Thread: Sharpness test

Originally Posted by Lynn

I would not have expected any different results than you are describing.

On your first razor, you have gotten two months on it and considering that you learned to shave and strop on it as a beginner, I would say job well done. I would certainly expect the second razor to shave better at this point and you are enjoying the benefit of everything learned up till now to boot.

For a touch up, I would recommend 10 X strokes on either a .5 diamond product or CrOx and then 50-60 strokes on leather followed by a test shave before I would take the razor back to a hone.

Have fun,

Lynn

Please excuse the ignorance Lynn but is the "CrOx" the same as the green paste on the back side of my Philly strop?

Originally Posted by volleykinginnc

Please excuse the ignorance Lynn but is the "CrOx" the same as the green paste on the back side of my Philly strop?

Yes, the CrOx is green chromium oxide.

Two months and not pulling or uncomfortable is good, esp. if you are a newbie at straight shaving. I'd not go to the 8k, but use a barber hone, pasted strop, or something like the Naniwa 12K, if that. If it shaves comfortably, just not quite as close as newly-honed, I'd just strop and keep shaving unless I stopped liking the shave.

A barber hone or fast 12K can be helpful.

Originally Posted by volleykinginnc

Ok try to follow me on this....I am a newbie and I have two identical razors both of which I bought shave ready. I have kept one to shave with and the other to compare. I have been shaving around 2 months now and even though I have no tugging or pulling out of my shaver I decided on a whim to try the other to see how it compared. I had a much much much closer shave on the one that I hadn't used.

This leads me to the conclusion that I (as expected) have dulled the other razor most likely due to crappy stropping or some other nonsense.

My question is this....how do I know when a razor is in need of a touch up if I don't experience tugging or pulling? I know the obvious is...duuuh...when you are no longer getting close shaves but this is all in relative terms....that is how close is close?

Second question...I have the 4/8 Norton combo...would I be best served just to swipe it a couple of times on the 8 then try a again or do I need to go to the pyramid laid out in the honing Wiki?
Thoughts?

Every time you use a straight you are dulling it a tad and eventually it will stop shaving however if you use the same razor day in and day out often times the deterioration is so slow you don't realize it. It's only when you go to another razor you realize the difference. I find often times the first thing to go is the comfort factor or if I have a 2 or 3 day growth the shave is decidedly uncomfortable meaning it's time to hone.

If you catch it before it goes too far south a pasted strop or high grit hone will fix it but if the edge gets chewed up with micro chips or folds in the edge you might have to go back to lower grits to correct it and might have to reset the bevel if it's bad enough.

This is not a fool proof test !!!!!


Hold the razor so you can sight down the very edge against a BIGHT light source (the Sun is good)
If you can see bright spots (blunting) you need a hone, if there are no bright spots, a pasted strop might do the trick...

Again please don't use this as gospel it is just a trick that works pretty good...


Blunting = anything that folds or dulls the edge, this ties into what TBS said above, everyday use can cause this...

I would be more at ease giving it about 3 or 4 strokes on 10 to 12k hone and see what you get. The fact that is not pulling but still cuting wiskers tells me that you may have rounded the edge while stropping. Remember, it is easy to over hone, so go with caution.
Have a great day and plesent shaving. Best Regards, wildhog

Originally Posted by LawsonStone

I'd not go to the 8k, but use a barber hone, pasted strop, or something like the Naniwa 12K, if that. If it shaves comfortably, just not quite as close as newly-honed, I'd just strop and keep shaving unless I stopped liking the shave.

A barber hone or fast 12K can be helpful.

Originally Posted by wildhog

I would be more at ease giving it about 3 or 4 strokes on 10 to 12k hone and see what you get.

I agree with both of these posts except for one thing. What he HAS is an 8k. That's why I recommended what he can do with what he has.

Yes the higher grit hones are nice, but if you use it right, you can get a perfectly good shave off of the 8k and nothing more.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I agree with both of these posts except for one thing. What he HAS is an 8k. That's why I recommended what he can do with what he has.

Yes the higher grit hones are nice, but if you use it right, you can get a perfectly good shave off of the 8k and nothing more.

What he said! High grit stones are nice-to-have, not need-to-have. Listen to Lynn, Glen, etc. If they (who have been doing this a looooong time) tell you you don't need the fancy toys for a good shave, believe it. HAD is one thing (and perfectly understandable!), but in general, expensive finishers are not absolutely essential. They're just nice. Nothing more.