Thread: Mastro Livi Razor Club

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.

Originally Posted by Aldwyn

I found my new to me RWL34 was not an easy hone, as well. Coming off the Chosera 1K, I was cutting hairs and passing the TPT, but I could see microchips coming off the G20. I paid a lot of money for this guy, so I didnt want to take any chances... so off to Glen it went.

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! :-)

Originally Posted by Ernie1980

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.

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!

Originally Posted by razorguy

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! :-)

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.

Originally Posted by Aldwyn

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!

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.

Originally Posted by jkatzman

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.

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

Beautiful, enjoy the moment.

Just another Grifetto in the Club! :-)