Here is some of the science that @walden@sub.wetshaving.social refers to:
- While the degree of keenness of the apex initiates the cut, the volume of material behind the apex determines how well an edge cuts. Simply put; the thinner the edge, the better it cuts. When you use two layers of tape, you are creating a wider edge and degrading the cutting ability of the razor.
- Shaving at a low angle (spine close to the skin), creates less skin irritation. If the edge is sliding across the skin, more of the cutting force is directed at cutting hair than at digging into and scraping the skin.
Most of us take a while to figure out how to get a BBS shave with no nicks or irritation from a straight razor. To get there takes a combination of a very slick lather, low shaving angle, and good control of the razor. It takes patience, but the payoff has been worth it for most of us. It is pretty rare (I’ve not seen it) that someone has a beard so tough that a straight razor edge is “broken down” by one shave. I suggest that you consider this may be more of a technique issue than a steel issue.
As for your stone progression, there’s nothing wrong with what you have. I provide sharpening of knives and razors as a service. If you want, I will hone your razors using Glass Stones on a similar progression to yours, but without tape. This will give you a baseline for your own efforts.
walden@wetshav.ing 3 days ago
Honing seems like half science and half “need lots of experience to be comfortable knowing what you’re doing”.
Are you only taking it up through 8k? People here always seem to recommend and use up through 12k. I only have a 10k which works great for me, but I haven’t experienced anything different.
CsXGF8uzUAOh6fqV@lemmy.world 3 days ago
Sorry, I wasn’t very clear. With 0.85 I mean the Shapton Glass Seven 0.85 micron stone. The 8k is about 1.8 micron and their 16k is 0.92 micron so this one would be 16k+ rated. But they don’t rate their “seven” stones with a K number.