I have wondered what honing the stainless steel on my incoming Livi will be like...I will probably be safe like you Aldwin and send it to Glen when the time comes.
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I have wondered what honing the stainless steel on my incoming Livi will be like...I will probably be safe like you Aldwin and send it to Glen when the time comes.
I don't know what to say. I have never honed a Mastro Livi RWL34 (I have many but, so far, none of them needed a refresh, not even in chromium oxide paste and I bought my first RWL34 razor more than two years ago: it still shaves like the first day) and what I can say is Mastro Livi can put an edge on a RWL34 razor in less than five minutes. I personally witnessed this.
I will however ask him whether there is something he can suggest in order to hone a RWL34 blade. I think I will also try myself to hone a RWL34 razor and personally see how it is like. In case I fail, I guess I can take it to Mastro Livi laboratory and ask him to hone it again and I am sure he will do that in a minute.
As a matter of fact, I have never seen Mastro Livi honing a razor with a hone having a coarser grit than 3k. He uses a 3k even for setting a bevel in his freshly made razors and, also in this case, he can put a bevel on a freshly made razor in just five minutes of so by simply using a kai 3k stone, a Belgian coticule, his chromium oxide paste and loom strop. And, by the way, hand palm stropping! :-)
In case Mastro Livi uses RWL34 steel, he usually writes it in the certificate coming with the razor. In case you read "inox", it is not RWL34 but one of the many stainless steels he personally selected for some of his straight razors, including Grifetto. (and I have no idea what they are)
Oh, no sweat. I didn't mean my comments as a criticism. Simply an observation.
On top of that, I have only been honing for about 8 months, so inexperience is likely a factor, and was another reason why I sent it off to Glen.
Glen has said he will figure out the best method to hone her, and give me a school'in. I have little doubt that once I am told a good method, I will be able to keep her smooth.
It would be great to hear how Livi thinks these blades should be honed, though!
I tried to use a Shapton 8k, 16k and then a Suehiro Gokumyo 20k. Still not as good as my other Mastro Livi. I sent it out to Alfredo who has one with the RW34 steel. He said it wasn't in bad shape at all, used a Jnat and it came back sharp as my other one. I admit to not having a lot of experience in all types of honing. When I got my other Mastro Livi I was able to use the same stones and progression and get amazing results. I am not a big fan of slurry, but in the right hands I've seen Alfredo do some amazing hones on troubled razors. The good news is I have not needed any refreshes and maybe a stropping every 3-5 shaves and then only 5-7 laps. These razors really hold an edge.
Of course yours was a comment and not a criticism at all! Moreover, everyone should be free to criticize what they do not like, provided the criticism is founded and well explained and supported by facts.
I too will be glad to hear what Glenn suggests in order to hone a RWL34 blade. I will definitely try to hone a RWL34 blade in order to realize myself what it is about. The only problem is that I have to "sacrifice" one of my Mastro Livi RWL34 razors and this is going to be a very tough decision to make! :-)
Of course, in case I fail, I will take it to Mastro Livi and ask him to hone it and bring it back to its original splendor.
I will however ask Mastro Livi whether he can provide advises to all of us in order to properly hone one of his RWL34 razors.
In my opinion Mastro Livi razors hold an edge like no other razor I have used so far. As a matter of fact, I have never honed or refreshed any of my Mastro Livi razors, not even the first one I bought on April 2013: it still shaves like the first day and all I am doing with all of my razors is what Mastro Livi suggested me to do: I use his loom strop (leather side) and hand palm. It works or, better to say, it works for me.
As a matter of fact, I had the honor and pleasure to be shaved by professional barber Luigi Migni - the one you see in some videos I made - and I asked him how hard and tough he considers my beard. He said my beard can be considered an average-tough one and he would rate toughness as 8 out of 10. So, my beard is not that soft.
I have 7 shaves under my belt with the RW34. It is a completely different shave then my other Mastro Livis. The blade is stiffer, less flexible. At first I was a little disappointed with the feel but I have learned to really appreciate it. I love the way it performs against the grain and hard to shave places. It stays on your face without any movement. The stiffness makes that possible. I guess its like comparing a extra full hollow to a wedge. Like all the Mastro Livi's, know that I have the razor professionally honed, it needs very little stropping. The edge feels the same every shave SHARP but mild. No irritation.
I just got mine in the mail today! I will give it a spin tomorrow hopefully:)
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Beautiful, enjoy the moment.
Just another Grifetto in the Club! :-)
A quick shave showed the blade to be very much "shave ready"! I will give it a better workout over the weekend, but it is a great blade!
Ernie, that is one beautiful Grifetto. Enjoy!
What tree used Mastro Livi this shaver?
Since I took a SotD pick, figured I would share it here since I hadnt posted a pic of my Livi yet!
I love my shorty razors, and shave with nothing but shorties... but this is by far the shortest in my collection at under 2"!
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Any idea what the scales are made of? I wrote to Livi to ask, but never heard back from him.
Like I promised, I wanted to try honing myself a Mastro Livi RWL34 straight razor in order to see how difficult it could be. For those who are interested in this, I posted a write up here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ml#post1560593
I took my new Naniwa superstone 12000 and my Suehiro Gokumyo 20000 and used them on my RWL34 razor. I just had it honed and it was really sharp but it still didn't feel smooth. I used 7 x laps on the Naniwa and 10 x laps on the Suehiro and finished with 10-15 strops on my horsehide modular paddle strop and shaved with it. WOW is it smooth! Seems the blade really takes to those 2 stones. I had used Shaptons with limited success prior to sending it out. When it was sent out I am pretty sure it was honed with gnats. Passed the HHT but still didn't shave as smooth as my other Livi. Now perfection.
I first became acquainted w/ his fine work either here or on a companion site. The other day was watching a shaving vid on youtube and noticed a video w/ his name. Clicked on it to find out he has a channel there. I watched two of his vids from beginning to end. Like how he calls his shop his laboratory. He has a mini, self-enclosed, barbershop connected to it as well.Was surprised as I had not thought of his razors for some time. Muist have been 5 years since I heard of them then up pops his youtube channel!
Just a clarification note. The videos you watched on Youtube have been made by me and the channel "RazorGuy StraightRazorChannel" is run by me. It is not Mastro Livi's channel and I have no business association with him. As a matter of fact, my job is not about straight razor or shaving, I am just a passionate straight razor shaver, restorer and collector, not to mention Mastro Livi's straight razors!
Mastro Livi is a dear friend of mine and those videos are a tribute to the art, talent, craftsmanship and wisdom of a truly great and amazing Italian artisan and friend. I am also making them in the aim and hope to be useful to all the wet shavers in the world as I believe Mastro Livi's knowledge and art is a valuable treasure and heritage to be shared with others. As I understand I am a privileged one for living few kilometers away from Mastro Livi laboratory, as well as being his friend, I believe I owe this to others in order to let them all benefit of the endless Mastro Livi's knowledge and talent about straight razor making and maintenance.
Mastro Livi has a laboratory in which he works and makes all of the cutting tools he creates every day. This includes straight razors, knives, barber's scissors and many other cutting tools.
Mastro Livi's Barbershop is actually built inside of this laboratory and I am super proud for having suggested this idea to Mastro Livi whom liked since the very moment. It is a private barbershop reserved to Mastro Livi's clients who can personally test their razors before buying them. I believe this to be a proof of honesty and a guarantee of the quality of his job. You have the chance to personally test a razor - the barbershop has everything, from water to aftershaves - and if you are happy with it and like it, you can buy it.
Mastro Livi's Barbershop is also the place where we shoot the "Mastro Livi School" videos, a long term project made of many episodes. The episodes are all conceived and written by me and Mastro Livi and in many episodes we benefit of the professionalism and skill of Barber Luigi Migni, whose help, contribution and support for the shaving lessons has been fundamental and priceless. As a matter of fact, barber Luigi Migni is one of the very few here in Italy who still uses a real straight razor for shaving his clients and he learned how to shave with a straight razor from his master about 37 years ago when he was a boy and was working and learning how to become a barber in his master's barbershop.
As for the other videso, most of them are about the making of my straight razors, with the exception of a couple which are about the making of stefanosup's straight razors, a member of SRP as well as a dear friend of mine I met at Mastro Livi laboratory.
I was up to NY to see my daughter, son-in-law and grandchildren and my son-in-law took the Mastro Livi 6/8 round tip with ebony scales that I gave him out for a shave. He came over to me and said he couldn't believe how really smooth the shave was and how sharp the blade is. He looked at my RW34 I have and asked if he could try it and I said not to press his luck. Made me feel very happy seeing how the razor I gave him made him feel. Hated to part with it but felt great sharing the Mastro Livi experience with him. Being Italian, it gave him great pride in owning this work of art.
I think this was very kind of you. I am sure your son-in-law has appreciated very much your thoughtful gift, being Italian, I am sure he is proud for shaving with the very best Italian razor of all times, not to mention, a masterpiece of Italian art and craftsmanship. You are a remarkable man.
How often do you sharpen with Green chromium oxide. I don't want to over do it with my razors. My Mastro Livi started to pull just a little bit.
So far, I have used Chromium Oxide in just one Mastro Livi razor, the one I wanted to hone by dulling its edge on purpose. You can read more here: http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ml#post1560593
However, if you feel your razor started to pull a little, a healthy pass on linen side of Mastro Livi loom strop and chromium oxide will certainly fix it. This is what I usually do with my straight razor which start to pull and this is what Mastro Livi suggested me to do in such cases.
As for the rest of my Mastro Livi straight razor, I have never honed or passed on chromium oxide, saved the one I used for my RWL34 honing experiment.
What is the difference between Damascus steel, carbon steel and stainless steel as far as the shave is concerned. I have a carbon steel and a RW 34 stainless steel Mastro Livi. I can feel the difference in the way the razors perform but they both give very smooth close shaves. Is the Damascus really worth more then double? I should have my new Mastro Livi Stainless steel here this week and will post pictures. I swore this was my last one but I love the look of the Damascus. Who wants to retire?
Razor Guy, you almost talked me out of buying a Mastro Livi strop. Your right about the Mastro Livi razors, no maintenance. Probably will buy the strop because the other razors I own, won't mention names, do need the maintenance.
Like you said, every steel feels different in the way they perform although all giving - provided they are well honed and well made - a smooth and close shave. In my humble collection I have some Mastro Livi razors and I guess I tried most of the steels and Damascus steels he makes and they all feel different on the skin.
Mastro Livi Damascus steel - I mean the artisan Damascus he makes, either carbon or stainless - is also something you would buy, not because of the smooth and impeccable shave they give, but also for the beauty of the patterns and the beauty of genuine craftsmanship. To me, this adds a tremendous pleasure to the pleasure of shaving: a magnificent razor worth using and super performing, last but not the least, beautiful to see. Like you said, the feel of each of them is different and you may also find out you prefer some in specific occasions.
I am not going to retire for sure: the day I bought my first Mastro Livi - two years and a half ago - I swore it was going to be just one and, in case I would have bought another one from him, it would certainly have been after quite a long time. Well, today I own twenty Mastro Livi razors and I guess I am not going to stop this, not yet. As you can see, I was absolutely wrong. :)
As for Mastro Livi loom strop, the day I bought his strop I realized it was so different from the rest and I dismissed, in that very moment, the about one dozen of hanging strops I have. Since then, I am only using Mastro Livi loom strop and now I have three of them. To me, it is a great tool for maintaining straight razors, in particular those I like to restore myself.
I appreciate as usual your knowledge and experience with Mastro Livi. Looks like after the new year I am going to break a resolution I made and look to purchase a Damascus steel razor. I could easily never shave with it, just open the box, put it on a shelve and admire it each morning. Being practical, to spend that much on a razor and not use it would be a shame.
New 6/8 Spanish Point with Deer Antler scales with inbox blade.WOW. When I opened the carton and saw the box the razor comes in I was overwhelmed. Beautiful. Then I opened the box and saw the razor. Don sent me aAttachment 220663Attachment 220664Attachment 220665Attachment 220666 email saying this was an amazing razor and he didn't do it justice. Checked the edge under a glass and of course it is perfect. It is heavier then I thought but in my hands if feels like its part of my hand. Ran off to shave not even showering and this really shaves smooth. Its so heavy all I do is rest it on my face and move my hand. I measured the blade because it looked big and its actually 7/8. Always wanted to try one and my wish was granted.
Awesome razor!
Santa came early with my Custom Mastro Livi, 7/8, yellow buckeye burl scales. Round point, full hollow. smooth shave, great razor , beautiful eye candy,what can I say an all around wonderful shaving experience.
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Mine came to and Santa and I knocked down a couple of John Daniels to celebrate my good fortune. Enjoy your new addition.
Well I sure would like to see a picture of yours. I saw your name as one of the 3 who put in an order. I hope you enjoy it in good health and great shaves.
Cheers,
Harry
Hi Razor guy,
Are you saying that one pass on the Green side will sharpen a Mastro Livi razor so there is no pull?
Thanks
Harry
Look up a few listings on this page. It's the razor with the deer antler scales.
Depends on the edge condition. Of course a severely dulled edge needs to be honed with a stone of proper grit (and certainly not a coarse one!). In case your edge simply needs a refresh or touch up, green side of Mastro Livi loom strop and his chromium oxide paste work wonders.
In case you razor pulls, a touch up on the green side gives you back a perfectly cutting edge.
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Ok it's not a new razor but it's my first Premium silver tip badger brush. Mastro Livi is a class act in all he does. This is such a beautiful bowl and brush. I'm excited to sure to tonight.