Thread: Is it my honing or my Wapi?

Originally Posted by dylandog

Maybe a poor stropping?

Maybe, but the edge seemed to deteriorate within each shave and from the first shave to the second. I figured if I hadn't stropped well, both shaves would have started badly.

Originally Posted by SteveS

Maybe, but the edge seemed to deteriorate within each shave and from the first shave to the second. I figured if I hadn't stropped well, both shaves would have started badly.

Deteriorating within the shave sounds like you were overhoned. I guess I didn't gather that part from your previous posts. I wasn't suggesting that your stropping technique is off per se, only that maybe you were sloppy once, hence the sense of deterioration between shave one and shave two.

I had a razor that I put a great edge on and it gave me a great shave, and then one shave later was lousy. I was on the verge of touching it up and then thought, I wonder if I've just done a half-assed job stropping it. And sure enough the next shave was great. I've since begun to pay a lot more attention to stropping, and read through threads by Scott (honedright), JoshEarl, and Alan Davis.

There is remarkable variation in how long different razors will hold an edge, but I've never heard of a properly honed, properly stropped razor losing its edge after one shave. I suppose it's possible, but I would think steel that soft wouldn't be taking a good edge in the first place.

I just honed my Wapi for the first time today, and did notice that the spine did take a lot of wear considering...but then again, it was the first time I ever honed a razor, so it could very well be my techinique.

It shaved alright, but not quite as well as the razor I got from HeavyDuty, but I don't know whether that is because I shaved off the 4k/8k stone and not a coticule or pasted strop.

I also found that one side of the razor was perfectly flat while the other was a little bowed...but again, could just be me ...worked itself out after the first pyramid.

Hope this helps...

Mark

You guys are making me think I over-honed it. If so, it would seem I've knocked off the wire edge, so I'll hone it again and see how it goes. But it'll be a couple days before I can report on this thread, because the Chandler I bought from Tony arrived today, so I won't be shaving with my Wapi tomorrow!

You guys are the lucky one my wapi was warped really bad, I'm rectifying that as we speak.

Steve,

The wire edge theory is possible, although I'm not convinced... I'd do about 50 to 100 laps on your coticule, then test shave again. Don't worry about overhoning on the coticule--it's not possible. The Norton can create a wire, but some extra laps on the coticule will strip it off.

In the past I've had some trouble keeping blades sharp, but my Wapis have always performed well. What you're experiencing isn't normal for these razors.

Good luck,
Josh

Originally Posted by ucliker

You guys are the lucky one my wapi was warped really bad, I'm rectifying that as we speak.

My Wapi is a little bit warped, but not so badly that using a careful x-stroke didn't get the whole edge sharp (at least for a little while!)

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

The wire edge theory is possible, although I'm not convinced... I'd do about 50 to 100 laps on your coticule, then test shave again. Don't worry about overhoning on the coticule--it's not possible.

I'd be embarrassed to admit how many "finishing" laps I did on my coticule during the last session (let's just say more than 100 ). I had the same understanding that with so many laps on a coticule, it should not have been possible for me to have a wire edge.

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

In the past I've had some trouble keeping blades sharp, but my Wapis have always performed well.

Any thoughts on what's behind that trouble? Weak steel? I guess that shouldn't be a problem with these Wapis . . .

Originally Posted by SteveS

the Chandler I bought from Tony arrived today, so I won't be shaving with my Wapi tomorrow!

I shaved with the Chandler for the first time this morning . . . now that was a shave!