Thread: Totally new beast for me.

Last week I finally received the shipment of this Heljestrand MK42 Viking in stainless steel. Accustomed with full hollows carbon MKs (1,31,32), this razor proved to be a completely new beast to me. New weight, new grind, new steel.

Yesterday I took some time and guts to hone it. Besides asking help for the new grind on this forum (thank you guys), I took my usual route to hone this razor, to compare it with my other razors after all.
Well, this thing don't even have a parallel sided fringe section near the edge. Besides somewhat concave, it is almost wedge, so two layers of tape to avoid widen the bevel and I took it to run some laps on 1200 wet-dry half-worn sandpaper over glass to "harness" things up, so to the dry translucent arkansas until the edge shines and tops arm hair and CrO paddle - just in case. After that, just plain hanging strop.
What can I tell you is this razor consumed a LOT more elbow grease on the Arkansas than any other razor I have to top arm hair.
Today by morning I took the usual procedure to shave with it. After shower, tabac soap lather, cold water only (drough season here... very hot and 12-15% humidity, warm water dries as alcohol) and... not the better shave I had, indeed. I have some lessons to learn with this new toy.
It shaves, but needs a higher angle (yes, I am burnt and had lots of red points in my face ). I also missed the sound the full hollows talk (rekk rekk rekk). This one is silent, only near the ear I hear a lower sound (ruff, ruff, ruff), so I have to get used to.
Styptic? Alum? No, I didn't dare.
My usual cooled Tanqueray aftershave splash was cursing level.

Obviously, that pair of scales is to blame.

That's a beauty I must say. As far as I know/saw Swedish steels are hard and this one is also stainless, I think it needs more laps on the stones. Especially on lower grits IMHO.

Wedge razors shave silently and very smoothly. Enjoy the shaves from that beasts

Good looking razor.

I think you are correct.

Try three layers of tape and see what happens.

Good luck

Just a question... it seems that a harsh shave could be due to a too acute edge? Is this because the edge is unstable and maybe wavy or rolled or chipped?

Andre, yes it may cause irritation. In general too sharp edges are to thin, not so smooth and fragile may be have chips due to this thinness. Even if the edge doesn't have chips, the edge shape is saw tooth like(especially from synthetic hones). These are the possible reasons for harsh shave from too sharp edge. Some natural stones have capability to give very sharp and very smooth edge like Escher or some JNATS.

Mmm... think that may be my problem... calculated the edge was 15deg... measured on screen it was 12 deg... and a bit rough... added tape and it got smoother... even though it felt less sharp...

Let's try!
My thoughts were on the other side of the problem. I was guessing the edge is too obtuse, needing LESS tape, but you had enlighted me that the problem can be just the opposite.
Thank you for the info!

What i need to measure the bevel angle?

Originally Posted by Matheus

Let's try!
My thoughts were on the other side of the problemas. I was guessing the edge is too obtuse, needing LESS tape, but you had enlighted me that the problem can be just the opposite.
Thank you for the info!

What i need to measure the bevel angle?

This link http://www.coticule.be/wedges.html talks about honing wedges. There is an Excel document that you can download and put your measurements into. It will tell you what the bevel angle is without tape and with different numbers of layers of tape all from the one set of measurements. Read it carefully on how to take the measurements especially the blade height one.

Bob

Oh, mornin' dumbness. It's a very obvious trigonometry problem.
I already solved the question.
Just need my caliper now.