Thread: .25 Diamond on Hard Pressed Wool Felt

Good timeing for this as I just received some 0.25 micron spray with an order from SRP and tried a shave this morninng for the first time.

I took a well shaving Filarmonica 13 finished on my SG 20K stone and treated with 10 laps of 0.25 on an extra felt pad for my modular paddle strop followed by 30 webbing and 100 leather. The blade was HHT 4-5 across its length and the shave was remarkably smooth and easy on my face. I'm happy enough to try it on another blade for tomorrow.

I know that Bayamonte finishes this way after his JNAT honing (at least sometimes) and his edges have been the best I've used. That's what prompted me to buy the spray.

Originally Posted by GC7

Good timeing for this as I just received some 0.25 micron spray with an order from SRP and tried a shave this morninng for the first time.

I took a well shaving Filarmonica 13 finished on my SG 20K stone and treated with 10 laps of 0.25 on an extra felt pad for my modular paddle strop followed by 30 webbing and 100 leather. The blade was HHT 4-5 across its length and the shave was remarkably smooth and easy on my face. I'm happy enough to try it on another blade for tomorrow.

I know that Bayamonte finishes this way after his JNAT honing (at least sometimes) and his edges have been the best I've used. That's what prompted me to buy the spray.

That's encouraging!

I really need to get a > 12k finishing stone. Reading the story provided on page one has me wanting to do a single lap on a fine stone after the .25. Somehow I imagine that stone to be non-synthetic. Something very glass like. Maybe a very well polished Ark?

In the mean time I'll just play with what I have.

I used to hate diamond or any sprays and pastes. Tried it again tonight and was rather pleased. Where'd you get the hard felt?

This morning I tried the 0.25 micron spray on an old restored W & B near full wedge to contrast the extra hollow ground Fillarmonica and I've never had a smoother easier shave with that razor. I'm quite pleased. Now this all could be due to how relatively poor I am using my stones but the results for me are what they are- a step above what I had been experiencing.

Hope your results are equally pleasing.

Hi Geoff I too have experienced great results using paste/spray.
See u aug 10 at the meet up. Roast some coffee please

Sam - I will be there ready to learn. Coffee will be freshly roasted as usual. Make a request for origin and I'll do my best to drag it out of my stash of green beans.

So I just got to say... You got to love SRD! I mean I ordered on Sunday night - it's at my door this afternoon (Wednesday)!

Anyway, the felt feels way cool. Also feels like something you really don't want to get moist. I can't wait!!


I dare you to make fun of the Rose shaving cream lol!! The stuff is awesome!

** Report One **

So this last week I honed up my test razor - My Dovo Best. Thursday I shaved with it - and if I can say so myself, I got an incredible shave off of it.

I grew my beard a bit, and today I gave the razor a couple of passes on the .25 treated felt pre-shave... but the felt was so cool to strop on, I continued, and did about ten passes. Oops!

A little concerned about the amount of passes on the .25 felt I gave the blade, I excessively stropped the blade.

When I got to shaving, I thought I had dulled my blade on my strop as I did my first couple of passes. But I noted that the blade wasn't actually pulling. Moreover, my beard was popping off like a champ. This must be the keenness everyone talks about.

I couldn't handle any more though. So I hit the CrOx and then the leather to calm her down a bit. It helped - but man was it keen. Too keen. Uncomfortable really. No where near the smooth shave I got off the stones last Thursday.

I did one pass and called it a day. Sharp - yes. Uncomfortable - yes. Uncomfortable because of my loving the feel of the felt and running the blade over the .25 excessively me thinks!!

Conclusion:

I think I'll take the blade to my finishing stone tonight or tomorrow and try see how it feels tomorrow night. If it's a nice smooth shave like last Thursdays, I'll run it twice over the CrOx, and then once on the .25 before the leather (or in my case Roo lol) and see how it shaves.

I know I overdid it today. I really wanted to start slow and see what happened, but I kind of over did it when I discovered what a pleasure stropping on the felt was like lol. Stropping on felt really feels cool lol.

** Update 2 **

I took the above blade to my 8k. I did two strokes on my face. A year ago, I would have been estatic.

Ran it over 1 micron diamond (7 strokes), then on the CrOx (5 strokes) - shaved half my face. Much better. Smooth too.

Then I did two strokes on the .25 diamond. I noted quite the difference! Shocking really!

No burn after the shave on the alum. Though I did feel a little raw after.

The stuff works!! Remarkably well really. It'll be interesting to see if its smoother next shave.


There is nothing better in my mind than a good off the stones blade, but the pastes really can improve a lacking edge. Right now I would be tempted to stop at the CrOx, but there is much more to be explored! Right now I want to mix some 1 micron work some .25 and CrOx on one strop for kicks.

But I need to explore more with the .25

You may need to adjust your technique a little... Obviously..