Thread: Smoother Shave with Lower Grit?

Today I experienced something kinda weird in my opinion. Lately my Dovo 5/8 hollow has been feeling less comfortable than is acceptable by my standards. I couldn't figure out why, as I hone it the same way as the rest of my razors and at the same time. I thought back to when it started feeling this way, and all I could come up with is when I switched hones. ABout a two months ago I purchased a Shapton 16000 stone to compiment my Norton 4k/8k. I have a few wedges and a couple of other hollows, and I honed them all on the Norton and the Shapton. I found a noticible improvement on all my razors except my Dovo.
As such I tried a little experiment today, and took my Dovo back to the 8k. Didn't go to the Shapton, just stropped and shaved. To my suprise it felt smoother than when I was shaving of the 16k.
Has anyone else had a razor that seems to shave smoother off a lower grit, or does my Dovo just prefer a different kind of hone than a glass one?

When I was in the early learning process of honing and shaving with straight razors (still learning but later stage) I would pyramid on the Norton 4/8 and then go to a Swaty with water. Shortly after that I got a Shapton pro 15K and went with that instead of the Swaty.

I was getting some tips from Randydance on the phone and told him my routine. He suggested that I stop at the 8K level and test shave. If the razor needed to be tuned up a bit more go back to the 8k until it was shaving satisfactorily.

Only then go up in grit. So I do that with all that I hone now so that I know for sure that when I leave the 8k to move up in grit I've gotten all can at that level. I don't know if this applies to your particular situation with the Dovo but just thought I would mention it.You might find that this time around the Dovo is ready for the 16k and will shave better off of it then the last time around.

++1 on what Jimmy says. His simple explanation answers, again, the question that is asked quite often and that is what test is used to know you are ready to move on in the honing process. This is a perfect example of the only test to use and that is shaving with the razor itself. If it doesn't pass that test, it ain't ready. How simple is that? The only difference here is that Jimmy has given us a point to make that test to be sure, right after the 8k process. Thanks for the insight.

Ray

Too add to Jimmy's info.

Yes, I have experienced that. However, it was due to my improper technique than the hones. I was used to a duller razor that required more pressure to get a BBS out of. When I used the sharper razor, the additional pressure made the shave very harsh and I got razor burn.

That was a long time ago. I have never experienced the problem ever again.

8BallAce ~ Another possibility to add.
You say you hone your razors the same way at the same time. Do you allow for the fact that some razors need less honing than others? I 'm just wondering if you haven't overhoned it on the 16k then taken the wire edge off on the 8k hence making it seem "smoother".

Hey Jimmy , You a Buddy Guy fan ? "Stone crazy"

Originally Posted by onimaru55

8BallAce ~ Another possibility to add.
You say you hone your razors the same way at the same time. Do you allow for the fact that some razors need less honing than others? I 'm just wondering if you haven't overhoned it on the 16k then taken the wire edge off on the 8k hence making it seem "smoother".

Hey Jimmy , You a Buddy Guy fan ? "Stone crazy"

Sorry, I guess saying that I hone all my razors the same way is a little missleading. I do hone them all on my Norton 4k/8k, then move to my Shapton. However, I don't take the same amount of time per razor. I use the HHT as a benchmark after each grit before progressing to the next. Although my hollow razors all take roughly the same amount of passes to hone, I don't follow the exact number of passes with each.
However, I never considered that I may have put a wire edge on it before moving to the next grit, and simply caught a barb in the HHT.
As I said, the shave was once again comfortable after the 8k, and so I took jimmy's advice and tried to move up to the 16k tonight. I'll find out the results next shave.

As Leighton mentioned pressure is also a variable to consider. I can't think of many other possibilities but if you still have a problem maybe worth looking at the edge under magnification. Good luck with the shave.

Originally Posted by 8BallAce

Sorry, . However, I don't take the same amount of time per razor. I use the HHT as a benchmark after each grit before progressing to the next. Although my hollow razors all take roughly the same amount of passes to hone, I don't follow the exact number of passes with each.
However, I never considered that I may have put a wire edge on it before moving to the next grit, and simply caught a barb in the HHT.
As I said, the shave was once again comfortable after the 8k, and so I took jimmy's advice and tried to move up to the 16k tonight. I'll find out the results next shave.

This is not such a great idea, and here is why, if you're not overhoning already doing this, you are right on the edge of it....
Forget the HHT until after you strop the edge, right before the shave test, and get a test that you feel comfortable with, do the HHT the same way every single time as soon as you figure one out that then gives a good test shave....Just as an example I know that doing an HHT with my hair means nothing, but if right before the test shave I use the Wifey's baby fine hair and it just falls away, I know the shave test will 99 out of 100 go well....
At lower grits before stropping there is just way to much room for error on the HHT....

Also another great test of honing is the ZERO stropping test, try a test shave straight off the hone and see what you think, this can be very, very, humbling, many try this at the 8k stage but try it too after you pass the 16k....

Originally Posted by Leighton

Too add to Jimmy's info.

Yes, I have experienced that. However, it was due to my improper technique than the hones. I was used to a duller razor that required more pressure to get a BBS out of. When I used the sharper razor, the additional pressure made the shave very harsh and I got razor burn.

That was a long time ago. I have never experienced the problem ever again.

This statement makes not sense to me whatever. A dull razor will not give a smooth shave no matter how much pressure you put on it. Pressure at all when shaving is a no no.

It has been said for a long time that it is entirely possible to get good shaves off the 8K and many have done so and continue to do so. You can certainly refine an edge from here and many do that as well with the higher grits and or pastes/sprays.

Lynn

As of late, I have been finishing off my trazors on a DMT 3 micron plate (~8k), followed by maybe ten laps on a hanging CromOx strop. I've been loving the shaves!

Previously I'd progress to 0.5 micron (or maybe even further!), and I found the razors did start to feel quite a bit harsh. I backed off to finishing at 1 micron, and that felt better. Now I've backed off to 3um, and it feels quite comfy.

It may depend on face sensitivity, and shaving pressure, so everyone probably needs to find their own "sweet spot".