Thread: Straight razor sharpening and my Edge Pro - Pic intensive

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I just noticed that you are in WA, we have two Meets/Get Togethers each year up this way in the PNW, one in Yakima usually in the Spring and one in Spokane usually in the Fall I would love if you could make it to either or both so we could see this in action in person...

When you say honing in the Nth degree that is what I like to test

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...th-degree.html


hope to see you there

Thank you. I will keep a lookout for the details. If I can make it this fall, I would look forward to it. I appreciate the invitation.

Originally Posted by Berthold

Can you explain this statement, please?

From the "vantage point" of some, this does appear to be a rube goldberg approach to honing a straight razor. So from that perspective, this is not "their cup of tea". This thread has gotten over 2680 views with a handful of replies from just a few of the same people. That tells me that there are many people interested in this discussion, if not this method. The bottom line is to hone, shave, and enjoy by whatever means each person finds most rewarding. Nothing else was intended. The negative feedback from the very small minority is what I find inexplicable.

First, I feel most all the members here are looking for the "best shave possible from a straight razor ", your words,,,I have yet to be convinced that your Edge Pro will give the best edge for straight razor shaving. You assume a lot with your interpretation of thread viewers.

I have enjoyed the presentation that Mario put forward on the Edge Pro, I may very well buy one for my other edged tools, but I honestly see your comments, as to the performance of the Edge Pro, as nothing more than a sales pitch.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

First, I feel most all the members here are looking for the "best shave possible from a straight razor ", your words,,,I have yet to be convinced that your Edge Pro will give the best edge for straight razor shaving. You assume a lot with your interpretation of thread viewers.

I have enjoyed the presentation that Mario put forward on the Edge Pro, I may very well buy one for my other edged tools, but I honestly see your comments, as to the performance of the Edge Pro, as nothing more than a sales pitch.

I think anyone, not most, who shaves is looking for the best possible shave. Why would someone not want that? The EP provides one of many means of attaining it. It sounds like you are willing to give it a try by wanting to buy one. I don't sell them, however. I would suggest you visit the Edge Pro website. For blades other than razors, I have a 120, 220, 320, and 600 wet stone. For razors I have a 600 stone (rarely needed) and tapes in the following microns: 15, 5, 1, and 0.3. I strop on leather. Hardly Rube Goldberg. Others have offered the grit equivalent to the micron tapes, leading to disagreement. You can do your own research. I don't recommend a certain number of strokes per tape either. That is a personal preference based on outcomes. I do recommend a draw stroke for the tapes to avoid damage to them. If I can help in any way, I would be glad to do so.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I just noticed that you are in WA, we have two Meets/Get Togethers each year up this way in the PNW, one in Yakima usually in the Spring and one in Spokane usually in the Fall I would love if you could make it to either or both so we could see this in action in person...

When you say honing in the Nth degree that is what I like to test

http://straightrazorpalace.com/membe...th-degree.html


hope to see you there

I read your article via the link above. That is exactly what I am trying to say. Well said, sir.

My posts were meant to be informative as well as possibly entertaining.

First, the use of the built in angle guide on the razor is something that I will be using in the future as I continue my straight razor adventure. The current application of the blue tape an idea that someone gave to me. I then proceeded to try it out.

Second, the angle cube allows a level of precision that is very noticeable when sharpening knives and from my initial tests, very noticeable in razors. It was a challenge to set the cube up initially because of the sensitivity of it. After using it for several sharpening sessions, it has now become quite easy.

With the addition of the stopping materials to my ever growing sharpening supplies, I do hope I can keep on posting on the successes I am having with the Edge Pro.

Finally, as for the best shave possible, this is relative. What someone believes to be comfortable to them, may not be for another. I do know that I have Edge Pro'd a local barber's Dovo and he was very happy with the results.

What is next you may wonder? Homemade balsa strops for the Edge Pro.

m-

Originally Posted by Berthold

I think anyone, not most, who shaves is looking for the best possible shave. Why would someone not want that?

Because it's not a matter of want only, but cost as well. How many people you know that change their cartridge or DE blade after every stroke? After each stroke the edge is deteriorated so for the 'best possible shave' you need to replace it, right?

Same thing with straight razors - do you hone after each stroke, do you at least strop after each stroke?

With everything there is a point of diminishing returns, but in this case it's way more basic. I can't see myself spending hours to make sure the setting on some gizmo is within the desired tolerance (and I'm not even sure that tolerance in the previous post is good enough), it's a complete waste of my time if I could simply hone the razor in the traditional way and be done in 1-2 minutes.
From the pictures and the descriptions above it sounds that if you lack the dexterity to hone a razor by repeatedly rubbing it against a flat hone you probably lack the dexterity to repeatedly set up the angle on that gizmo.

Hence the Rube Goldberg.

Originally Posted by gugi

With everything there is a point of diminishing returns, but in this case it's way more basic. I can't see myself spending hours to make sure the setting on some gizmo is within the desired tolerance (and I'm not even sure that tolerance in the previous post is good enough), it's a complete waste of my time if I could simply hone the razor in the traditional way and be done in 1-2 minutes.
From the pictures and the descriptions above it sounds that if you lack the dexterity to hone a razor by repeatedly rubbing it against a flat hone you probably lack the dexterity to repeatedly set up the angle on that gizmo.

Hence the Rube Goldberg.

Is this directed at me?

m-

I'm thinking about sharpening knives for a hobby, like kitchen knives,,,Mario, is this system practical for this job or will it take too much time per blade?

Originally Posted by Hirlau

I'm thinking about sharpening knives for a hobby, like kitchen knives,,,Mario, is this system practical for this job or will it take too much time per blade?

It depends on what you think is practical. You can sharpen knives with the Edge Pro quite easily and be able to reproduce that edge over and over. I started on some old arkansas stones, moved to a Gatco setup and eventually moved to the Edge Pro. To me, for what I wanted, the Edge Pro fit *my* needs. There is the Wicked Edge setup, but this is even more expensive than the Edge Pro.

You have all sorts of stones to pick from as well. So I would suggest you go through the website of the sharpening system you are interested in and figure out what will fit your needs.

I have done several kitchen knife repairs with the Edge Pro, reprofiling, microbevel, polishing as well as folder (tactical and non-tactical).

m-

I have every type of stone I will ever need & experience to do a decent job on the knives. Just that stones take time, I have plenty of that, just don't seem practical spending all day on 6 knives , finished on stone, given back to the kitchen & dull again in a few days.
I've been watching these traveling cutler videos & many use these machines to "shave" metal from the edge on kitchen knives,,,,this makes me cringe.