Self honing razor

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10-13-2009, 12:49 PM
dennisthemenace

Self honing razor

OK, here it is. I haven't shaved w/ a regular straight in months! My honing skills are negligible. Last time I honed my 4 straights they seemed to be duller than when I started & I cut a chunk out of my thumb! So I've been using DE's, SE & Injector mainly. Also a Monsieur Charles injector blade barber's straight razor.
Anyway, on a whim I got out my Henckels 78 1/2 round point, gave it a good stropping, & it shaved like a dream. It got sharper just sitting for a good long time in it's cigar box. An old timer in a barber supply store where I bought my first straight 30 odd yrs ago told me that sometimes just letting them sit for awhile would improve the edge. It seems he was right. Now I'll have to try the other 3 & see if they have improved as well.
10-13-2009, 12:52 PM
Slartibartfast

Could it be that your stropping improved. Or your beard prep and technique improved?
10-13-2009, 12:57 PM
JonnyBoy

I wish my razor would hone itself!
10-13-2009, 07:13 PM
radaddict

I suspect that elves are responsible for your sharp razor. :D
10-13-2009, 09:33 PM
dennisthemenace

Elves sound like the best explanation to me. Prep was nothing different. Stropping is something I've been doing for nearly 40 yrs, no improvement there. Yes, elves.
10-13-2009, 09:57 PM
Bunny

i herd that once before to letting your blades "rest" lets the steel harden after shaving/honeing/stroping. that may be why most people have more than one razor in a rotation to give them time to rest.

here is another thread i saw once talking about it:
http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ing-razor.html
10-13-2009, 10:25 PM
kevbell

Maybe it's those Indiana Autumns!

Kev
10-13-2009, 10:57 PM
DPflaumer

More Indiana folk? We need a club!
10-13-2009, 11:41 PM
JimR

Do you live in a pyramid? That'll do it, every time!
10-14-2009, 03:14 PM
kevbell

Quote:

Originally Posted by DPflaumer

More Indiana folk? We need a club!

Careful. Clubs may lead to get togethers. And God knows Indiana, lower Michigan certainly don't need one of those! :)

Kev.
10-14-2009, 08:32 PM
eagle

I have no idea what to attribute this phenomenon to but I will swear that I have observed the same behavior. I will generally pick one of my razors and shave with it for a long time. When I become tired of trying to hone it to a nice edge (my honing skills lack something that I've never been able to pinpoint), I will switch back to another razor and notice that it shaves much better than when I left off with it.:shrug:
10-14-2009, 09:12 PM
59caddy

where can i find me some of them honing elves or gremlins? i could really use them.:D
10-14-2009, 09:51 PM
honedright

I'm guessing that...before opening the cigar box the razor was neither sharp or dull.
10-14-2009, 09:55 PM
hoglahoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by honedright

I'm guessing that...before opening the cigar box the razor was neither sharp or dull.

I'll argue that the razor was both sharp and dull until observed coming out of the box
10-15-2009, 03:19 AM
honedright

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I'll argue that the razor was both sharp and dull until observed coming out of the box

Consider me effectively entangled :aargh:
10-15-2009, 03:38 AM
JimR

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I'll argue that the razor was both sharp and dull until observed coming out of the box

Here's my question, shifu...can one determine which way the wavefront collapses? Meaning, upon taking the razor out of the box, using the power of will can we DECIDE if the razor is sharp or dull?
10-15-2009, 05:12 AM
hoglahoo

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimR

Here's my question, shifu...can one determine which way the wavefront collapses? Meaning, upon taking the razor out of the box, using the power of will can we DECIDE if the razor is sharp or dull?

You may wish for an apple or an orange, but you will still get a peach ;)
10-17-2009, 03:14 AM
Pabster

The micro fins dry out and straighten out for the next use. I am not sure how long this take, but guessing 24 - 36 hours.

Pabster
10-17-2009, 10:53 AM
Blade Wielder

I remember seeing an episode of Bewitched when I was little where Samantha's daughter was given a "wishing box" for her birthday. Whatever she thought of, they told her, would magically appear in the box upon opening it. It's my belief that you possess one of these boxes and that you unwittingly discovered its powers. I suggest you wish for a box that is just like it, but only slightly smaller so that it can be removed from the original. Continue creating more and more boxes in this fashion and then sell them on eBay. :)
10-17-2009, 12:45 PM
ursus

Ah, A whodunnit mystery.
Maybe it was the Schroedinger's cat who dun sharpened the razor? Subcrontracted by the elves, of course.
10-18-2009, 01:11 AM
JonnyBoy

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoglahoo

I'll argue that the razor was both sharp and dull until observed coming out of the box

And the cats guts are both splattered all over the inside of the box, and sitting safely inside its abdomen.

:shrug:
10-19-2009, 01:17 AM
elbonator

This may have been mentioned already but this is an observed phenomenon. Rust is the culprit according to the Dovo site. The steel at the edge gets a micro-coating of rust that comes off when you strop the razor. This increases the blade's keenness.

Regards,
EL
01-04-2010, 08:28 AM
dennisthemenace

Well now I've shaved several times w/ all four of my regular straights; and all have experienced the phenomena of my original post. They've all had their edges improved it seems to me just sitting in the box & developing that microscopic rust, I reckon. Anyway, whatever it is, I'm very happy about it and reaping the benefits! So to speak.