Thread: C.V Heljestrand

I don't know what razors you are working with, but the few Heljes I have honed were some of the hardest I have seen, along with russian razors. They honed up just fine, but bevel setting took a nice amount of time, a few minutes on a 1k stone did nothing to these

Originally Posted by jeness

I don't know what razors you are working with, but the few Heljes I have honed were some of the hardest I have seen, along with russian razors. They honed up just fine, but bevel setting took a nice amount of time, a few minutes on a 1k stone did nothing to these

That's been my experience with the Heljestrands as well.
Hard, good steel that will take a wicked edge, once the work has been done.

Originally Posted by jeness

I don't know what razors you are working with, but the few Heljes I have honed were some of the hardest I have seen, along with russian razors. They honed up just fine, but bevel setting took a nice amount of time, a few minutes on a 1k stone did nothing to these

well I have only handled 4 different Heljestrands (Mk No.12, 31, 32 & 33) and from that limited experience I considered the steel to have a soft temper.
Apart from the No.12 the other 3 were from older stock with ivory scales.
I have also detailed a Klas Tornblom razor set and didn´t find them particularly hard.

If you say that your Heljestrands are of a really hard temper I am happy to believe you, but I have drawn my conclusions based on my own limited experience.
I will keep an open mind on this and I am happy to be proven wrong if that is the case, and I am certain Birnando has handled way more Sweedish steel than I have

Edit:- on reflection my personal standard for hard steel is stainless steel, which most shavers don´t use and may in part explain my perspective.

Your also talking two Differant processes using two differant media and far differant downward cutting pressure.
Honing is not the same as sanding.
I find swedes to be on par with Jwests (Japanese westerns) and SS blades,harder steel? maybe

Originally Posted by pixelfixed

Your also talking two Differant processes using two differant media and far differant downward cutting pressure.
Honing is not the same as sanding.
I find swedes to be on par with Jwests (Japanese westerns) and SS blades,harder steel? maybe

I agree with you completely in that honing is not the same as sanding, but out of the two I would think sanding would give the clearer and more consistent indication as to the quality and temper of a particular steel.

Honing requires a feather-lite touch and a refined technique in order to be consistent and thus effective. In short it is an acquired art.

On the other hand anyone can sand, and it is relatively easy to be able to sand consistently and well.
When I sand by hand I can clearly see and feel the amount of metal being removed, and so using the same cutting media on different metals with the same pressure, technique and tools gives me an idea as to their "hardness."

Yes you can also see metal being removed while honing, but it is a fraction of what is removed by sanding, and the feedback gives more of an indication of the type of stone and grit rather than the metal I think.

I have never handled a "Jwest" but I look forward t the day. Thanks for that comparison.

My dad told me story about when an American machinist made the worlds thinnest wire and sent it to Sweden to see if they could out do him. When they got the wire back the American said it's the same exact wire, they said get a better microscope they drilled a hole through it.

I don't know how much of the story is true but I found it interesting.

well I ordered my CV heljestrand 4/8! should be here next week! quite looking forward to it, i think i've gotten a dose of RAD :L
I also ordered a bowl of shaving soap, only used cream so far, will be interesting to see how different it is.

Originally Posted by Bren

well I ordered my CV heljestrand 4/8! should be here next week! quite looking forward to it, i think i've gotten a dose of RAD :L
I also ordered a bowl of shaving soap, only used cream so far, will be interesting to see how different it is.

Welcome!! To both RAD and SRP - LOL.

I think you are going to like the blade very much - post and let us know.

I think you'll like the soap too. If not, at least you can make an Uberlather now : )!!

is it much different from lathering a cream? I've been doing this for a few months, think i've gotten the hang of the basics. by that i mean i get a smooth shave without nicks or cuts!
But the soap will be new to me

Originally Posted by Bren

is it much different from lathering a cream? I've been doing this for a few months, think i've gotten the hang of the basics. by that i mean i get a smooth shave without nicks or cuts!
But the soap will be new to me

Oh I don't know lol... I find soap takes a bit more effort to lather, but then I also find it provides a great glide. It took me a bit of time to get my soap down when I first started with it, but not all that much. It will not be a night/day kind of thing, but the first couple of goes might take some practice.

Make some lather outside of your initial shave. Let it sit and see if it requires more water or less after 5 minutes - like anything it's a unique product and one will not be 100% the same as the other but it will be fun... and if you mix it with some cream, it'll be heaven lol.

Have fun and play - that's what it's about - you can't go wrong, you can merely use to much or too little lol. About 5 -7 swirls on top of the soap does it for me (then I whip it up in my bowl) - now and again i'll go back for more : ).