Help using what I have to keep razors shave ready
- Thread starter grump
- Start date
Just use whichever one produces the more comfortable edge for you. I don't like balsa edges, but thats just me.
Touch your razor up whenever you notice it getting dull.
Touch your razor up whenever you notice it getting dull.
Sounds like you have everything you need. When the razor starts to pull or tug while shaving, give it 4-6 rountrips on the barbers hone and then double the stropping and that should bring it back in line.
Try the barber hones, if those don't work for you the Naniwa superstone 12K might be something to look into getting. You will see what kind of edge you get from the 12k SS in a few days. 
Also you might look into getting a linen or cotton component to add to your strop.
Also you might look into getting a linen or cotton component to add to your strop.
- Thread starter
- #5
I assume that the balsa strop has Chromium Oxide on it.
It's an excellent tool to keep the edge of a razor awake.
As soon as everyday stropping (I do 20 on linen and 40 on leather) stops bringing the blade into peak condition, just make 10 light laps on the balsa strop. If you don't let the edge deteriorate too far, this should keep it going for a long time.
The barber hone works the same. It depends on the quality of yours how you'll like the shaves of it. Personally I prefer a CrO balsa strop over my NewYorkCutlery barber hone.
On either of both tools you need to be careful not to overdo it. They have the tendency to disintegrate the edge, if you keep going once they've reached their limit.
I think it's better to do 4 strokes every 5 shaves than 10 strokes every 10. Once you get the feel for it, and provided that you don't have the kind of whiskers occasionally rips a small fragment of steel out of the edge, you can maintain a razor for over a year of daily use this way.
Kind regards,
Bart.
It's an excellent tool to keep the edge of a razor awake.
As soon as everyday stropping (I do 20 on linen and 40 on leather) stops bringing the blade into peak condition, just make 10 light laps on the balsa strop. If you don't let the edge deteriorate too far, this should keep it going for a long time.
The barber hone works the same. It depends on the quality of yours how you'll like the shaves of it. Personally I prefer a CrO balsa strop over my NewYorkCutlery barber hone.
On either of both tools you need to be careful not to overdo it. They have the tendency to disintegrate the edge, if you keep going once they've reached their limit.
I think it's better to do 4 strokes every 5 shaves than 10 strokes every 10. Once you get the feel for it, and provided that you don't have the kind of whiskers occasionally rips a small fragment of steel out of the edge, you can maintain a razor for over a year of daily use this way.
Kind regards,
Bart.
Don't use the TM Latigo until your stropping is excellent! It's almost a certainty that you'll nick your first strop.
