Comment on Thursday SOTD Thread - Oct 05, 2023
djundjila@sub.wetshaving.social 11 months ago
Fifth Day of TabOKtoberfest
- Brush: Dogwood Handcrafts Tabak Oridjinal
- Razor: Heljestrand MK N° 10
- Lather: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original
- Post Shave: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original
- Fragrance: Mäurer & Wirtz – Tabac Original
I refreshed the edge on this Heljestrand using the same method (trailing strokes only, deburring on a loaded canvas strop, followed by normal stropping) that magically transformed my Bismarck into a smooth implement of face pampering, but this edge feels tuggy by comparison. Back to the hone and hopefully a better edge tomorrow.
Stank++;
gcgallant@sub.wetshaving.social 11 months ago
Once you get the refresh right, it transforms the razor. My MK No 10 is returning to me today or tomorrow. I’ll refresh it and let you know how it turns out.
djundjila@sub.wetshaving.social 11 months ago
You were right. My current struggle is that I know I can get a sharp edge, but I’m struggling with knowing when I got there. Short of shaving with a new edge, I don’t know how to reliably check whether it’s ready.
Something to figure out 🙂
gcgallant@sub.wetshaving.social 11 months ago
Here’s some info for you to consider. The coarsest stone you use (3K in your case) should do all of the shaping. These means that the edge coming off that stone should be a finished edge, geometrically. Cut tests off of this stone are very important. It should cut like a finished edge. A finished edge will be more refined, and will provide a smoother cut, but only by a little bit.
I stopped using hair to test edges many years ago. Of course, a standard for testing is tomatoes or grapes, but you need to have them on hand, and there is variation in ripeness to deal with. About a 6 months ago I ran out of the paper I test with and moved to polystyrene packing peanuts. Polystyrene peanuts (not the “nicer” biodegradable packing peanut) have a “skin” and an internal cell structure. You need to develop a feel for this, but push-cutting polystyrene peanuts turns out to be a good method to test. When an edge is too dull, the peanut will offer resistance to the push-cut and will make a sound when you break the surface. When the edge is sharp enough it passes through the surface without a sound and with almost no effort. When the edge is ultra-sharp, it passes through the skin as if melting through it; an amazing feeling. I expect my coarse stone my edges to break the surface soundlessly with almost no effort, and my final edges to have that “melting-through” level. And, I sample test at 4 or 5 places along the edge from head to toe.
PorkButtsNTaters666@sub.wetshaving.social 11 months ago
Good advice! I spent some time yesterday honing my Parker, and ran out of hair on my arms and lower legs (yes, I completely failed, and then I had to abandon). I’ll try again next weekend.
djundjila@sub.wetshaving.social 11 months ago
Thanks for the advice! I’ll get myself some packing peanuts and report back 🫡