Thread: 1 year on and still learning

This is my first post for some time, but this morning I had yet another revelation. For some time I have been sticking to my Wapis as they seem pretty well bullet-proof, I also have a lovely TI and Livi which lay unloved on the shelf. I never seem to get a smooth shave from either of these two. Some time ago I posted regarding this and received the usual 'get it honed properly' responses. I have always believed in my 'honer' so left it at that. This morning though I thought of another experiment. The TI is such a lovely razor that I desperately wanted to get to like it, so this morning I took my pasted paddle and used just the 1.0 side (20 laps) I then gave it about 20 laps on a horsehide strop and quite amazingly had the most wonderfully smooth shave I have ever had. Now I am wondering whether the 0.5 paste makes the edge 'too' sharp and almost uncomfortable, has anybody had a similar experience or was it a fluke?

Too many strokes on any honing medium tears the edge, refered to as over-honing. It often feels 'too sharp' when shaving. It can also feel dull too depending on the amount of edge degredation.

What you are saying then is that in the past I may have been overhoning in an effort to get a super sharp edge which in turn gave an uncomfortable shave.

Over honing is very easy to do and hard to spot. If you put more work into your edge by using 1.0 paddle strop it probably was not over honed but just short of a good edge. Should have listened to the guys a while ago, or at least looked into it to validate your beliefs in 'honer'. I fit into this situation from time to time also.

"1 year on and still learning"?

I think any of us will be more like "straight razor shaving for a long time and still always learning".

Sometimes different media and different applications just work for different razors.......lol.

I sometimes use the 1.0 media for 10 strokes, followed by the .5 for 10 strokes to dial a razor right in if just a little off. Most times a .5 diamond or Chromium Oxide will work.

On a razor with harder steel, the 1.0 would certainly dial it in.

The interesting thing is that each of our beards are different and there is a lot of subjectivity here. One razor will be a killer shaver for one person and seem perfectly honed while the next person with the same razor will not like the shave.

The good news is that the more variations we find that work will always help someone struggling along the path and a successful shave is what it's all about........well then there are the brushes, soaps, aftershaves, strops and hones.........uh oh.......

Have fun,

Lynn

I'm 3+ years in & still learning.