Thread: Ever wonder how long an edge lasts after honing?

Originally Posted by azgabe

So you are saying its my honing skills?

Personally I think honing has the least to do with it. It's either honed shave ready or not. Barring wire edges and other faux edges were talking a well formed edge to begin with. What I think matters is good steel or at least resistant to wear. Stropping Matters a lot. Shaving matters a lot the more proper scything motion and less push cutting you do on your face will affect the razor damage done by your beard. Well crafted razors made out of great material and cared for reasonably will shave for a good long while.

Lots. I think in general people hone their razors too much, but for some that is the fun of the hobby.

I've only been shaving with a SR for about a year. I've got a couple of Dovo's that I use day-on day-off. I honed the pair back in July (because I dropped one of them) and shaved with them (day-on/day-off) through the end of December. That's more than 60 shaves per razor maintaining them with nothing more than daily stropping on linen and leather

My daughter bought me a Dovo Bismarck for Christmas, and my first shave with that told me I should put my daily shavers to the stones. I was still getting good shaves, but they were not as "smooth" as the brand new shave ready Bismarck.

I honed my daily shavers in January and I'd expect that they will (once again) last a good long while (unless I damage an edge). My stropping technique has gotten better, so they might last even a bit longer if I were to try and 'tough it out'.

Anyway, it's my opinion that good stropping technique will maintain a quality blade for a LONG time.

Originally Posted by bluesman7

I use a seven day rotation so it is very easy to keep track of the number of shaves between honing. I just record the hone date and count Wednesdays [or whatever day] to the present when I want to know the number. I often get 80-100 shaves before needing to hone. I do wear a Van Dyke with a not very heavy beard though.

Great thread Bob....

I'm with the Bluesman, I've got a goatee, but a fairly heavy beard, and I don't get 80-100 shaves before a refresh is required, I will say have razors from when I started 5 years ago, that have never been refreshed and shave just fine, usually the big wedges, but only a few times have I ever had a shave and right after the first stroke put it down and grabbed another because it just wasn't shaving.

I'd say still a vast majority of my blades still have the original bevel and honing done by Val from the Gentleman's Den, and he really puts a master edge on razors. A few of his one's I've refreshed on the Nani 12k then the Escher, and they'll be fine again for another year at least.

Good stropping, proper care and cleaning of the razor, oh, and did I say proper stropping....LOL.

Like Tc mentions as well, at this point, now that I'm more finicky with my edges, if a blade isn't quite where I want it, nothing that a couple of light strokes on a finisher won't solve.

All those Primo Sheffields and Customs just to shave your cheeks. Lol No it cant be just no. Ahh im just kidding, Good stuff.

Originally Posted by Razorfaust

All those Primo Sheffields and Customs just to shave your cheeks. Lol No it cant be just no. Ahh im just kidding, Good stuff.

LOL - cheeks and neck...I've done the full shave before, really enjoyed it, and liked the clean cut look...walked upstairs, my wife asked if I shaved my chin off and was I growing my goatee back...like now?

So, that was the end of my "clean shaven" experiment....besides, every time I look at Brian Setzer from CNN I just want to punch him right in the face...so I don't think I'll go with that look....

I humbly bow to you gents willing to use an edge for shave after shave.

I used to get quite a long stretch of shaves between honing in the past, but in the past year or two... I'm simply not willing to endure anything but perfect edges, so for me, it's hone the razor lightly every week. No, it doesn't need much, but dang it all.... It's got to be uber sharp and comfortable.... This is likely the reason why even Feather DE blades get chucked after 3 shaves in my house, when I'm on a DE stint.

I'm sure it's a personality flaw.... The razor still shaves fine, but it's not quite as sharp as it was right off the hone.....<sigh>

It's not my stropping technique either... there is a very noticeable improvement in the edge after I strop, it's just *me*.

Regards

Kaptain "Anything less than perfect, is downright terrible to me, anymore" Zero

Yep as I said we spend too much time on the stones. Spare the stone save the razor. Or is it spare the stone cut your face ahh well something like that.

There is no doubt we are spoiled for choice as far as razors and hones go. Add to that the knowledge freely available via the internet.
I just have this affinity with the pioneers with none of these benefits.
A razor would have been a substantial investment, and possibly used by more than one male member of a household.

I have a razor right get now that is shaving the same way as the first shave after 30 shaves, no change in sharpness or comfort. So I,m not suffering thru a less than stellar edge. It just happens when I strop a well honed blade plus technique is spot on, all these things go toward blade endurance along with a good piece of steel.

Quite possibly the razors that won't hold a keen edge over time are suffering from poor steel to start with. So if all the stars are aligned, honing is just an excuse to get out the rocks and play. Tv