Thread: Touching up and finishing

A ton of this is practice, and knowing the Stones/Hones and how each reacts with the steel...

If I am refreshing a razor, I honestly have never been one for "Touching up" on pastes, they work fine, but I own some rocks I spent serious $$$ on so I am going to use them

Once I take out the stones then I don't want to be messing around with guess work, so I use what I named "Drop Two and Go" this doesn't have to only mean drop two actual grit steps ie: from 12 down to 10 or 8 it could also mean "Drop" to a light slurty on the Escher and then go to clear water..

Basically you drop down to your last two steps and go (Leather and Linen strops not included) say your honing was 1,5,10 Chosera and then a Coticule finisher

Myself I use a Light slurry ----> Clear water finish on my Coticule so dropping Two here would be to a light slurry

Take the last razor I just tweaked up, it was originally done on the Shapton 1,2,4,6,8,16,30 so I dropped to the 16 and then moved to the 30

I can't say if it is right or wrong I just know it works 100% of the time for me, I never have had to backtrack or re-do a razor, this could be the system, or it could be that I only use it on my personal razors, which are babied to death


Basically everything I just typed is total BS, and it still comes down to you putting in the time to figure out what works for you, or YMMV heheheh

Originally Posted by gssixgun

A ton of this is practice, and knowing the Stones/Hones and how each reacts with the steel...

Basically everything I just typed is total BS, and it still comes down to you putting in the time to figure out what works for you, or YMMV heheheh

I agree. It's hard to put numbers on this, What grit, How many strokes etc...My razor needing a touch up may be completely different than yours.

A NOS Livi needing a touch up is very different than a Dovo for instance.

You want to do as little as it takes to get it shaving nice and smooth. I only use a loupe, I don't have a microscope, and really don't need one, but they are nice to have.

My first line of defense is an Escher. If the razor is pulling and tugging, I'll make a slurry, do about two dilutions, and finish on water. This works for me 99% of the time.

A Coticule would work too.

Can I make a slurry on a nainwa 12 k if u have a razor that u bought shave ready and needs a touch up I guess I would goto my 12 k first

Another thing you can try if you're learning on your own, without the benefit of a local mentor is very simple experimentation...
When you think you have finished with your 4K, cut a few arm hairs - note any resistance and how the hair reacts to the blade. Do 10 more strokes and cut a few more hairs - see if there's any difference. When there is no more improvement, you're ready to move up.
Do the same with your 8k.

With careful observation of how the edge cuts, and practice with the same drill on other razors, you'll soon get a feel for an edge that's ready to move up and one that isn't.

Originally Posted by OCDshaver

For the money involved, you can't go wrong.

Ya, cause you know we are all saving so much $$$ since we no longer buy disposable razors. hehe