Corking blades?

[Lynx]

I´ve read here and there about corking blades before using them in order to make them a little bit more smooth. How is this properly done? Does it work?
I want to know what you think, fellow shavers.

 

[dpmtherrien]

All you do is run the blade through a cork 2 or 3 times. Any cork will do.

I've tried it a few times and to tell the truth I don't see any difference at all. With that said, I find corking to be a waste of time and effort, and that's MHO.

 

[cooncatbob]

Some guys use Styrofoam instead of cork.
I too found no difference, the theory is it's suppose to deburr the edge,but since modern blades are coated after honing how much burr is there.

 

[FL shaver]

I had no luck recently corking vertical Derbys. They were miserable before and, I'd have to say, just as miserable after corking. Which blades are you going to try to cork?

 

[mretzloff]

I cork Feathers and Astras. I feel I get smoother shaves. I run the blade three times through on each side. This makes the shave feel as if the blade has been used once before, which for Feathers is great.

 

[KWyKJJ]

I used to cork vertical derby's through hard styrofoam 5 times for each side. Just run it through on the edge using very very light pressure.

 

[luvmysuper]

For me, it's not about de-burring.
I only cork feathers and I do it to dull the blade a little bit.
I always got a better shave from a feather after the first shave, so I just run the very edge of the blade lightly through a wine cork to dull it a little bit so it's more like the second shave on the first.
Don't press down and don't cut deeper than the bevel of the blade.
It seems to make my first shaves with feathers more comfortable, but YMMV

 

[rm71]

Corking and even hand stropping works for me. Give it a try.

 

[Rocketeer]

Tried it (with a cork; not styrofoam) didn't notice any positive results.

One thought is, if you're intentionally making the blade duller (which is what corking does) then perhaps one should start with a less-sharp brand of blade to begin with?

Maybe it is just me, but I almost always find the first use of the blade to be the best.

 

[SpyvSpy]

I've done it with my Derbys and can't really notice any change.

 

[GLteam]

Yes, corking blades does dull them minutely, but more importantly, it will polish the honed or 'beveled' edge, to produce a slightly smoother edge. Sometimes, when a blade is too sharp (Feathers), it will cause undue irritation. When you stropp a straight edge, you're really never sharpening it, you are polishing the very very edge of the blade... making it an even edge to shave with (course, you know this already).

If corking a DE doesn't seem to make any difference, it may mean that the blade itself is already too poor of quality, and the corking will have no effect on the blade at all (It must be sharpened correctly in the first place), or that the blade wasn't corked the correct no. of passes in order to properly polish its edge. IMO, corking sure does make Feather and LORD DE's shave smoother.

 

[AJMiami]

I noticed positive effects corking a SE GEM Ted PElla. I will try with the feathers to see if this helps.

 

[squarerigger]

Have not tried that with the Feathers blade but I am up to trying anything once. Not to mention I get to use it as an excuse to drink a bottle of wine!

 

[ouch]

All the straight razor guys cork their blades, don't they?

 

[stubblefree]

Corking is a waste of time and effort.

Nothing to equal palm stropping

It actually works.


Vijay

 

[PanchoVilla]

Corking is a waste of time and effort.

Nothing to equal palm stropping

It actually works.


Vijay

This is what I've found. Rather than my palm, however, I use a piece of smooth leather lain on the counter.

 

[Ru4scuba?]

For me, it's not about de-burring.
I only cork feathers and I do it to dull the blade a little bit.
I always got a better shave from a feather after the first shave, so I just run the very edge of the blade lightly through a wine cork to dull it a little bit so it's more like the second shave on the first.
Don't press down and don't cut deeper than the bevel of the blade.
It seems to make my first shaves with feathers more comfortable, but YMMV

+1...Feathers are the only blade I cork and I do exactly the same as Phil here

 

[pauls51]

I used to strop the blades on the palm of my hand, but really couldn't notice the difference so have since stopped!

 

[dmnall]

I used to cork all of my blades especially with Astra Superiors and Derbys tended to make them smoother shaves, but Feathers it ruins their nice sharp edge. Now I never cork any blades but I shave with feathers and will not go back.

HTH,

 

[luvmysuper]

All the straight razor guys cork their blades, don't they?

Strop then cork, strop then cork...
It's a never ending cycle.