Thread: Yes... another coticule...

Thank you all . Took The MK7 to the stone . Killed the edge first, gave it a try on the stone with water without any succes . No auto slurry ... Created slurry with another La Dressante but the cutting was very slow , too slow , so took it on my La Grosse Jaune which is cutting like hell . As soon as it shaved armhair I switched over to my La Veinette with slurry (dilucot) - then I finished on the La Dressante au Bleu under running water. Very glasslike , very similar to my La Dressante Upper layer . A nice HHT 3 direct from the stone , 30 laps on firehose , 30 on canvas , and 60 on leather I obtained a HHT 4. This is my first Hellestrand and I am astonished about the result : the shave was crisp , no hair was left after the first pass WTG , but did a three pass anyway. Finished with an alcohol based AS (Montblanc Legend) - Little to no sting ... This my first and only 5/8 " . I never thought a small 5/8' performs this well. Don't know how come ... Is it the Swedish steel ? Is it the stone ? Did I have a superb day when honing ? I will hone the Herder 77 in the very same way , so I will be able to judge.Will keep informed . Have a fine and save w-e y'all.

oh a supreme coticule edge on a nice Heljestrand? that is my go-to edge and I love it so much (heljestrand mk 4 and Le brick). Usually it just takes 25 passes on the stone or so for a touch up (sometimes I will go to the 5k when it needs a bit more). I will get a good 20-30 shaves out of the edge before I want to touch it up again

Originally Posted by bartds

This my first and only 5/8 " . I never thought a small 5/8' performs this well. Don't know how come ... Is it the Swedish steel ? Is it the stone ? Did I have a superb day when honing ?

A 5/8 will shave just as well as its bigger siblings. For some reason many love a larger razor, whether it is because the extra weight feels nicer in the hand or simply because it has the kudos factor. Either way a lager razor will not mean a better shave.

Originally Posted by markbignosekelly

A 5/8 will shave just as well as its bigger siblings. For some reason many love a larger razor, whether it is because the extra weight feels nicer in the hand or simply because it has the kudos factor. Either way a lager razor will not mean a better shave.

+1 to this... some of my best shavers are 4/8 and 5/8. But... the 3/8 I've tried have all ended up in the garbage bin.

Originally Posted by HungeJ0e

+1 to this... some of my best shavers are 4/8 and 5/8. But... the 3/8 I've tried have all ended up in the garbage bin.

Don't get me wrong I do appreciate a 7 or 8/8. A 7/8 is probably my favourite size but I'd be lying if I said they were any better than smaller razors, but yes a 4/8 is as small as I'd go.

Tested the Herder last night - Same progression on the stones, same HHT as the Heljestrand - (Although it took me much longer) - Test shave (3 pass) proved not that close as the Heljestrand . More mellow ... Not that crisp.Little to no sting afterwards (alcohol based AS) . So there should be a difference in steel ? I must admit that the little Heljestrand gives me the closest shave of all the razors I own - It is also my smallest in size and lightest in weight - Like Mark said , it has nothing to do with size or weight...

I don't know anything about Herder's specifically, but there are plenty of variables. Steel as you say, also the tempering. Then there is of course the grind and the bevel angle. My Wackers are very hard steel (or rather, I think the heat treatment they use is harder)... as are my stainless/INOX Dovos. In my little experience getting a keen edge on them is a different beast than softer steels.

Damn..... Nice stone!

Originally Posted by HungeJ0e

I don't know anything about Herder's specifically, but there are plenty of variables. Steel as you say, also the tempering. Then there is of course the grind and the bevel angle. My Wackers are very hard steel (or rather, I think the heat treatment they use is harder)... as are my stainless/INOX Dovos. In my little experience getting a keen edge on them is a different beast than softer steels.

Don't forget which side of your mouth your tounge sticks out.