Thread: Ideas and Suggestions for SEM honing and stropping research experiment

Originally Posted by Bart

I think it would be good to first know how many picture's you'll be able to do. I understand it takes about 30 minutes for setting up and shooting the photo. So, how many shots do we have?

It really depends on how many razors are in the vacuum chamber at a time. W/o scales it would be easier to fit more in. But I can take as many pictures as necessary, that just means it will take longer, but there is no real dead line as of yet.

Originally Posted by Bart

Second question: Are we going to take one razor that you give different treatments and shoot each time at exactly the same spot. Or should we prepare a number razors of identical brand and make, that we prepare beforehand and send to you for taking the pictures?

That all depends on the design of the experiment. I plan to get a lot of information together and write a proposal at one point.

Originally Posted by Bart

Third: we should realize the responsibility. These experiments are likely not to be repeated for a long time and a lot of people would possibly be drawing conclusions from them. Hence we must be very careful to rule out the human factor.
This means: a new strop must be used, without any residue of pumice stone, or even CrO contamination. Also, in all respect, stropping does rely on a certain skillfulness.

Yes you are very right about this Bart. This will be under the controls that will have to be dealt with accordingly. I think that if the data is recorded as a part of the experiment, the age and condition of the strop can be recorded as well. If we are going to get brand new strops, then we'll have to pull together and figure something out about that.

Originally Posted by Bart

Fourth: is it worth considering bringing a razor professional such as Glen or Lynn to the scene to cooperate with Rosscollins3 on this.

I believe that a professional would have to either volunteer their time or we would have to compensate them for it.


A lot of problems arise when there is no money involved. Universities can write papers like this because they can get grants or use something from their budget. There will be many things that we may have to do without or just live with as our budget as of right now is $0.00. Keep in mind this is a Small or Zero budget operation, which many people have already volunteered to loan their materials.

Originally Posted by Lynn

I love it when the "Art" meets the "Science".

I always respect what both teach me.

Let me know if I can help in any way.

Thanks,
Lynn

Originally Posted by rosscollins3

I believe that a professional would have to either volunteer their time or we would have to compensate them for it.

Lynn is the founder of StraightRazorPlace and the godfather of the current straight razor revival. He hones and strops dozens of razors daily (correct me if I'm wrong, Lynn).
If there's anyone that could setup razors for this experiment without any discussion about it being conducted properly, it is going to be Lynn.

Bart.

I think that someone should contact Dovo and Thiers-Issard to ask them if they would like to sponsor some of this work, given the huge impact it could have. Ross, when you have formalized your proposal and experiment design, why don't you send it around to the manufacturers?

Seems to me that in our enthusiasm for the proposed experiment we are putting a lot of weight on Ross. I think that keeping it simple to begin with might be the best policy. The more elaborate we make it the more time it will take to make it happen and the less likely it will happen at all.

If it does happen and if Ross is willing the experiment could be expanded with donations of willing honemiesters and/or vendors. For now Ross graciously volunteered to take a few before and after photos. Maybe leaving it at that to begin with would be a good idea.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

I think that keeping it simple to begin with might be the best policy. The more elaborate we make it the more time it will take to make it happen and the less likely it will happen at all.

Thanks for the thought Jimmy. I think that while we're in the brainstorming phase It can't hurt to have more Ideas than necessary. We can always subtract things half way through, but it makes it difficult to add them once things are underway.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

If it does happen, and if Ross is willing, the experiment could be expanded with donations of willing honemiesters and/or vendors. For now Ross graciously volunteered to take a few before and after photos. Maybe leaving it at that to begin with would be a good idea.

I plan on doing a full scale report Jimmy, the photos are just good visuals to get the message across. I know some people are anxious about just seeing more pictures, but I plan on doing it all and releasing it all at once so patience will be a virtue here. I'm an engineering student working at a small business with a few experts in metallurgy. So the technical report part is certainly down my ally and resources are readily available, from documents to advice from experts.

RC

If I can help let me know, also Ross where are you located that might help some with planning....

I know this is a very specific idea, but at this stage we seem to be coming up with all possible comparisons.

I would love to see the actual "dulling" effect that a coticule can have on an edge. Or given that the BBW and coti are garnet based, how do edges from each compare.

Or how does a bevel set on a coticule(Bart) compare to one set on more traditional stones.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

...Ross where are you located...

AL,

Thanks for asking.