Can you Hone a DE Blade? Scientist says no.

[luvmysuper]

There's recently been a hop in the number of questions about "honing" a DE razor blade.

Here is a very interesting article. 3 pages from Modern Mechanics with Microscope photography.

http://blog.modernmechanix.com/2006...ving&Qif=shaving_0.jpg&Qiv=thumbs&Qis=XL#qdig

Toss out those old stroppers, glasses, curved glass hones and glass beads.

 

[DE Shaver]

D'oh! You mean I've wasted $3.00 for mine?

It's not surprising given the nature of the DE blade. Anyway, with the coating gone, those blades will not be so smooth even if they can be sharpened. In addition, the price of blades are so low that it's actually more expensive to spend the time to sharpen them, as your time does have value. Furthermore, this article reinforces my personal belief that hand stropping/corking a DE blade is actually detrimental to its performance.

 

[luvmysuper]

D'oh! You mean I've wasted $3.00 for mine?

The stroppers are pretty cool machines. I've got one, but it's just a conversation piece, I wouldn't actually try to use it.

The article talks about "hand stropping" too.

 

[DE Shaver]

The stroppers are pretty cool machines. I've got one, but it's just a conversation piece, I wouldn't actually try to use it.

The article talks about "hand stropping" too.

Yes, I picked up mine solely for collection purposes and, as you've said, as a conversation piece. On the other hand, I know my pyramid works in sharpening my blades.

 

[Stubblefield]

Furthermore, this article reinforces my personal belief that hand stropping/corking a DE blade is actually detrimental to it's performance.

Agree. Hand stropping seems to fall into the same category as dowsing and pyramid power.

 

[DE Shaver]

Agree. Hand stropping seems to fall into the same category as dowsing and pyramid power.

You doubt the power of the pyramid?

 

[Stubblefield]

You doubt the power of the pyramid?

It only works on BIC disposables.

 

[HoosierTrooper]

You'll get my pyramid when you pry it out of my cold, dead hands...

 

[Stubblefield]

Those silly scientists. Science is anything we want it to be.

 

[DavyRay]

In 1933, they did not have YMMV. He says the next best thing, though.

One fact that I should like to bring out, in closing, is that there are probably few things in life as variable as men’s whiskers ; and, although they all seem to fall before the straight blade of the barber, such is not the case with the modern safety razor.

A razor that will give smooth and comfortable shaving to one person may be entirely inadequate on a beard and skin of different texture.

 

[htownmmm]

"Hoopsnake!!!!"

marty

 

[mblakele]

I am happy to concede that palm-stropping was not beneficial in 1933. However, even my oldest blades are from this millennium. My working hypothesis (science!) is that palm-stropping reduces the unevenness of poorly-applied coatings. However, I have no ready means to test this idea.

 

[Stubblefield]

In 1933, they did not have YMMV. He says the next best thing, though.

What exactly did they have, then? How did they survive without YMMV?

 

[luvmysuper]

I am happy to concede that palm-stropping was not beneficial in 1933. However, even my oldest blades are from this millennium. My working hypothesis (science!) is that palm-stropping reduces the unevenness of poorly-applied coatings. However, I have no ready means to test this idea.

The coating theory may be as good as any. I don't have any reason to disagree with that.
He was talking about the slightly thicker blades of that era, though an edge on a blade brought to a cutting sharpness will be similar regardless of the starting thickness. (a wedge cuts as well as a full hollow ground)
He was saying that professional honing would work, but again, honing is moving the blade across the "hone" with the cutting edge leading, and thus hand stropping has no effect on sharpening a blade edge.

 

[DE Shaver]

My working hypothesis (science!) is that palm-stropping reduces the unevenness of poorly-applied coatings. However, I have no ready means to test this idea.

A hypothesis is a polysyllabic word meaning "belief" or "guess" for explaining something and not much more. Science is a methodical study of the physical world using a reproducible method. There's no "science" to support that palm stropping improves/sharpens a blade. It may dull it enough to give the blade a "smoother" feel. Coatings are around 500 nanometers in thickness and are materially designed to smooth a shave. I doubt they would account for much if you are trying to determine why a blade may be rough to shave with. However, that is only my hypothesis.

 

[Radar O\'Reilly]

Agree. Hand stropping seems to fall into the same category as dowsing and pyramid power.

I recently saw both a city worker and a professional utility tracing company use dowsing to locate lines. It amazes me people believe this stuff.

 

[mark_mw]

Why can Straight Razors be honed and stropped? There is no coating on their blades

 

[luvmysuper]

Angle of the bevel?
Properties of the specific metal used in a DE vs a Straight?

Again, honing a straight is with the cutting edge leading.
Stropping alone won't keep a straight shave ready.

 

[DE Shaver]

Why can Straight Razors be honed and stropped? There is no coating on their blades

They can be sharpened and honed because they are designed to be. Coatings serve a different function altogether.

When a coating is applied to the edge of a blade, a layer is formed that fills in any of grinding grooves or imperfection on the edges. This coating assists in reducing friction significantly, keeping the shave smooth and allowing you shave more efficiently. In addition, the coating is very hard and acts as a protecting layer to the edge during cutting, allowing for increased blade longevity. That's why you hear terms like "platinium coated" or "titanium nitride" for coatings, they designed to act like a shield for the edge.

Corking/Palm either removes this coating, thereby removing any advantages of a coating or does nothing to the coating (as it's very hard) and merely dulls the blade. Personally, I believe the latter happens and that's why people report "improvements" in smoothness when they cork/palm strop a DE blade. I doubt you can smooth out a titanium nitride or diamond coating.

 

[DoctorTattoo]

You'll get my pyramid when you pry it out of my cold, dead hands...

What is said pyramid? I googled it and it showed me Egypt LOL. Got any pics?