Thread: Is there a break in period after honing?

So i just got done honing with the unicot method. My razors are definitely sharp enough to shave with, but they felt very... coarse i guess is the word. They took lasered right through my stubble but it felt like they were a bit rough. like the edge maybe wasn't smooth enough. Should i take them back to the hones? or do i just need to strop them more to smooth out the edge? I already know my technique is lacking a bit but i can get a good shave with my daily shaver. So i'm just kind of wandering if any one notices that your shaves get a bit better after they've been away from the hones for a bit?

I'm not a world class honemeister, but just of the hones and a few strops on leather should be the sharpest your razor gets. Sounds like you are close...be patient and try again.

Many would say that the first shave after the hones is not as nice as subsequent shaves. I don't necessarily think that's the rule, but I have experienced that sensation before. Give it a few shaves to see if stropping makes for a more comfortable edge.

I've had similar experience as well. I started to double my laps on the strop from what I usually do the first time off the hones. Instead of my usual 30 fabric/50 leather, I do 30/100. It seems to smooth it out enough for that first shave.

I'm no expert but I would think that it might help for you to go to a strop impregnated with CrOx or a diamond abrasive. While I don't have much experience honing I would think that you may have reached the limit that that particular stone can provide. You have found it to be plenty sharp but not as "smooth" as you would like. I would imagine a felt strop with a fine abrasive would help you to smooth out the edge given you a more comfortable shave, or you could just strop the hell out of it on regular fabric and leather as that should smooth it out though I imagine the process will take longer.

I do not think you are quite there. Sharp but not smooth is not something you here too often with coticules. I would guess it is sharp enough to remove hair, but not quite shave sharp yet.

{QUOTE]Is there a break in period after honing?[/QUOTE]
Yes..
sometimes the edge improves sometimes not.

Originally Posted by Iownagibson

So i just got done honing with the unicot method. My razors are definitely sharp enough to shave with, but they felt very... coarse i guess is the word. They took lasered right through my stubble but it felt like they were a bit rough. like the edge maybe wasn't smooth enough. Should i take them back to the hones? or do i just need to strop them more to smooth out the edge? I already know my technique is lacking a bit but i can get a good shave with my daily shaver. So i'm just kind of wandering if any one notices that your shaves get a bit better after they've been away from the hones for a bit?

unicot method..
That tells me that you are a coti user. You may wish to experiment
with the method. Now that the razor is sharp you have the opportunity
to experiment with how to maintain it. I would lightly rub your coti
and use it like a barber hone with only five to ten strokes. You do
not want to think slurry you want to think rub the tops off the five
biggest garnets that might poke up.

CrOx on balsa or canvas is good. The submicron modern sprays
or a light application of paste can help an edge shave smoother.
Reserve an old or inexpensive strop for this purpose. News
paper, and cotton denim are inexpensive and handy to this end.

Strop smooth -- no pressure. The shave is made or lost on the strop.

Originally Posted by niftyshaving

Strop smooth -- no pressure. The shave is made or lost on the strop.

I concur 100%

After I get done on the stones, I only strop around 10x to "check" the razor as to smoothness and sharpness. This is normally a wtg pass on the face (not neck) to use as a barometer. If it's not right I set it aside & take it back to the stones. The "right" and "wrong" is a learned feeling. If it's wrong, back to the stones. A lot of stropping will literally hide many issues of a razor directly off the stones, this is why I only lightly strop after honing. If a razor is "right", I then strop 10x on .5 micron diamond sprayed hard felt, 10x on .5 micron diamond sprayed leather, then 60x on leather. I then finish the shave. I use three passes: wtg, xtg, atg. If the razor gives a good shave, then I honed it correctly. This is what works for me no matter if it's a customers razor or my own...albeit bits and pieces are tried and true methods of some of the top honemeisters...

Believe it or not I read a ton of forums and posts about honing

Many Coticule only guys report that their best edges do not appear until after a heavy bout with the linen, then the leather ... almost a double hit of linen compared to the normal... so more like 50/50 or 100/100

Most people strop an 25/50 or a 50/100 Linen/Leather so try bringing the linen count up first as that seems to be a normal thing after using the "Cot" Techniques...

Please note that the lap numbers given are just for demonstration purposes your numbers may vary