It's possible that the problem is my shaving technique. Ironically, I've been honing since August but only shaving for about three or four weeks, so I still go through phases where I irritate the heck out of my face and then have to take it easy for a couple of days...

Thanks,
Josh

What's the paste material? Chromium oxide is supposed to give a smoother edge than diamond abrasive of the same particle size.
Your technique could also be suspect. Remember, 30 degrees and no pressure. More passes without pressure will irritate less than fewer passes with pressure.

I'm using diamond paste. FiReSTaRT, people are going to start calling you a pusher, the way you've been promoting your chromium powder around here lately...

I think my technique is probably part of the issue. I'll keep tryin'...

Josh

I've never tried diamond, BUT...
1) I get STELLAR shaves from razors finished on 0.5mic CrO2, ultra-smooth and comfortable
2) The smoothness angle came from the big Kahuna himself -- Randy Tuttle, so I have no reasons to doubt his word.
If I go with diamond, it will probably be just 0.25 but I don't need it for now and I do need to keep an eye on my cash-flow.

I have used .5 diamond and the .5 chromium oxide, and I far prefer the chromium oxide.

Hmmm... I'd hate to quit using the diamond paste, since I just shelled out $14 for each tube... I forsee a possible session involving saddle soap, a Tony Miller paddle strop, and lots of scrubbing by me.

I'll have to see how the next few weeks go.

So comfort is mainly determined by the final polish of the edge?

Josh

So comfort is mainly determined by the final polish of the edge?

I'm by no means an expert on honing as I've resigned myself to the fact that I can't hone for shite but,

I have five razors in my rotation all honed perfectly by Joe with one that I got from Garry that was honed by Bill and I can say that the comfort level is different with them all.

None of them is uncomfortable but they are all different. My DD is very smooth whilst others shave just as well but with a different feel, hard to describe.

Early on it was my tecnique that gave me razor burn.

Sooo, my 0.02c is that the steel is different as the sharpness, tecnique and prep are the same no matter which razor I use.

Just a thought

Originally Posted by joshearl

It's possible that the problem is my shaving technique. Ironically, I've been honing since August but only shaving for about three or four weeks, so I still go through phases where I irritate the heck out of my face and then have to take it easy for a couple of days...

That's your technique - either your blade is too dull and you're using too much pressure, or your angle is too steep, or both. The level of polish doesn't have anything to do with this, it just makes the blade feel smoother and softer. A sharp CrOx polished edge feels almost velvety while shaving.

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!