Thread: Smiling Blades

i use more of a windshield washer motion when stropping a smiler , not sure if it's really necessary though.

Took me a while to figure how to strop this little smiler

Windshield washer stroke works best for this one. For most smilers a heel forward or toe forward x stroke is fine.

As mentioned with smilers a sything motion come more natural and they are great for getting into the contours of your face.

It depends on how much smile the edge has, most the smile is about an 1/8th of an inch or so and stropping in an x pattern will polish the whole blade.

If the edge is curved more like the SK1, just strop it in three passes, the toe, the middle and heel, then X strokes to blend the polish, just like you would hone it.

Some ink on the bevel then strop you will quickly see if your technique is missing any spots. WD40 or any oil, (Neetsfoot) on a paper towel, will remove the ink on the razor and strop, or practice on a piece of clean cardboard.

I like to use my Roo strop from Gabe for the smilers.
It is very thin and pliable and easily conforms to a smiling edge.

Pete <:-}

+1 to that, Pete.

Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

Took me a while to figure how to strop this little smiler

Windshield washer stroke works best for this one. For most smilers a heel forward or toe forward x stroke is fine.

As mentioned with smilers a sything motion come more natural and they are great for getting into the contours of your face.

How's the balance in hand with that one?
I imagine the scales angling away when shaving....
Very nice BTW.

You don’t need a dramatic smiler either to get a great shaving effect. Get yourself the Tanifuji Command No. 68 (or, its more sought after cousin the MaxFli Gold 100/40), and you will have a great instrument for getting your scything strokes mastered without going so far as the SK1 does.

Even better, the Tanifuji MaxFli razor felt like I had used it for years after about the 5th shave. Both the Command and MaxFli are amazing vintage blades you won’t regret purchasing if you feel up for a smiler.

Originally Posted by JOB15

How's the balance in hand with that one?
I imagine the scales angling away when shaving....
Very nice BTW.

Cheers Joe

To be honest I've never thought about the scales position and the balance is spot on. It looks like it should be awkward to use but it's actually very nimble and easy to use.

By the way, if you forge a razor or a knife by hand, then the smile turns out by itself. This happens when you pull the blade wide. It is necessary to straighten the blade all the time, otherwise by the end of forging it can take the form of a circle.
I do not mean to say that all razors with a smile, it is necessarily forged by hand with a hammer, but it is more difficult to make an absolutely straight razor into a straight one than a razor with a smile.

Start with a frown and forging will turn it upside down.