Thread: Tips from the guys who like small blades...

I have had good shaves with small blades and vice versa. Henckels are good blades usually. Maybe it was not ready for the Guanxi hone yet? It may just need some more honing, starting with a lower grit size and working your way up the grit ladder.

I have the same issue with a Henckels, it's so small and light, I think I'm not honing it correctly, they are great shavers according to everyone here, but I can't get mine perfect, have only tried once to hone it, I should try gain later today

I can't say I do anything differently when I shave with a smaller blade. I often go from a 6/8 blade to a 4/8 or 9/16 the next day and get a great shave every time with no appreciable change in technique. In fact, I think my overall best razor is my little Globusmen #37 4/8 which has given me a fantastic shave every single time I've used it and has never cut me, or caused me any problems at all. It also gives me no problems while honing and if I could get another one I'd leap at the chance.

Might be what Kees said, OTOH, thinking about the difference between a full hollow 4/8 and what I assume is a 1/2 hollow .... being it is a Sheffield I think the weight and stiffness of the blade may have made a difference. As you mentioned the smaller blade is easily maneuvered but the larger Sheffield has more momentum and probably no flex.

I think the Henckels is not sharp enough yet. The Platinum is a superb shaver when the edge is right.

Thanks for all the comments and suggestions. I have taken it back to the hones. Starting at 15 strokes on the 4k/8k Nortons, I ran through the pyramids. I think took it to the Guanxi Stone for about 100 laps. 50 passes on the leather strop. Guess I will need to wait a couple days to get some reasonable growth to try a shave test.

I hope it was the fact that it wasn't sharp enough. I really like the feel of the Platinum in my hands and the ease in which I can get to those hard to reach places.

I am worried about it being too light, though I don't think I necessarily have a heavy beard compared to most on here. That said, I still think the jumping and skipping would decrease if the blade was heavier. I guess I just need to get this thing REALLY sharp so weight doesn't matter.