Thread: Felt + Diamond spray = Ruined my edge!

Originally Posted by pdube1

Ok, so from all your comments it's probably because I have suddenly lost all my abilities on honing and stropping my razor when I got the bridle ;-)

Seriously, I will take all your advice into consideration and try to get my razor like it was before. I will let you know about my findings when I will have "Fixed" my issue.
Thanks.

Actually, I wouldn't take it that way. If you look at Lynn's post he is pointing out that you were probably right in your original assessment. While you certainly didn't "ruin" your edge with the diamond spray/felt the tool was misapplied slightly. You went past the optimal point and the edge suffered.

I only hone enough to keep my own razors where I want them, but I have noticed this problem with other finishing media (although not with the spray/felt). With my Shapton 30K the edge will get to a point where it is super sharp and then, two strokes later, it's gone. I almost couldn't believe it the first time it happened, but since then I have proved it to myself a few times.

Nothing wrong with the tools or, probably, your technique. This is just one of those experience points that you gain the more you work with this stuff. I'm pretty sure that Lynn didn't work out the solution to the problem because he was looking for something to do. Early on he worked out how far was "too far" on the sprayed strop and in the process learned what had to be done to get the edge back.

Okay. Your first post:

Originally Posted by pdube1

I got my english bridle last week and I also tried the felt with Diamond spray. Before my felt rest all night to get dry, I tried my english bridle and it worked great. My razor was scary sharp.

And your last:

Originally Posted by pdube1

Ok, so from all your comments it's probably because I have suddenly lost all my abilities on honing and stropping my razor when I got the bridle ;-)

In between, there is a lot of oscillating between "it's the razor", "it's the spray", "it's the felt", and "it's me".

So, what do we have?

1. shave ready razor
2. good quality working strop
3. high quality new strop
4. felt strop
5. diamond spray
6. you.

A perfect setup, mostly. So where could things have gone wrong?

1. With the amount of experience and skills in honing and stropping you claim, there is no way to bring a razor from shave ready to dull. I just tried for the fun of it. The diamond spray is aggressive, but not that aggressive.
2. A strop is a strop. While recently, a strop madness has broken out amongst certain members from the younger generation, the difference between your old and new strops is subtle. The handling is not, and while you claim to have mastered the extra length and width over night, your razor may think otherwise.
3. The felt strop is tricky to get right. I had to flip one side because there was too much diamond spray on it. Only experience will let you get that part right.

Looks like a layer 8 problem to me. Might be best if you sit back, relax, rehone, and enjoy the Premium IV. Because it is a fantastic strop.

Good luck, and best regards,
Robin

I use 0.25 micron diamond on felt after the Naniwa 12K. The diamond sharpens the blade very rapidly. But, it passes the sweet spot of max sharpness quite quickly, and the blade becomes duller with more stropping. Some razors this point of max sharpness is 5 passes, and with others more. It is hard to predict.

I use the HHT a lot to judge when to stop stropping on felt with diamond. It comes off the 12K and I try to cut hair. Usually, it does not. But, no matter, for I am watching the way the hair vibrates more than whether the hair is cut. After awhile, the vibration has become a fairly effective "meter" by which to judge where the blade is, and how much more to strop on diamond. The most important point is that it gives me approximate ability to know when to stop stropping on felt with diamond.

Are we sure that the "vibrating" hair is not actually trembling in terror?