Thread: Smoother Shave with Lower Grit?

Hello 8ballace,
let me ask you what kind of Dovo you are having problems with.
I ask because Dovo sells INOX, or stainless razors and those seem to not like the shapton 16k much,
nor any very high (majorly synthetic) finishing stone.
Do you have a chance of checking the edge under a loupe for microchips,
especially after the shave?
Another way to test the razor for an overly sensetive edge
is to try to accomplish the HHT smoothly after the shave.

Besides, I wouldn´t say "the lower grit hone did better"
I would say "the other finishing hone did better".
Both norton 8k and shapton 16k are finishers after all

Originally Posted by Lesslemming

Hello 8ballace,
let me ask you what kind of Dovo you are having problems with.
I ask because Dovo sells INOX, or stainless razors and those seem to not like the shapton 16k much,
nor any very high (majorly synthetic) finishing stone.
Do you have a chance of checking the edge under a loupe for microchips,
especially after the shave?
Another way to test the razor for an overly sensetive edge
is to try to accomplish the HHT smoothly after the shave.

Besides, I wouldn´t say "the lower grit hone did better"
I would say "the other finishing hone did better".
Both norton 8k and shapton 16k are finishers after all

Just out of curiosity, what are your findings on the 16K? I have honed thousands of Dovo Carbon and Inox razors using the Shapton 16K as a finisher or the Naniwa Super 12K and never had a problem. I have both used and not used pastes following these stones as well and as with most final polishing stones, I think I like the way the razor shaves with the pastes/sprays a little better.

Thanks,

Lynn

8ball, are you using any linen work.

You say it started feeling harsh. what was the original cindition when you first switched to 16.... has the razor always been sub-par or did that develop more recently?

Hello Lynn,
I am not talking out of personal experience,
because I did not come across a Dovo Inox yet,
but I had some vintage razors that got a little microchipping from the GS 16k.
Those were not there before (at Superstone 8k level) and dis- and reappeared after repeating the 8k -> 16k process. I think some razors just don´t like the ultrafine finishers.
I had a little chat with some german fellars
who experienced something similar.
The microchipping looked like little "u" formed nicks in the edge
and could be seen in 30-60 magnification.
It could of course very well be my honing...


I agree that GS 16k honed razors do benefit from a little and gentle stropping.
I particularly use 0.09µm Ironoxide round in shape from Kremer-Pigmente* here in germany after fine hones like this.
I dunno if it´s really 0.1µ but it´s defenitely finer than CrOx
or let´s put it this way, the shave is smoother. Nothing near harsh

You have much more experince than I have, can I ask you something?
Would you say nearly every razor is fit for a Naniwa 12k or Shapton 16k (or equal) finish,
if the preperation on the previous hones has been done properly?
Or would you say some steel types/properties just don´t fit the overly fine hones we use?
(or did you referr to dovo only?)

*http://www.kremer-pigmente.de/shopin...iles/48100.pdf
Pigment Pr 101

Originally Posted by Lesslemming

I had some vintage razors that got a little microchipping from the GS 16k.
Those were not there before (at Superstone 8k level) and dis- and reappeared after repeating the 8k -> 16k process. I think some razors just don´t like the ultrafine finishers.

Could it be over honing ? With the exception with a few when bevel setting on a 1200 DMT I haven't noticed that phenomenon with either HC or SS razors.

Nor have I experienced this with the Dovo #41 SS
razors I have honed on the Shapton 16k.

- Scott

Originally Posted by Lesslemming

Hello Lynn,

You have much more experince than I have, can I ask you something?
Would you say nearly every razor is fit for a Naniwa 12k or Shapton 16k (or equal) finish,
if the preperation on the previous hones has been done properly?
Or would you say some steel types/properties just don´t fit the overly fine hones we use?
(or did you referr to dovo only?)

*http://www.kremer-pigmente.de/shopin...iles/48100.pdf
Pigment Pr 101

All I can tell you on this is that I hone razors every day for people from ebay specials to edge restorations to razors in decent shape needing to be brought back to shaving excellence and it is always very important to make sure the bevel is set correctly before you move up in your progression. Can a razor micro chip? Absolutely, but I do not find that this is something that happens on every razor. I can and does happen occasionally and there are a ton of reasons. When it does happen, I normally just drop back to the previous stone and go from there. I have found that both the Naniwa and Shaptons are very consistent stones when it comes to results. Actually so is a Coticule, Escher and the Japanese natural stones I have used to date. It really boils down to preference. Once you hone even one razor for yourself and have repeatable results you typically develop those preferences. Preferences can change though as you try more stones and other media.

Lynn

Great Thread !

I test shave off of the 8k sans stropping and usually go to the 12k if I have time. I dont mind a full shave fresh off of the 8k norton without stropping. I figure by the time the edge needs a refresher, I'll end up on a high grit stone anyways. That way, the edge seems to get smoother and smoother ... like an optical illusion or something.

I'm on board with the Jimmy, gssixgun, Lynn crew. To me, their advice summated in this thread is solid and concise.

I've either found it myself or listened to their advice stated in this thread.

Either way, it is fundamentally sound.

Here is one fact that always come back to stare you down when honing....

You can blame the razor, you can blame the hone, you can blame the previous owner of the razor, there are tons of things you can blame, but given sound steel (carbon, Dami, or SS) ultimately you have to blame yourself....

I find it quite humorous that the better you get at honing/shaving the more you blame yourself, and the less you blame the equipment...


Bad razors are bad razors of course....but the better you get the less there seem to be

Glen,

My defensive position always has been, "It's a good craftsman indeed who knows when to blame the tools."