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On the razors edge with Galaktus

Never made it out on the bike today. Yesterday my lower back started hurting, don't know why. So I decided not to go out. Watched a few episodes of The Dark Side of the Ring.

Finally dragged out my honing gear and a few straights. I had just gotten started when my wife asked to go to the store, so I showered and shaved. Got back to the honing after I got back home. I'm currently taking a short break, just have the finishing to do.
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May 05, 2020 Shave 132
Blackbird
Bic Chrome Platinum 4
Arko 29
Bruce synthetic brush
Florida Water
 
May 06, 2020 Shave 133
Genco 6/8 1
Arko 30
Bruce brush
Lustray Blue Spice

The return of the straight razors!
Yesterday I honed up a few razors, a Genco 6/8, Genco 5/8, and a Gold Dollar 1996. I pulled out the lapping film, my newly arrived plexiglass slab (12x4x1). The Gold Dollar I did a bevel set on, but the other two I did not because I had previously shaved with them, albeit a year or two ago. I did the Gold Dollar on a DMT 1200 for the bevel set, then all three got the 5um and 1um, then the damp sheet of paper under the 1um.
Today I chose the Genco 6/8. Well, the good news is I didn't cut myself or have any weepers. But the blade does need some more work. Not the closest shave, and I resisted the urge to finish up with a DE. Tomorrow I'll try the Gold Dollar and see how that one goes.
 
Baby steps! Probably nothing like hopping back on a bicycle after a long while...
 
May 07, 2020 Shave 134
Gold Dollar 1996 1
Arko 31
Shave Revolution synthetic
Florida Water

Well after today's shave I will be going back to the lapping film. Not sure why my shaves are uncomfortable, but I know they could be way better. I have shaved with many many straights over the years. Last time I was using straights was a few years ago, arkies, and had a run of 56 consecutive shaves with a lowly Gold Dollar 66 with no touch ups, only stropping on linen and leather. The only reason I stopped was I got bored using the same razor.
So, I will be hitting the lapping film again. Maybe I'll sneak in a Weck Sextoblade shave to make sure my technique is still solid.
 
Is your Sextoblade one with celluloid scales or like the med prep/full SS type.
 
It's a Med Prep. I use Personna blades in it. I tried Fromm blades one time. When I put on aftershave, I got lit up over bit of skin I shaved. Felt like I was using Napalm aftershave. Never again.

I did some re-honing on the last two straights I did, that had disappointing results for me. Started back from the bevel. I like the way the edges look under the loupe, let's see how the shave performs tomorrow.
 
The shave this morning didn't go as well as I would have liked. It's still not sharp enough. Not sure what I'm doing wrong, except maybe not doing enough passes on the lapping film. I think I have some irrational fear of overhoning from forums long ago. I'm not convinced that's actually a real thing either. Screw it. When I get home later I'm going give myself carpal tunnel syndrome on the lapping film.
It's just frustrating as all hell because you can only shave so often, and usually there's not the time to hone, shave, re-hone, etc., so you have to wait so long to try again. Not as simple as changing a DE blade.
 
Galaktus said:
The shave this morning didn't go as well as I would have liked. It's still not sharp enough. Not sure what I'm doing wrong, except maybe not doing enough passes on the lapping film. I think I have some irrational fear of overhoning from forums long ago. I'm not convinced that's actually a real thing either. Screw it. When I get home later I'm going give myself carpal tunnel syndrome on the lapping film.
It's just frustrating as all hell because you can only shave so often, and usually there's not the time to hone, shave, re-hone, etc., so you have to wait so long to try again. Not as simple as changing a DE blade.
Click to expand...
how are you testing your edges while using the film? I normally shave the back of my hand a bit to make sure the whole edge has a good bevel then as you refine the edge you can do things like tree topping arm hairs or the hanging hair test.
 
I have a loupe about 30x, when I reflect the bevel in the light it gives a great view. I check the bevel by cutting forearm hair at the skin and as I progress I do the floating hair over the forearm test. I had the same problem when I was learning Arks, so I'm not worried in the long term; it's just frustrating because the time factor. Only can hone and shave for so much time in the day, there is no do over button to try to hone and shave again until.the next day. Yes, DEs are easier, but there is the satisfaction of honing yourself. I've done it plenty of times before, just learning a new method for it.
 
Galaktus said:
I have a loupe about 30x, when I reflect the bevel in the light it gives a great view. I check the bevel by cutting forearm hair at the skin and as I progress I do the floating hair over the forearm test. I had the same problem when I was learning Arks, so I'm not worried in the long term; it's just frustrating because the time factor. Only can hone and shave for so much time in the day, there is no do over button to try to hone and shave again until.the next day. Yes, DEs are easier, but there is the satisfaction of honing yourself. I've done it plenty of times before, just learning a new method for it.
Click to expand...
i agree. i have been learning with a couple of coti stones. think i will pull them out monday night actually
 
Sorry to here, just an odd thought have you checked the overall geometry of the blade both at the spine and along the entire bevel. I had a razor once that no matter what I did I could not get a good edge... after wasting a huge amount of time it turned out it was geometry of the entire razor. Just a thought
 
BarberDave said:
Sorry to here, just an odd thought have you checked the overall geometry of the blade both at the spine and along the entire bevel. I had a razor once that no matter what I did I could not get a good edge... after wasting a huge amount of time it turned out it was geometry of the entire razor. Just a thought
Click to expand...
Yeah, I did a bevel set with a seemingly infinite amount of laps in a DMT 1200. None of my razors I currently have are uncommon or heirloom types, so if I have to use brute force and make them ugly to get a bevel, so be it.
A word about number of laps: I see some videos and tutorials where some people say they set a bevel with 12 laps, or more than 4 or 5 strokes on a finishing hone will ruin your edge, all while using zero weight on the blade.. I must live in a different universe, where different laws of physics apply. Lol.
 
Galaktus said:
Yeah, I did a bevel set with a seemingly infinite amount of laps in a DMT 1200. None of my razors I currently have are uncommon or heirloom types, so if I have to use brute force and make them ugly to get a bevel, so be it.
A word about number of laps: I see some videos and tutorials where some people say they set a bevel with 12 laps, or more than 4 or 5 strokes on a finishing hone will ruin your edge, all while using zero weight on the blade.. I must live in a different universe, where different laws of physics apply. Lol.
Click to expand...
I agree, I have never been able on either a stone or Lapping paper to "angel touch" from bevel to hht-5 Bevel for me is all the way to burr, reverse till burr comes off and then through the progressions. I started with multi stones, but now it is all coticule ( dilucot ) till just water and the blade sticks, then on to a Black ark or trans ark with honing solution till it sticks, then water till it sticks 100 laps on linen and leather and good to go
 
May 10, 2020 Shave 137
Geneva 6/8 1
Arko 34
Shave Revolution synthetic
Florida Water
Okay, I'm officially off the ledge, haha. I had a good shave today, same razor (It's marked as Geneva, not Genco, like that really matters though). Not the smoothest shave I've ever had with a straight, but it was nice and close.
I re-honed the razor yesterday, after the last horrible shave. What I did different was a few things I picked up from @Slash McCoy from the other place. I held my plexiglass slab in my off hand, instead of letting it lay on the counter. I also finished with some thick lather on the film, and did not use the printer paper under the lapping film trick.
So now I have a straight I can shave with, I will work on another. My stress level is way down now and maybe I can start enjoying the process again.
 
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