What I learned today

I always dull the toe on a spike or square razor. So, after honing up a vintage Genco, I ran the tip down the side of a Norton at 45degrees five or six times.

A few minutes into the shave I was getting tiny nicks here and there where the point was passing. I looked at it, and the spike was not rounded. I realized I had dulled it on the side of a 4k norton, not my 1k, which is the usual practice, and the point was still sharp. Used the 1k, no further problems.

Except, I was getting tiny cuts, this time from the heel. Then I remembered I had noticed an unusual squared off heel to this razor when I first examined it. I had meant to round this off as well, but had forgotten. Back to the 1k.

This was my first time rounding a heel. A little awkward, given the tang and scales, and I ended up running about a quarter inch of the bevel on the heel across the stone, enough to dull it as well. So I'll need to start from scratch.

Five or six tiny cuts and a half hour of honing down the tubes. All because I was not paying attention. Losing focus can mess you up before the shave just as surely as during it.

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Originally Posted by pcb01

Five or six tiny cuts and a half hour of honing down the tubes. All because I was not paying attention. Losing focus can mess you up before the shave just as surely as during it.

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Sounds like it might have been a good day for a trusty DE instead.....:w

I do hear a lot about guys rounding off spike points. I don't really see the point IMO, they just require a little extra care and attention (which is what it takes to shave with a straight anyway).

It seems to be a real matter of preferance with the spike points. I love my spikes because it's real easy to do detail work around my goatee with them. Like Ryan said it just takes a little extra care.

If you don't like a spike don't buy one. To me if you have one you just learn to use it. Rounding the edge alters the razor and can lower it's value if you plan on selling it at some future date.

Guys,
I only hope that I get as good at shaving with a straight razor some day so that I too can discuss the nuances of shaving with a squared off spike point razor--for now they scare the heck out of me. I think I'd cut an ear off with one of those things. However, they are very cool looking.

Once you give yourself a good cut with a spike, you'll really start paying attention. At least, that's what it took for me. I was doing fine, shaving normally, got a little ****y and wwhhhammmoh, right in the cheek. That was it. I like the spikes that I have, and each time I pick one up, I make sure I've already had a couple sips of coffee.

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Originally Posted by thebigspendur

If you don't like a spike don't buy one. To me if you have one you just learn to use it. Rounding the edge alters the razor and can lower it's value if you plan on selling it at some future date.

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Legitimate observation, and I respect it.

When I started looking at and buying razors, I was attracted to many with squared points. I'm thin, and there are a lot of hollow areas in my face. I tried to shave with the square points and, careful as I tried to be, I could not get a close enough shave with them: scooping into the hollow areas was, for me, impossible without digging the point into the skin. Using the heel to shave in those areas didn't get into the hollows -- the geometry just didn't work.

So, for me, neutering the edge slightly allowed me to keep these lovely razors, and use them on my face effectively.

If anyone has specific reccommendations on how to shave effectively with a square point under these conditions, please pass them on.

As far as value goes, it's a moot point for me. I've bought maybe a hundred straights over the past years, and sold none of them. I hone and refurbish until it's about perfect for me, then move on to the next one and make it right for my face and my tastes.

Most of my razors are old and probably of no value or interest to anyone but me. Most of them have been "altered" markedly already.

My two choices are on this page, either a Chinese 12k or a BBW?

Razor Hones

Which should I pick? I know you might be reluctant to make the choice for me but I really don't know

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Originally Posted by tree1

My two choices are on this page, either a Chinese 12k or a BBW?

Razor Hones

Which should I pick? I know you might be reluctant to make the choice for me but I really don't know

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Did you mean to ask this in another thread?

Sorry, it just seems a little out of place in here. If you'd like me to move it to a different or new thread, let me know because I think you'd get more visibility on this question in the honing forums.