Thread: I have a sharp fetish

TLR shaving newb (but not sharpening noob) excited about shaving hopes to learn more here

Started with Japanese hand forged knives. Spending late nights surfing for new knives and buying stones, strops etc. always dreaming and perfecting my methods to get the sharpest edges.

It's always funny when I have company over and let them use my knives. Generally I give them one of the cheap ones because I know they'll F up the edge, by slamming the edge into the board thinking they would have more resistance instead of the just the slight whish of the knife, and I'll have to go back and sharpen again.

So i didn't pull the trigger myself, on the straight razor, I've been talking about it and my wife picked up on it and bought me a Dovo ebony scale silver steel straight.

First thing I did that night is looked at the factory honing job. It wasn't garbage, but it wasn't perfect. Not worthy of shaving. Laying the razor flat on granite revealed the edge had a slight over grind in the middle and wasn't flat. Of course this probably would affect performance greatly but I wanted it better.

Took it to a king 1k and flattened it out and raised a burr. Then to a jnat aoto. Then suehiro rika 5k, king 6k, kitayama 8k, then yaginoshima Asagi jnat, .5 micron loaded balsa, .25 micron loaded horse leather for final polish and strop.

Screaming edge. 1st shave no cuts, smooth. I learned on a DE razor to not be reckless.

I've now shaved 7 times, couple cuts. But this is the first time I've been able to shave consecutive days without getting ingrown hairs and irritation on my neck.


So I would say that's a win. Anyways I'm looking to learn more and browse endlessly in persuit of getting even sharper.

Next up is probably nanocloth and .1 micron.


Also is dovo's silver steel stainless? Seems to be a tool steel but I would say it's pretty rust resistant.

Welcome to the forum.

Many of us have come chasing an edge, then find there is a bit more to it...

Welcome to the forum. Looks like you are off to a good start. No, silver steel is not stainless steel.

Bob

Welcome mate
The new Silver steel is the same as O1 tool steel
Razors and knives do have different paths of sharpening to learn, so have fun

Hi and welcome. Plenty of information here to help you learn. Any questions though feel free to ask

Originally Posted by Substance

Welcome mate
The new Silver steel is the same as O1 tool steel
Razors and knives do have different paths of sharpening to learn, so have fun

True but theory is same. I've also sharpened single bevel which I similar in that the guide is built into the geometry.

I've just found a whole lot less pressure is needed, I keep having to catch myself.


Thanks guys for the welcome

Welcome to the forum.

Originally Posted by 86azms3

TLR shaving newb (but not sharpening noob) excited about shaving hopes to learn more here

Started with Japanese hand forged knives. Spending late nights surfing for new knives and buying stones, strops etc. always dreaming and perfecting my methods to get the sharpest edges.

It's always funny when I have company over and let them use my knives. Generally I give them one of the cheap ones because I know they'll F up the edge, by slamming the edge into the board thinking they would have more resistance instead of the just the slight whish of the knife, and I'll have to go back and sharpen again.

So i didn't pull the trigger myself, on the straight razor, I've been talking about it and my wife picked up on it and bought me a Dovo ebony scale silver steel straight.

First thing I did that night is looked at the factory honing job. It wasn't garbage, but it wasn't perfect. Not worthy of shaving. Laying the razor flat on granite revealed the edge had a slight over grind in the middle and wasn't flat. Of course this probably would affect performance greatly but I wanted it better.

Took it to a king 1k and flattened it out and raised a burr. Then to a jnat aoto. Then suehiro rika 5k, king 6k, kitayama 8k, then yaginoshima Asagi jnat, .5 micron loaded balsa, .25 micron loaded horse leather for final polish and strop.

Razors unlike knives do not need burr raised to get the bevel established. Imagine you raise a burr every time you have to fix a chip or rolled edge , you are going to loose a ton of steel from the blade that way. Sharpening knives and honing razors are similar yet different exercises.

Originally Posted by mainaman

Razors unlike knives do not need burr raised to get the bevel established. Imagine you raise a burr every time you have to fix a chip or rolled edge , you are going to loose a ton of steel from the blade that way. Sharpening knives and honing razors are similar yet different exercises.

I never expect to have to take this shaver to a 1k again. But it was overground. Also small burrs can be created on higher grit stones. Hence one reason to strop to work harden the wire edge or burr to break off. But a lot of that is dependent on the steel and stone.

I don't see the need to drop below the Rika 5k again. All I need to do is sustain.

There is plenty steel left.

Welcome to the forum!