How soon is too soon to hone?

[G Q]

Say Gents,

I just received a new SS Dovo yesterday and took it for a run today. (It was pre-sharpened). It shaved pretty darn good, but I think it will need some passes on my CrO2 paddle strop to get it perfect. I have heard that the razor edge takes a while to regain its shape after shaving, so in not wanting to mess up the good hone job my new Stainless Dovo has, I am wondering how soon after a complete shave would you take a blade to some CrO2? For my Carbon Steel razor, I have waited 2-3 days after a shave in the past, but it would be nice to know for certain. I will be honest, I am a bit impatient when it comes to new toys! Thanks in advance,

Cheers

 

[professorchaos]

If the razor isn't shaving to your standards, it is never too early to put it on the pastes. Just don't go wild. Give it 10 laps, then shave with it. Keep going that way until you get it where you want it.

 

[JBLAZE725]

Where does someone purchase these pastes from? I have a Tony Miller strop coming in Latigo/Cotton and had planned on pasting the cotton part. Also what is the best way to use this setup? Sorry for the thread hijack, but I thought it may be useful for the OP as well.

 

[Leche]

You can get Dovo white paste from a lot of places including Classic Shaving. If you want something more abrasive like Chromium Oxide see if ChrisL still has some available.

 

[English]

GQ, if the shave was good, why mess with the edge at all. Just strop it and use it again tomorrow.

Usually, daily stropping will improve the edge of a newly honed razor for a little while. You only need to go to the paste when you feel it won't give you a good shave.

Messing with edges usually ends up in tears. Ask the professional honers how many new razors are returned for re honing just because somebody has been tinkering.

Still your razor, your face, your money.

In answer to your question however, its good to rest a razor for 24 hours after a shave or after a honing session. It does seem to let the metal settle and takes the harshness off a newly honed edge. I actually believe that resting a razor is almost as good as running the blade across a chromium oxide paddle. I know chromium oxide will sharpen a dull blade, but yours isn't dull by the sounds of it.

Hope that helps.

 

[English]

Where does someone purchase these pastes from? I have a Tony Miller strop coming in Latigo/Cotton and had planned on pasting the cotton part. Also what is the best way to use this setup? Sorry for the thread hijack, but I thought it may be useful for the OP as well.

I'd ask Tony Miller first. He can give you some great advice and he sells pastes I think. If you do a search on SMF forum you will find threads on "how to paste a strop".

 

[Thebigspendur]

Sorry English but that's just an old barber's tale. Plenty of guys use the same razor day in and day out with no adverse effects on them or the razor.

As far as honing the razor goes I would say if you have the skills and the razor doesn't meet your expectations there is no harm in using a pasted strop or high grit hone to extract the max in shaving quality. Just don't overdo it.

 

[PolsBirthday]

I've heard the wait is to let the blade's edge oxidize evenly in response to the moisture in the air. Think about it, it would probably take a few days for the whole microscopic edge of the razor to rust, but once the initial rust is in place, it takes a long time for it to progress further underneath (enter black pitting).

So by waiting a few days, it ensures your strop takes an even amount of rust off of all parts of the edge, and keeps it straight, instead of stropping away some, and leaving tiny peninsulas of metal sticking out where the rust hadn't yet had a chance to affect the metal.

This is what I heard in passing, makes sense for my chem knowledge though.

This probably doesn't affect a SS razor though, even if it is true

 

[mdunn]

if the razor shaves well then just strop it. only when it starts to pull should you think about pasted strops