Thread: Moving target (sharpness vs. comfort)

OH, I see.

Tonight I'm thinking "wow" this is buttery, i can hear 'em but feel nothing. That's nice.

Then, after two passes I'm cleaning up and them little stubbles are fighting back...wtf?

SO i grabbed some German steel and finished the clean up, no problems.

The first razor (English steel) was sharp enough to cut whiskers cleanly, but not _really_ sharp. The second razor was really sharp, but not so buttry. Methinks I'm developing a keener appreciation and differentiation of the sharpness of razors. Hence "moving target". As is said: The more you know, the more you know you don't know.

SO i re-stropped on CrOx and will try again in a day or three. I had been messing around with newspaper on the first blade IIRC. I'm not good for keeping notes, more of a "seat of the pants" pilot.

So which one gets the Chrome Oxide?

It should be the sharp one.

It is sharp at 1K, or should be. Look at the Sheffield edge, there is something wrong, it is not sharp… enough or may be crumbling. Try increasing the angle with tape if chipping.

Sheffield steel is hard…

Nail down sharp, then polish the bevel for comfort. You can have both.

Also it's a big smiler, the first i've honed and that took a little learning. This may be an good opportunity to try my barber hone for terchup.

I CX'd the Sheffie. Won't fiddle with the OH WAIT, i mis-spoke, that was a German blade...dangit (edited). But anyway, it, the German blade (not Solingen) is not harsh-but then i've not full-shaved with it, just touching up. This more about the "depth" of perception of the variabilities in sharpness/comfort than it is about a fix. But thanks. Yes i test off the 8k, before coti now.

My whiskers grow too slow to get as much testing in as i'd like...can i get an Amen?

Yes you CAN have both sharp and smooth but the bottom line is some razors are just better than others.

Originally Posted by rmagnus

Yes you CAN have both sharp and smooth but the bottom line is some razors are just better than others.

Yes, and ones perception of the both gets more acute as he gains more experience with a wide array of razors and honing/stropping applications. I'm sure 10 years into it, the "aha moments" won't be as frequent or general. The problem now is i'm constantly bouncing around amongst my collection (as well as some razors that aren't mine). I have one "gold standard" and i'm trying to make them all such.

And my latest is scheduled to arrive tomorrow, so I'll be whooping it on the rocks as soon as i get scales on it. It's a fat one


(i swear i'm stopping until i liberate a few, no really i mean it this time.)

With my limited collection I also notice some are more "buttery" but don't shave as smooth. Although lately I have been settling for less close shave because of time constraints.

Broke out a small W&B Celebrated blade tonight. Fresh off the hone, 2 days growth to tackle. Just did two passes not looking for BSS but dam it was smooth and close. I rarely shave at night but my beard was so scratchy. I'll break out its big brother for tomorrows go to work shave.

Sharp and buttery are definitely possible. All I did was refresh on N12K strop on 50 linen then 100 leather.

This has been discussed many times.

Any razor that is quality can be honed to provide a great and comfortable shave. In fact if it doesn't it simply has not been properly honed. There is a class of razors that are in the minority that for whatever reason are just the creme de la creme and give a shave just superior to others and if a razor doesn't have it in it to have that potential no amount of honing will get it there. I like to characterize these razors as such: If you were sitting and were blindfolded and someone ran one of these razors down your face you would never guess that a razor just ran down your face because you would feel nothing.These razors are that good and they cut across all brands and grinds. I imagine they are the ones that were manufactured and every stage was done to perfection.

They are rare indeed and if you have one you will know it.

I suppose that is the root of the evil. Evil Butter! The search for and trials to make each razor shave as good as your best. I hears you. That they won't all be the best, and there's no guarantee in name or style.

But also, I know that my skin and whiskers are becoming more "calibrated" to the differences one can feel. A bic scraper/electric guy would think any "2nd tier" razor I own was the sharpest thing since nano-lasers. But it's not and we know it.

The stage is set. I now have a W&B that is a twin to my Toledo "Sheffield Blade"-the best of my lot. OF course i hope to make the W/B "American Razor" just as comfy as the Maher/Grosh.