Thread: Do real straight razors get as sharp as a shavette?

Originally Posted by Euclid440

“But sharp is not uncomfortable. A polished edge is a comfortable edge.”

I’m not sure about that…

A properly honed hollow ground razor, finished on 0.3um film and hundred laps on .50 &.125 CBN, will give you a laser straight, super polished and uncomfortable edge.

It is definitely, polished and straight edge…comfortable? No.

I agree 100% with this. At some point an edge that sharp will catch and remove skin at a fairly low angle. That means any pimples, any bits and pieces of skin that are pulled up with hairs, gone.

Originally Posted by DaveW

I agree 100% with this. At some point an edge that sharp will catch and remove skin at a fairly low angle. That means any pimples, any bits and pieces of skin that are pulled up with hairs, gone.

So what happens to the pimples and bits and pieces of skin that are pulled up with hairs and the blade isn't as sharp as can be?

If the edge is smooth, without a false edge, it is sharp enough to sever hairs, but not the skin, and it pushes the skin down.

There is confusion about harsh meaning dull (like large stria), but harsh can mean toothy like that or a super thin edge that can catch on anything, and cut follows catch.

Originally Posted by DaveW

I agree 100% with this. At some point an edge that sharp will catch and remove skin at a fairly low angle. That means any pimples, any bits and pieces of skin that are pulled up with hairs, gone.

That can be prevented by optimal shaving technique, however, 3 strokes on a fine jnat will make that edge more easily used by a less than perfect touch.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

That can be prevented by optimal shaving technique, however, 3 strokes on a fine jnat will make that edge more easily used by a less than perfect touch.

That's true, but sometimes when you have a bus to catch in the morning, you want a fast bulk removal pass and then a reasonably fast follow up pass.

Gents, looking at the first post, what is the ultimate purpose of this discussion: degree of sharpness or quality of shave?

If the proof of the pudding is in the eating - as the saying goes - then the proof of the razor is in the shave.

Trying to reduce this from all the variables that contribute to a close and comfortable shave to the single quality of "sharpness" misses the point.

A double edge blade in a shavette or a Feather AC blade may be "sharper" in the narrow sense of the word, but does it give a better shave?
For my part, I get smoother, more comfortable shaves from a straight razor.

I really don't care whether it is sharper or less sharp than a shavette, what I care about is the shave.


B.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

It’s not about ultimate sharp. It’s about sharp enough to get you from A to B, with comfort and no weapers.

Well said! I'd like to frame that and display it in my shave den.

Thanks everyone. So then I should expect to get a more comfortable shave from my straight with some proper blade care. Currently it will cut arm hair very nicely but will not pass hanging hair test so I am thinking bevel is set edge just needs refinement.

One of the few actual studies done The Voerhaven paper

You can go find it if you are interested


The sharpest DE blade he tested he measured at .31 microns (this is from memory)

The sharpest SR blade he measured at .32 microns (again from memory)

Here are some other things we know to be true

Most DE and SE blades are sharpened at 1k they are often sharpened with a second micro-bevel (Oh wait did you really think that was an original idea)
The Feathers allegedly have a Triple bevel..

Most are also coated to achieve a smoother feel to the face..

On a SR we pretty much do the same "Coating" when we strop, as we burnish and correct the micro-teeth..

The blade will start to cut hairs at about .50 Microns so you really have very little room for improvement from when it cuts your armhair and when the edge is maxed out and you start to "Overhone" the edge, which again creates a harsh condition


Bottom line there is very little difference in Keen, most of the Keen comes at a very low grit, and much of the talk about Sharpness between finishers and harsh vs smooth is really all about the ability to hone, strop and shave correctly...

So why is that stupid? I don’t understand your rant.

Is it excessive? Yea, and so is most of the stuff we do here, it’s called pushing the envelope, push until it breaks, then you know where the edge is.

A super highly polished edge can still be uncomfortable.

There are many here that push the envelope, in many ways, and then share that information with others, and some, stand on the sidelines and throw darts…

It is why, we are finishing on 20 & 30K stones and polishing with micro grits now, and just a few years ago an 8K was God’s gift to honing.

One man’s Stupid, is another’s Discovery.