Background:
Im just beginning to wet my toes in the area of honing...doing a lot of reading
up as I wait for my first ever straight razor to arrive. It's a brand new, custom made razor in
Silversteel (DIN 1.2210) with a full hollow grind. From what I understand, the maker does top shelf
work and the razors are delivered in true shave ready condition. So my job, as I see it, will not be to
do the hard yards of setting the bevel etc...at least for a few months. But to maintain and keep that
edge sharp and smooth for as long as I can.
What I am looking for in an edge is of course a very sharp edge that is supremely comfortable, smooth,
almost gentle on the face.
For reasons of simplicity, Im looking at just one finishing stone...be it JNAT, Coticule or something else.
I have some very basic, entry level questions though:
1. Is there a difference in a shave-ready edge created on synthetic stones, JNAT and Coticule? I sense they
are significant differences and I'm hoping you would know exactly what they are generally speaking. In other
words, can you tell what kind of stone a razor was finished on just by laying it on your face and making a few strokes?
2. Are some of these techniques interchangeable? Example: Can you raise a Mikawa Shiro slurry on a Coticule
and combine the best of two worlds? Or will the honing particles in both stones contradict each other and actually
cause harm to the blade?
3. Also, what is the frequency with which most of you take to the hone to maintain the edge. I know
that this varies depending on how the edge behaves on your face...if you need to hone, the edge will
let your face know etc....but just curious as too what that period is for you guys...every week, every 3 days?
Thanks
Im just beginning to wet my toes in the area of honing...doing a lot of reading
up as I wait for my first ever straight razor to arrive. It's a brand new, custom made razor in
Silversteel (DIN 1.2210) with a full hollow grind. From what I understand, the maker does top shelf
work and the razors are delivered in true shave ready condition. So my job, as I see it, will not be to
do the hard yards of setting the bevel etc...at least for a few months. But to maintain and keep that
edge sharp and smooth for as long as I can.
What I am looking for in an edge is of course a very sharp edge that is supremely comfortable, smooth,
almost gentle on the face.
For reasons of simplicity, Im looking at just one finishing stone...be it JNAT, Coticule or something else.
I have some very basic, entry level questions though:
1. Is there a difference in a shave-ready edge created on synthetic stones, JNAT and Coticule? I sense they
are significant differences and I'm hoping you would know exactly what they are generally speaking. In other
words, can you tell what kind of stone a razor was finished on just by laying it on your face and making a few strokes?
2. Are some of these techniques interchangeable? Example: Can you raise a Mikawa Shiro slurry on a Coticule
and combine the best of two worlds? Or will the honing particles in both stones contradict each other and actually
cause harm to the blade?
3. Also, what is the frequency with which most of you take to the hone to maintain the edge. I know
that this varies depending on how the edge behaves on your face...if you need to hone, the edge will
let your face know etc....but just curious as too what that period is for you guys...every week, every 3 days?
Thanks