Ive been straight shaving daily for 2 and a bit years and had gotten respectable, I thought, at honing and maintaining my own edges.
I’d had a bit of experimentation with films, slate, shale and a Naniwa12k and was getting great results from all, with consistent improvements coming along nicely.
I’d heard of course of @Slash McCoys Method but I was happy learning to use what I had and I like things simple.
Then a few weeks ago on a whim I decided to order the stuff required and yesterday had a free afternoon way from the kids so I put it all together and built the three strops to the letter of the instructions given.
As I was doing the measuring, cutting, sanding, gluing, hoovering etc I must confess to being a little doubtful as to the need for all this hard work.
My shaves were already super comfortable and close every day, how much of a difference was all this going to make?
I Method honed my Gold Dollar A from a Naniwa edge and my Henckels Friodur from a film edge and it was the Friodur I used this morning.
During the balsa stropping it was quite challenging using the minuscule pressure advised by the Method but eventually both razors were done.
Today I lathered up with Taylor’s Jermyn st soap.
As soon as the edge touched the hair on my cheek I was instantly and genuinely shocked at its sharpness.
Unbelievable.
This was sorcery!
Light years from anything I’d ever used before.
I was almost terrified using it. I kept hearing the word ‘Wow!’ escaping from my lips throughout the shave. I’ve never felt anything like it. I had to really tone down my technique using a featherlight touch.
The razor pinged and cut everything with such gliding ease, and sounded completely different than before.
This is crazy sharp, sharper than I ever thought possible. After pass one I really considered just leaving it there until I relearned to shave with it but I did my usual 4 pass shave but being oh so careful every step of the way.
No cuts.
After a cold rinse I was very hesitant to use the alum as I felt sure it would sting to high heaven, but no. The alum block felt cool and easy with very little sting. I followed with a splash of Lucky Tiger and got a brilliant post shave. This will take some time to learn to use the correct amount of pressure needed as I’ve never shaved with anything like this.
This knowledge is not meant for man, this man @Slash McCoy has dipped his hand into the vaults of hell itself and brought forth this knowledge, this Method edge.
This is the enchanted edge that the demons of hell put on their swords, axes and instruments of torture, this is sharp enough to cut the eternal souls of men.
You could give me a million years on my own and I’d never be able to get an edge like this.
I’d just never have thought it possible. Thanks so much for this insight Slash.
If you’ve never tried it I’d highly recommend it to you it’s unbelievable and even if you find it’s too sharp for you, it’s amazing to see what’s possible. And with daily stropping it will stay the same every day.
Will I use it every day? I don’t know yet, it’s an amazing edge to use but it will take some getting used to. I find it hard to describe how next level the edge now is.
I have a question slash, if the devil himself held his pitchfork to your head and told you to make an edge like the Method using only stones could you do it?
If so how would you approach it?
If not, how close could you get?
I’d had a bit of experimentation with films, slate, shale and a Naniwa12k and was getting great results from all, with consistent improvements coming along nicely.
I’d heard of course of @Slash McCoys Method but I was happy learning to use what I had and I like things simple.
Then a few weeks ago on a whim I decided to order the stuff required and yesterday had a free afternoon way from the kids so I put it all together and built the three strops to the letter of the instructions given.
As I was doing the measuring, cutting, sanding, gluing, hoovering etc I must confess to being a little doubtful as to the need for all this hard work.
My shaves were already super comfortable and close every day, how much of a difference was all this going to make?
I Method honed my Gold Dollar A from a Naniwa edge and my Henckels Friodur from a film edge and it was the Friodur I used this morning.
During the balsa stropping it was quite challenging using the minuscule pressure advised by the Method but eventually both razors were done.
Today I lathered up with Taylor’s Jermyn st soap.
As soon as the edge touched the hair on my cheek I was instantly and genuinely shocked at its sharpness.
Unbelievable.
This was sorcery!
Light years from anything I’d ever used before.
I was almost terrified using it. I kept hearing the word ‘Wow!’ escaping from my lips throughout the shave. I’ve never felt anything like it. I had to really tone down my technique using a featherlight touch.
The razor pinged and cut everything with such gliding ease, and sounded completely different than before.
This is crazy sharp, sharper than I ever thought possible. After pass one I really considered just leaving it there until I relearned to shave with it but I did my usual 4 pass shave but being oh so careful every step of the way.
No cuts.
After a cold rinse I was very hesitant to use the alum as I felt sure it would sting to high heaven, but no. The alum block felt cool and easy with very little sting. I followed with a splash of Lucky Tiger and got a brilliant post shave. This will take some time to learn to use the correct amount of pressure needed as I’ve never shaved with anything like this.
This knowledge is not meant for man, this man @Slash McCoy has dipped his hand into the vaults of hell itself and brought forth this knowledge, this Method edge.
This is the enchanted edge that the demons of hell put on their swords, axes and instruments of torture, this is sharp enough to cut the eternal souls of men.
You could give me a million years on my own and I’d never be able to get an edge like this.
I’d just never have thought it possible. Thanks so much for this insight Slash.
If you’ve never tried it I’d highly recommend it to you it’s unbelievable and even if you find it’s too sharp for you, it’s amazing to see what’s possible. And with daily stropping it will stay the same every day.
Will I use it every day? I don’t know yet, it’s an amazing edge to use but it will take some getting used to. I find it hard to describe how next level the edge now is.
I have a question slash, if the devil himself held his pitchfork to your head and told you to make an edge like the Method using only stones could you do it?
If so how would you approach it?
If not, how close could you get?