Thread: Retouching a razor

After a few months of regular razor shaving the edge becomes a bit dull so I have to pass it from my hones.
Usually, I perform a pyramid according to Lynn with my Norton 4/8K combo and then I finish in the C12K.

But is this always necessary?
Do I have to go down to 4K every 4- 6 months to retouch the edge?

If I only made some passes to the 8K and then finishing to the Chinese wouldn’t that be enough?


How do you retouch your razor when you feel it became dull?

Hi Slur,

As you've seen from honing threads, there are a gajillion ways to hone - there are as many ways to touch-up an edge. I continue to experiment, but don't want to muddy the water with the unusual or esoteric. There will be many many guys w/ alternative methods. If they work - I'll let someone else argue with success.

Maybe the most simple and common-sensed approach was Glenn speaking about his straight-forward method of starting one stone back from his finishing stone. If the C12k is your finisher, this would make the 8k side of your Norton the place to start. The only reason to go to a lower grit is if the edge was damaged somehow, or you weren't satisfied w/ some aspect of the bevel. Since you've successfully honed with your Norton - do whatever technique on the 8k that gave you success and continue on to the C12k.

Just a mention of one technique - mostly because of the low cost, is stropping on 2 sheets of newsprint laid over a stone (like your Norton or c12k). I and others have had some luck with doing 70 stropping strokes on the newsprint, followed by some extensive stropping on linen and leather. 200 strokes on leather is normal for me there. Without the leather stropping, the newsprint has left the edge quite sharp, but also quite harsh.

Another very fast way to take care of the 8k level of honing is a barber's hone. 5-8 strokes on lather or soapy water and you're ready for your finishing stone. 'Tried that this wk w/ good results.

I hope you have some fun with it, and find a way you like and enjoy. I usually look forward to touch-ups as an opportunity for more experimentation.

When I feel a difference in the cut, I just put 8 light strokes on my finisher (Shapton 16000), then strop 40 laps, then I'm back in the game for 4 more months.

I have a few razors with the PHIG as a finisher, I put 20 light strokes (slower cutter than my 16000), then strop & good for 4 more months or so.

10 on .125 CBN treated felt,10 on CBN treated latigo,50 on my reg, strop.

Your razor will inform you of what it needs. Always choose the minimalist approach. That is, first try some laps, not many, on a finisher, 12K for example. Strop the razor then shave with it. If that is not enough, then drop to 8K, and, if that is not enough, then 4K. I've rarely seen a true touch-up require more than the 12K or 16K and very few really need to go to 8K. At the 4K level, you are rehoning, not so much touching-up.

Originally Posted by pinklather

Maybe the most simple and common-sensed approach was Glenn speaking about his straight-forward method of starting one stone back from his finishing stone. If the C12k is your finisher, this would make the 8k side of your Norton the place to start. The only reason to go to a lower grit is if the edge was damaged somehow, or you weren't satisfied w/ some aspect of the bevel. Since you've successfully honed with your Norton - do whatever technique on the 8k that gave you success and continue on to the C12k.

Thank you very much for the answer. This is what I was thinking about, start at 8K and finish in the C12k, but I was not sure if it could be done as many straight shavers use the 8K as their finishing stone, so I thought it might not be enough. Now that you mention this I will surely try it out.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

I have a few razors with the PHIG as a finisher, I put 20 light strokes (slower cutter than my 16000), then strop & good for 4 more months or so.

Thank you very much Hirlau. I am not sure, but I have the impression that only 20 passes at the Chinese are not enough for me. I usually do 60 – 80 passes on this hone.

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

10 on .125 CBN treated felt,10 on CBN treated latigo,50 on my reg, strop.

Thank you very much pixel. I do not have all these pastes. I only have the green dovo paste and I am not satisfied with the result. So I don’t consider pastes at all when honing any more. However, there are many members here that use these pastes and maybe I will try them in the near future.

Slur,
When I refer to 20 passes, I am answering your question in reference to a touch up of a shave ready razor.

When it come to using my PHIG, to bring my razor to shave ready status from my 8K, yes, I'm talking 120 to 140 passes on my PHIG.

Again, I believe you are looking for touch up advice on a razor, are you not?

Just my thoughts.

Originally Posted by ace

Your razor will inform you of what it needs. Always choose the minimalist approach. That is, first try some laps, not many, on a finisher, 12K for example. Strop the razor then shave with it. If that is not enough, then drop to 8K, and, if that is not enough, then 4K. I've rarely seen a true touch-up require more than the 12K or 16K and very few really need to go to 8K. At the 4K level, you are rehoning, not so much touching-up.

Thank you ace. This seems to be the best way to treat a razor, but since this is more a hobby than a profession I would prefer to standardize a method of retouching my actual dull (previously shave ready) razors and do something customized in particular cases only.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

Slur,
When I refer to 20 passes, I am answering your question in reference to a touch up of a shave ready razor.

When it come to using my PHIG, to bring my razor to shave ready status from my 8K, yes, I'm talking 120 to 140 passes on my PHIG.

Again, I believe you are looking for touch up advice on a razor, are you not?

Just my thoughts.

I do not consider shave ready a razor that was shave ready 6 months ago and with the regular use became dull.
When I say to touch up a razor, I mean a not-any-more-shave-ready razor.
Forgive me bad English please, and thank you again!

Your welcome,
Enjoy whatever method you choose. That's what it is all about.