Thread: Palm honing

Originally Posted by jkatzman

I consider a 3k stone course but not as bad as using a 400 or 1k. I used them on old razors and realize how much I need to learn. I use Shapton 4k, 8k, 16k and 30 k.

Before meeting Mastro Livi, I too believed the more and finer stones I had, the better. I therefore ended up buying many stones because I thought I could get the best edge by using them.
Then I met Mastro Livi and I was very shocked when I saw what he was using was just a 3k and a coticule, not to mention to see the excellent edges he could put on a blade with those "coarse" stones. To make the story short, I sold most of my stones and kept just few of them. I used that money for buying more razors. :-)
After all, a Belgian Coticule is not so coarse and the edge you can get from it is absolutely great. Mastro Livi taught me "less is more" and this applies to the number of stones you have, number of laps, time spent in honing a razor. You don't need tens of stones to hone a razor, indeed you need a proper and good technique.
Would you believe I could have a very comfortable shave with a razor honed with just a 3k stone? Well, I do believe and had it: when Mastro Livi was telling me about the "stone craze", he honed in front of me a freshly made razor with just a 3k and then stropped it on leather. He then wanted me to shave with it: I believed I was about to have the worst shave in my life, I had a very comfortable shave instead. Technique is everything.

Originally Posted by jkatzman

Prefer the stones over paste for finishing and touchups.

I too preferred stones over paste. Not now, tough. I happily use paste for finishing and touching up edges and I am very happy for that. After all the grit you have from a chromium oxide paste is, more or less, 30k.

Originally Posted by jkatzman

Your articles and videos make owning his works of art much more personal.

Thank you! I am very glad to read about your appreciation.