Small honing success on a Geo. Wostenholm swayback

[Woodash]

I just finished my 2nd honing job. It was on a Geo. Wosty swayback that I bought on the cheap. I needed to have something to practice on and for some reason, I just really liked the looks of this thing.

I set the bevel with a 1.2K and that took a little doing because I had to figure out how to make the rolling x-stroke work. I then went to Meijiro and Koma slurries on a Nakayama, followed by finishing directly on the Nakayama with medium slurry until it became ~pasty. I experimented with many things along the way, but this is more or less what gave me the best results for this razor and these hones. No Cr2O3, just stropping.

Here's the razor, fwiw.

In any event, I just got done with what may be best and most comfortable shave I ever had. I'm definately getting better with the honing, but beyond that there is something about this razor that is just amazingly smooth - somehow more than anything else I've ever used. I think it's actually the razor as much as the honing method. Anyway, this thing is a keeper, and it's nice to have my first keeper that I honed up myself.

 

[taffy]

Give yourself a huge pat on the back, the razor is smooth because of your honing

 

[honed]

Some razors are just smoother then others, for me Wostenholms are maybe the best brand from Sheffield (That or Joesph Elliot)

But, no matter how good the steel is, it has to be honed properly & obviously you got it right this time!
Now you know how it should feel & each time you sit down with the hones it will get easier & easier to achive that perfect edge.

Keep up the good work, few things are as rewarding as getting a really great shave from a blade you've honed yourself

 

[Woodash]

Thanks guys. Yep - it does feel pretty good to get that first one honed up well and shaving great. I guess it's the combination of factors, but dang! - I sure am impressed by the Wostenholm.

 

[wdwrx]

Good job!
BTW that is a gorgeous razor!