First shave rough?

[kg4ghn]

A few days ago I touched up my Geneva 5/8 on a Chinese 12k. I did 120 laps, then my usual 20 webbed fabric/60 leather on my SRD english bridle strop. The shave was bad. Not horrible, but it did not feel like a freshly touched up blade at all. I took this to mean that my honing skills suck since I am a newb at honing, finished my shave and went to bed. Last night I shaved again with the same razor without doing anything else to it but the same 20 webbed fabric/60 leather stropping. And I got my first true BBS with a straight. I lay in bed and faceturbated for about 30 minutes enjoying that BBS feeling and knowing I did it with a 2 pass straight shave.

This is the third time I have used my Chinese 12k and all three times have been like this. Crappy first shave, then nice smooth shaves after that. Is this normal with this hone or with honing in general? Am I doing something wrong in my newbness? I do have a barber hone on the way that I will be trying out next time I have a razor that needs a touch up, mostly just to get away from the 100+ laps.

 

[Neurotopia]

A few days ago I touched up my Geneva 5/8 on a Chinese 12k. I did 120 laps, then my usual 20 webbed fabric/60 leather on my SRD english bridle strop. The shave was bad. Not horrible, but it did not feel like a freshly touched up blade at all. I took this to mean that my honing skills suck since I am a newb at honing, finished my shave and went to bed. Last night I shaved again with the same razor without doing anything else to it but the same 20 webbed fabric/60 leather stropping. And I got my first true BBS with a straight. I lay in bed and faceturbated for about 30 minutes enjoying that BBS feeling and knowing I did it with a 2 pass straight shave.

This is the third time I have used my Chinese 12k and all three times have been like this. Crappy first shave, then nice smooth shaves after that. Is this normal with this hone or with honing in general? Am I doing something wrong in my newbness? I do have a barber hone on the way that I will be trying out next time I have a razor that needs a touch up, mostly just to get away from the 100+ laps.

100+ for a touchup is probably a bit overkill. 30ish off the C12K is probably enough. I touchup on that and then CrOx and usually my first shave is harsh, after that it's usually right where I want it.

 

[gary haywood]

CH12K IS SLOW HONE SO 100 LAPS WOULD'NT DO ANY DAMAGE PROVIDING YOU HAVE USED LIGHT PRESSURE AND GOOD STROKE. sorry about big writing i just realized. as above says good to try just 30 laps test and another 30 and see how it goes . as less is always safer bet.

 

[kg4ghn]

I do use light pressure. As light as I can and still maintain good blade contact. Everything I have read about the C12k says that 100+ is the norm. If I tried 30 laps, is there any way to know if it's where I want it without having to shave twice(as the first time is always rough, then good on successive shaves)? 30 laps, shave, wait two days, shave again seems like a lot of waiting before knowing if it is good or not. Then if it is not where I want it that's another couple of days.


I have never used CrOx, is it normal to use after a finishing hone and not just as a stand alone touchup method?

 

[taffy]

I am new to honing and always find my second shave better, very fustratingM

 

[SliceOfLife]

Some stones leave the edge a little ummm scraggly. Extra passes on cloth help you skip that bad shave off the stone. Basically there are bits of screwed up steel clinging on that you need to wear off via metal fatigue (Cloth stropping does this well).

I usually go for 40ish passes on cloth after using the hones to be safe, then I do 20-30 cloth between shaves.

 

[Alacrity59]

Yes.


Ok more on the subject. For me the rough comes from two sources. 1) Heck yes the blade is sharp. 2) I've gotten used to using a dull blade . . now that it is sharp I need to be more gentle . . . lower the angle

How I compensate . . . as best as I know how.

1) I strop 100 laps on linen and leather
2) I concentrate on using a light touch


I still get a better shave on the third day

 

[kg4ghn]

Some stones leave the edge a little ummm scraggly. Extra passes on cloth help you skip that bad shave off the stone. Basically there are bits of screwed up steel clinging on that you need to wear off via metal fatigue (Cloth stropping does this well).

I usually go for 40ish passes on cloth after using the hones to be safe, then I do 20-30 cloth between shaves.

I will try this next time, thanks.

At least it is not just me.

 

[gary haywood]

i've never experianced a rough edge on first shave. do 50 laps shave one side of face , do another 50 and shave the other side this will save waiting two more days or do 30 and a 30 . just do one cheek one neck part on so on then touch up on hone again see how it differs. strop on cloth then leather . its not normal to use cr.ox all though many people do . a hone will will keep the edge going for much longer the shave of 12k will be as good as it gets. paste is your choice its handy to have as you can try it and see if you like it.