Thread: Smooth Vs. Sharp

Originally Posted by Steel

I get what you are trying to say glen but I think a serrated knife compared to a razor is apples to oranges.

Nope dead on comparison

You have to smooth them up from 2 directions

The sides of the bevel get smooth, and you eliminate the deeper Striations
Hopefully at the same time you are eliminating the un-even jaggedness of the very top of the sub-micron edge

When all that is smooth and even as possible you get a "Smooth" edge on your face.. It even accounts for the J-nat Haze and the Coticule Scratches...



Knife




Razor




The only thing difficult about honing is adjusting the pressure and stroke to accomplish what you need the steel to do.. The rest is simple and straight forward

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Nope dead on comparison

You have to smooth them up from 2 directions

The bevel gets smooth and you eliminate the deeper Striations
Hopefully at the same time you are eliminating the un-even jaggedness of the very top of the sub-micron edge

When all that is smooth and even you get a "Smooth" edge on your face


Knife




Razor




The only thing difficult about honing is adjusting the pressure and stroke to accomplish what you need the steel to do.. The rest is simple and straight forward

If you have ever looked at an edge under 500X (and we all have) you would swear that the edge would be harsh and uncomfortable but it's not. Can you have sharp and not smooth? Sure but you can't have smooth without sharp unless you would compare it to shaving with a butter knife. Which isn't shaving at all.

Originally Posted by Steel

If you have ever looked at an edge under 500X (and we all have) you would swear that the edge would be harsh and uncomfortable but it's not. Can you have sharp and not smooth? Sure but you can't have smooth without sharp unless you would compare it to shaving with a butter knife. Which isn't shaving at all.

Nobody ever said that,,, and if they did they should step away from the hones so nobody gets hurt

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Nobody ever said that,,, and if they did they should step away from the hones so nobody gets hurt

Lol. How do you explain a smooth and comfortable shave with an edge that has micro chipping?

Originally Posted by Steel

Lol. How do you explain a smooth and comfortable shave with an edge that has micro chipping?

I don't, there is no doubt at all that without those chips the shave would be better


However, one simple fact here

The better you are at "Shaving" the less critical the edge becomes, but a smoother, sharper, more even edge would would still always improve the feel..

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I don't, there is no doubt at all that without those chips the shave would be better


However, one simple fact here

The better you are at "Shaving" the less critical the edge becomes, but a smoother, sharper, more even edge would would still always improve the feel..

I did remove the micro chipping and didn't notice a difference at all. Yes technique matters.

Glen, I read our conversation again and I am clearly tired and not doing a good job explaining myself. You may very well be right. Stranger things have happened. I am sure what you are saying makes perfect sense to you. I just don't see it. Maybe someday down the road I will. I just don't think my face can feel that micro of a difference and am more inclined to think it is the blade ever so slightly tugging and pulling the hair that causes a "rough" shave. Maybe somehow we are both right.

One thing we can both agree on though is "Don't shave with a steak knife".

Good Night everyone

Originally Posted by Steel

I did remove the micro chipping and didn't notice a difference at all. Yes technique matters.

I can remember 2 Pumas that shaved the same but one had the nice smooth looking edge & the other did not. It's the only time I've felt this in decades of honing & shaving. They were finished on the same Jnat.
I wonder if the stone makes a difference & maybe the steel. I dunno, maybe if I pushed a 6 pass shave the raggedy edge looking one would have been less comfortable but for a normal 3 pass they were identical to me. I just accepted this one case as an exception to the rule.