Comment on Monday SOTD Thread, November 17th, 2025 (#888)
gcgallant@sub.wetshaving.social 5 days agoHephaestus
Well, that took me down a short rabbit hole. My first branch was on Hephaestus and the second one was on the mining done on Mount Etna. Though I’m certain there are veins of rock there with appropriate make up for sharpening, nobody seems to be pursuing this burgeoning market 😂
Wrt rabbit holes … As you may know, I’ve been testing edges with different types of stones for a little while now. With 14s, where overall geometry is consistent, my conclusions support my hypothesis. Given good shaving technique, and given a smooth, uniform, edge outline, shave quality is more about the razor’s bevel geometry than anything else. If an abrasive stone can refine an apex to the point it passes my sharpening test, the razor will shave well it its inherent geometry is good. It doesn’t really matter what stone you use. A thinner bevel volume cuts better than a thicker one - pretty much a truism. And, when you lock down bevel geometry, differences in edge feel from different stones are noticeable but subtle. The challenge with natural stones is in determining how to use them to meet edge-shaping standards.
djundjila@sub.wetshaving.social 5 days ago
That’s what I assumed until I got Pudding’s synth and jnat edges on otherwise identical razors, and the difference is bigger than I would have expected.
I don’t understand it, so my planned next step is to use the third identical razor I have and try to push my honing technique and try to get my synth edges close to the better one of Pudding’s. I’ve been procrastinating on the project though😅
gcgallant@sub.wetshaving.social 4 days ago
Of the two edges that Pudding sent you, the synthetic edge should have a bright mirror polish whereas the Jnat edge should be hazy. That hazy finish is a result of different particle abrasive sizes and the manner in which the binder carries those abrasives in suspension. Internet wisdom to the contrary, man-made controlled abrasives allow apex refinement beyond what natural stones can do. You don’t see modern optical systems polished with Jnats. If the synthetic edge he sent was duller than his Jnat edge, he could have refined it more. If it was harsher feeling, then it may have been refined too far (a mistake I often make).