Thread: C12K touchup

Originally Posted by Jetmech

No offense taken, just trying to understand and learn. So you think I may have dulled it a little with the slurry? Got it. No slurry next time. So what reference do you use to know when you have done enough laps on the C12K or any other finisher for that matter? Visual inspection with magnification?

Visual inspection helps me when I first receive a razor & need to hone it. Visual Inspection is used to evaluate the blade & determine how I want to proceed in the honing process, from the bevel set through finish.
The reference that I always used for the C12k & other finishers is the shave test; does it shave smoothly is what I ask myself. Listening to others before me that had a C12k, a common comment was that it was a slow finisher requiring a high number of strokes. Keeping this in mind, I experimented with stroke increases by 40 count , over a peroid of 2 weeks. I always kept another razor on standby to finish out the shave as I experimented with the C12k. With full Sheffield wedges, I found that 160 to 180 strokes gave me a good comfortable shave. Full hollows around 120 strokes.

As for a reference with other finishers, I listen to the experiences of others before me that have used finishers that I what to buy. I pay attention to their feedback & when I get that stone, I experiment with at least 2 different styles of razors. It took me about a month of experimenting with my coticule to determine how it performs, it's been 3 weeks now with a borrowed Zulu Grey to see some great shaves. My Shapton 16k was my first finisher, I bought it on day one of my shaving journey, even before my first shave. I knew that I would learn to hone my own razors from the beginning. I was fortunate enough to have enough money set aside to get the razor , brush, strop & stones. I got my first great shave off the Shapton 16k about 9 months later. I'm a slow learner.

My only advice in this situation, is do not get involved in various hair tests. Use the arm hair shave at determining the bevel, then use the hair on your face to test it, The Shave Test.

Just my thoughts.