Thread: Which would you do?

After much experimentation & the correction of many mistakes, I came up with a shaving method that seemed to work given my steel-eating, barbed-wire, horror show of a beard. However, not content to rest on my laurels, I set about trying to find a new method that would reduce the amount of paraphernalia in my shaving kit.

I believe I now have two workable methods, each with pros & cons. I would like to solicit opinions as to which is the better way to go.

Method 1: use a chromium oxide pasted strop for maintenance. I have to touch up the blade every other shave, because if I don't, by the third shave I can feel the deterioration. After a month, the edge has become so convexed from repeated polishing that I have to go all the way back to 1000-grit sandpaper to re-establish the bevel. The upshot is, the convexing of the edge seems to impart a strength that is lacking in a triangular edge polished to the same degree on a Lithide hone.

Method 2: Follow the heretical rules & give her 5 swipes on the cushioned strop hone, then 5 on the Gem hone, before every shave. Skipping the Lithide hone seems to result in a less polished, therefore stronger, edge.

Which of the above would you do?


For the record, these methods don't work:


1. Using all 3 hones (the cushioned strop, Gem, & Lithide) without the pasted strop. The resulting edge is too delicate.

2. Shaving right off the cushioned strop hone. The edge is far too crude. The resulting shave is painful & of mediocre quality.

Can I suggest a damascus blade? It sounds to me like you need some really hard steel.

X

Originally Posted by xman

Can I suggest a damascus blade? It sounds to me like you need some really hard steel.

X

That is quite a steel (steal?) at $800

Yeah... For 1/10 that price I can buy 2 or 3 ebay razors & grind them into oblivion with a clean conscience. Or maybe look for a stainless razor.

Well, so far, I have to say I like the consistency of the results when I hone before every shave, but I *REALLY* like the silky polished edge that comes from the chrome oxide...

....Do both? hone a bit before for consistency then polish on the chrome real quick before shaving then you have both and it will never convex because of the honing...

I'd also suggest either Damascus steel or perhaps a less than fully ground razor. 1/4 ground or meat chopper. Sounds like you've got a nightmare of a beard.

Contact Josh Earl, and ask him to make you a razor, 1/4 hollow, and ask for it to be extra hard...
Trust me you won't have to bother with either of these choices.

I don't know your beard, and I don't know your experience! That said, let me offer a third choice. I think you should perfect your stropping, but make sure your razor is honed properly first!!

How is your prep? A good prep softens the hairs considerably.