Quote Originally Posted by gssixgun View Post
Most Vintage razor companies were pretty secretive about their steels but basically they were Tool Steel... The new production and Custom guys use a few different ones that are available out there..


Here is a Vid I did recently about what makes up a test shave, this is a good place to start when it comes to the question of sharpness... It is made clear in the Vid and that thread that if you can't do that simple test successfully there is NO reason to hurt your face by continuing...

http://straightrazorpalace.com/video...-test-vid.html

The differences between SR honing and all other sharpening is the "smooth factor", often times you will read the "Sharp is easy, Sharp and Smooth takes a little talent"
The one other thing to keep in mind is that the Geometric Profile of the SR has to be retained, certain sharpening techniques have a tendency to frown the edge, this is not good...
I think I understand what you mean by smooth. I'll explain what I think of and you tell me if I'm on the right track. When sharpening a knife, kitchen knives primarily you want a toothy edge for slicing a tomato because the micro serrations cut through the skin easily and immediately. However when the edge is smooth, no matter how sharp it is the edge will try to slide along the skin and you may need to press harder to break through the skin. I'm no chef but I understand "real" chefs hate this because it can bruise the tomato (or whatever), make the food taste bad and they will get fired from their cushy chef job. I can imagine shaving with a "toothy" edge would be like using a microscopic hacksaw blade. So, smooth is essential to keep blood inside the body and provide a comfortable shave. Please tell me I won't want to shave again right after I shave just because I enjoy it. Right now I have a 30x and 60x loupe to look at the edge. I plan to get a small microscope to connect to the pc soon. I think the one I'm looking at goes up to 400x. I'll be able to take pictures of the edge at different grit progression. I've been wanting this for knife sharpening but I think I will benefit more for razor sharpening. For knives this level of sharp is really not necessary, it's just fun. From what I have seen the razor honing is many times more delicate, requiring more skill and accuracy by the honer as well as higher grit tools of good quality. A good finishing grit for any normal pocket knife is 2k. 8k is for the knife sharpening obsessive guy (me). This is the starting point for razors and has me excited. I think I have the hones and strops I'll need but time will tell. I'm not rich and need to watch what I spend but I do love buying "fun" things and waiting for the mailman. In fact I'm waiting today for an ultra-fine ceramic stone. I may take the lawn chair and sit by the mailbox. Does anyone else do this? Maybe I'm the only one.

Jack