Thread: Shaving direct off the hones

I often shave off a hone after having used a 0.1 micron CBN slurry. Strops are, of course, about the only tool to keep a razor up but I often wonder if 0.1 CBN is not actually finer than a leather strop.


Later,
R

I wouldn't shave straight off the hones. In my first 6 months or so of learning to hone, I got to the point where I regularly made very sharp but very harsh edges. I assumed I was doing something wrong on the hones, so I honed the razor again and the same thing happened. Eventually out of frustration I tried a long stropping session, 200 laps on a high-draw horse shell, and that fixed the problem. I now always give a newly-honed blade a long stropping before use, and I'm pretty happy with my edges (mostly).

I tend to shave right off the hones without stropping. I started doing this when my Zulu Grey arrived and I wanted to do a thorough comparison of it and my other finisher (PHIG). My theory was that shaving directly off the hone might give me a good idea as to exactly how the stones compare, and that stropping would introduce a variable to the comparison. On reflection, that probably doesn't make a lot of sense considering that one normally strops before shaving, making this a pretty artificial comparison.

Cangooner exits stage left, reconsidering his options...

Originally Posted by Cangooner

I tend to shave right off the hones without stropping. I started doing this when my Zulu Grey arrived and I wanted to do a thorough comparison of it and my other finisher (PHIG). My theory was that shaving directly off the hone might give me a good idea as to exactly how the stones compare, and that stropping would introduce a variable to the comparison. On reflection, that probably doesn't make a lot of sense considering that one normally strops before shaving, making this a pretty artificial comparison.

Cangooner exits stage left, reconsidering his options...

Bingo

I think we all have tried the same, I used to suggest trying shaves off of the various hones so you can get a "feel" of what each does to the edge, but like you I realized the it is a artificial comparison so I stopped recommending it..

@ Pixel Experiment with it and see what you think, that is the only way to learn and decide for yourself..

Hey Cangooner may be the strop is the great equalizer in all this after all. Do what you want on the hones but a proper stropping puts the final bit of smooth in the shave. Seems that is what most people on this thread are saying they experience.

Bob

Too slow on the keyboard again I see.

Originally Posted by BobH

Hey Cangooner may be the strop is the great equalizer in all this after all. Do what you want on the hones but a proper stropping puts the final bit of smooth in the shave. Seems that is what most people on this thread are saying they experience.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...ml#post1145416

Now there is a concept

Originally Posted by riooso

I often shave off a hone after having used a 0.1 micron CBN slurry. Strops are, of course, about the only tool to keep a razor up but I often wonder if 0.1 CBN is not actually finer than a leather strop.


Later,
R

This is not shaving off the hone, as you are using foreign substance to impart the final edge.
We are talking shaving of the hone with no extra slurries etc. Unless I am missing your meaning?

Originally Posted by Cangooner

I tend to shave right off the hones without stropping. I started doing this when my Zulu Grey arrived and I wanted to do a thorough comparison of it and my other finisher (PHIG). My theory was that shaving directly off the hone might give me a good idea as to exactly how the stones compare, and that stropping would introduce a variable to the comparison. On reflection, that probably doesn't make a lot of sense considering that one normally strops before shaving, making this a pretty artificial comparison.

Cangooner exits stage left, reconsidering his options...

yes that is the way.
I do not even prep before the test, it gives really good feel of what a hone is all about.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...ml#post1145416

Now there is a concept

I knew that sounded familiar...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

http://straightrazorpalace.com/begin...ml#post1145416

Now there is a concept

Yea, I should learn to read but the pictures are purdy. I tend to learn by making mistakes, lots of them, being bull headed. Lots of info on here.

Bob