Thread: greetings from sin city

hello,
i am hoping to get some help to resolve a couple of issues. I have been straight shaving for about a year now. I have gotten to a level where I do not cut myself anymore.
I do feel that my shave is not as close as it could be.
I have some new razors, that give me the closest shave (Thiers and Boker) and I have some old ones I have been collection from ebay that I cannot get them to shave.
I have a 3000-8000 chinese stone, a carborundum 102 and a champion hone.
I have treated them with the 3000-8000 stone with 20 circles on the 3000 side and then 20 x, turn the stone and do the same.
After that I use the 102 about 10 laps and finally I do the champion for 6-10 laps. Sometimes I run these last two dry, others, lathered.
They seem sharp to the touch, but when you put them on your face it leaves hair uncut.
Any tips or suggestions from the experts?

Toss the Champion. It's got ridiculous chunks of grit that damage edges. Is the chinese stone a natural or synthetic? If you are using the 3k for bevel setting, there is no particular number of strokes required to set a bevel, but I'm quite certain it is going to take more than 40 circles or strokes to set the bevel on a 3k. You will need to do a lot more than that.

After the 3k, stick with what you are doing on the 8k and then finish on the 102, though depending on its condition and the state of your "8k chinese hone," it may not be better than the 8k. If really depends on both your particular 8k and your 102.

thank you for your reply. I am including a picture hoping that perhaps you are able to determine that. I think it is synthetic.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Toss the Champion. It's got ridiculous chunks of grit that damage edges. Is the chinese stone a natural or synthetic? If you are using the 3k for bevel setting, there is no particular number of strokes required to set a bevel, but I'm quite certain it is going to take more than 40 circles or strokes to set the bevel on a 3k. You will need to do a lot more than that.

After the 3k, stick with what you are doing on the 8k and then finish on the 102, though depending on its condition and the state of your "8k chinese hone," it may not be better than the 8k. If really depends on both your particular 8k and your 102.

You can't just do a set number of strokes, you need to make sure you reach the apex of edge along the entire length. Watch some of the YouTube honing videos made by Lynn or gssixgun.
Honing is a skill that takes lots of time and practice, so don't expect terrific results as you start out
Keep at it and watch those videos, it will get better!

Originally Posted by mitmitzoom

hello,
i am hoping to get some help to resolve a couple of issues. I have been straight shaving for about a year now. I have gotten to a level where I do not cut myself anymore.
I do feel that my shave is not as close as it could be.
I have some new razors, that give me the closest shave (Thiers and Boker) and I have some old ones I have been collection from ebay that I cannot get them to shave.
I have a 3000-8000 chinese stone, a carborundum 102 and a champion hone.
I have treated them with the 3000-8000 stone with 20 circles on the 3000 side and then 20 x, turn the stone and do the same.
After that I use the 102 about 10 laps and finally I do the champion for 6-10 laps. Sometimes I run these last two dry, others, lathered.
They seem sharp to the touch, but when you put them on your face it leaves hair uncut.
Any tips or suggestions from the experts?

I live in Las Vegas too. If you want, I can show you how to hone on a coticule or bbw? Send me a PM.

Hi and welcome. The Chinese is a synthetic. It looks like the Taidea stone. It will be slow and doesn't leave the edge as refined as other 3/8 stones. I would say that the 8 is more like a 6 or 7k finish. I set the bevel on a razor once on the 3k and it took forever. Now way is this stone going to get a bevel in 40 strokes unless you were already right there. Keep going till the bevel is set. That is the only rule of bevel setting. Its set when its set. After that keep on the white side till all the previous stria are gone. Hopefully your 102 is in good nick as the edge will need a bit more after the white side. I used to use a barber hone after this stone to finish the edge. Good luck

My suggestion would be to get a single coticule, and hone your edge from heavy slurry, to medium slurry, to plain water. No need to pay attention to stria or markings on the edge with a loupe. I've never had to do that with a coticule, and to me this has just made it that much simpler.

Welcome to the forum and take the above offer to get a personal lesson.

Hi,
I sent you an email yesterday but perhaps I used the wrong area to send it. Hopefully this one will get to you. Of course I am interested in meeting you so you can show me how to hone. I have a couple of stubborn razors that I would like to "spring by you".
I'm in the west side of town. How about you?
I could do it Friday or over the weekend.

Originally Posted by mitmitzoom

Hi,
I sent you an email yesterday but perhaps I used the wrong area to send it. Hopefully this one will get to you. Of course I am interested in meeting you so you can show me how to hone. I have a couple of stubborn razors that I would like to "spring by you".
I'm in the west side of town. How about you?
I could do it Friday or over the weekend.

I'll send you a PM.