Thread: Edge and Polishing compounds

I have a SR that was professionally hone to a nice shaving edge. Yesterday I did some polishing/buffing using white compound and a buffing wheel and the razor looks fantastic. Unfortunately, it seems to have lost some of its recently honed edge. Is this possible?

Thanks.

Originally Posted by Razorthin

I have a SR that was professionally hone to a nice shaving edge. Yesterday I did some polishing/buffing using white compound and a buffing wheel and the razor looks fantastic. Unfortunately, it seems to have lost some of its recently honed edge. Is this possible?

Thanks.

Hi there

That is exactly what would happen. Buffing removes steel, and the edge of a razor is extremely fine and fragile.
You will have to have your razor re-honed to have it shave ready again.

+1 carl. Never buff a honed blade unless you are going to rehone it after. The wheel will hit the edge and put little chips in it and/or just completely dull it all together. Honing is always last on the list. If you want to do this again, just use some metal polish and a rag, then you should be able to take it to a 5, 6, or 8k resharpen with 5-10 laps, then your finisher before restroping.

That is what I was suspecting. Thanks for the replies. I am constantly learning something new in this art.

Been there done that. Without seeing the edge if it was pro honed there is probably still a nice bevel still there and really just need touching up.

Honed by Lynn Abrams about 2 weeks ago.

If you bought it from SRD they do give one free rehone. Or you may try someone local to inspect and touch up. If it was honed by Lynn its got a good bevel. You may even try some diamond spray on your canvas or felt strop...hopefully you have a strop. White compound does have some cutting action in it but not like emery or for that matter greaseless.

The diamond is mainly a med/light buffing compound. A bit more coarse than what you use on your car's paint...Kinda like swirl remover, It will remove very fine surface scratches w/ a bit of polishing action as well; that's why it works so well to buff out finishes, g10, dymondwood, and acrylics after sanding up to 1k grit and up.

No, it was honed by Lynn but it was purchased at an antique shop. It is a 4/8 Royal Keen Kutter.

I have a CrOx balsa strop, a canvas strop and a leather strop. I also have 6 k, 8 k and 12 K stones.

Sweet..try stropping it a few times on CrOx and then on the leather and see what you get. If that doesn't do it try a few Xstrokes on 12k.