What Did You Hone Today?

[drmoss_ca]

This might make a sticky thread if any mod sees fit...

I'm working through all my straights, trying to get each as good as possible to make their eventual sale more respectable, as I'm in the somewhat odd position of planning for an uncertain future. After three or four months of a new razor being honed each day, the end is getting close - I have about 30 Solingen razors to go, maybe five more TIs and a few Sheffields. Frankly, I'll be delighted to go back to the favourites, after all this chopping and changing.

In preparation for the next couple of days I honed two TI Super Gnomes today. Both 5/8, one old enough to have a stamped shank, and the other bought to make a pair has a laser etched shank. The original black and white celluloid scales have been replaced with TI olivewood scales courtesy of Ray DuPont. The older of the pair has a special place in my heart, as it was my favourite razor back in the days when I mistakenly thought I understood what I was doing; it appears in The Art of the Straight Razor Shave (and yes, mods, that's a link, but a reputable one!) quite a lot. Having been humbled by time and experience, all I can say is that no one else knew what they were doing in those days either! Later on, I bought a pair of the much later issued 6/8 Super Gnomes, and they'll be up next. I'm ashamed to say I had to use some home made green paste on these blades as they had acquired a few rust spots during their exile in the basement. It takes off superficial rust wonderfully.

Here they are, with a hint as to how I honed them:

 

[drmoss_ca]

Having used (and enjoyed greatly) both of the 5/8 Super Gnomes, I honed a 6/8 Super Gnome for Monday:



I'm not sure if that's a badly made round point or a quasi-French point. One of the endearing things about TI's of that era (these are all pre-carbonsong) is that the quality control was haphazard. At least the steel was good and would take and keep a fine edge.

 

[RMenas]

Having used (and enjoyed greatly) both of the 5/8 Super Gnomes, I honed a 6/8 Super Gnome for Monday:

View attachment 2769

I'm not sure if that's a badly made round point or a quasi-French point. One of the endearing things about TI's of that era (these are all pre-carbonsong) is that the quality control was haphazard. At least the steel was good and would take and keep a fine edge.

Beautful! How do you keep it so shinny without the dark metal areas (sort of superficial rust)?

 

[drmoss_ca]

No rust, just the lighting. I do keep an oily rag in the bathroom and wipe down every carbon razor before it goes away.

Here is today's victim, which I will shave with tomorrow. Another 6/8 Super Gnome.

 

[drmoss_ca]

Last but one TI after all these weeks, a Loup et Bellier 5/8 olivewood:

 

[drmoss_ca]

TI 1937 Special Coiffeur - a cheaper half hollow, which will be the end of the TIs.

 

[Ols67]

I honed this one up nicely a few days ago before it’s first shave...worked out very well! I am becoming somewhat passionate about these classic beauties!

Vr

Matt

 

[Ols67]

I just finished honing this Filarmonica 13 Novodur...I think it came out alright...shave yesterday tomorrow!

Vr

Matt

 

[drmoss_ca]

Having finally reached the last TI, I found a Reynolds wedge in serious need of cleaning up. Honed (bravely, on coticule alone) and it will be used tomorrow.

 

[drmoss_ca]

Getting ahead of myself, here, but it's hard not to hone when addicted. So the Reynolds chopper will be used tomorrow, and the next couple of days after that I'll be using these two:




The funny thing about this pair of razors is that they were the very first straight razors I bought back in 2003 when I decided I'd like to try. Stainless steel, as I had read all about the rust-prone carbon steel razors, fake Damascus etching, and with rather heavy Micarta scales (which meant they were not easy to use comfortably). Along with them I got a Colonel Conk Arkansas hone on a wooden paddle, and I innocently assumed I was set up for life. Knowing now that was a soft Arkansas, I could probably use it, but at the time I was like Jon Snow; I knew nothing. I soon discovered I could not make them shave, despite further hones, films, pastes and all. I bought some carbon steel razors and began to know a degree of success. Even so, and even when I moved to using Livi stainless Damasteel and Friodurs, these two still proved to be awkward buggers. Maybe, says I to myself, I know something by now. Maybe, they will shave. So to keep it entertaining to me, I honed both exactly the same way on a coticule under running water. Then one went on to be finished on the coticule with a mixture of water/detergent/glycerine, and the other went on to be finished on the black Arkansas with the same mixture of lubricants.

The back of my left hand tells me the black-scaled razor is going to be better, but a coticule shave can surprise. After the Reynolds, I'll use the blonde, then the next day I'll use the black, and on the third day, I'll probably take the blonde over the black Ark and see how it compares to the black. So many good shaves to be had, and so much to learn along the way!

 

[Ols67]

Oh man Chris! After that story I would bump the Dovo razors up to see what you can see, and use the Reynolds 3rd. I would have to know the results!

Vr

matt

 

[drmoss_ca]

Well, now I have used them both, and I'm not sure what to say. After years of regarding these razors as a lost cause, and silly-looking-who-on-earth-would-be-fooled-that's-not-damascus lost causes to boot, either they, or I have redeemed ourselves. Both shaved very, very nicely. The blonde done on coticule alone shaved very close, but not quite as close or as comfortable as the black. The black has shaved as close as any straight I've ever used, though not without sensation. There are some razors where your face gets glassy smooth and you can't feel anything happening. This is not one of them, but nonetheless, I'd rate it a very comfy shave and no sting when the aftershave went on.

All of a sudden, I think they are pretty razors with rather beautiful blades, and their heavy thick Micarta scales suddenly balance better than they did before.... We are such subjective creatures.

So today, I took the blonde through my blackArk finishing regime. Tomorrow, I will do a half and half shave and compare the two. The only difference between them now is this: both honed under running water on the coticule, and both finished on the blackArk with water/detergent/glycerine. But the blonde had the same finishing regime on the coticule with the same lubricant in between the running water coticule and the blackArk. It's often said that a hard Ark only shows its worth when you place a blade on it that is already pretty damn sharp. Tomorrow tells me if it's worth the extra step on the coticule with lubricants. I have one of those nice tan leather two razor wallets that Dovo used to sell, and while the scales on these are a bit thick (why so bulbous and thick! Micarta is very strong and they could be thinner), they do fit. Might make a nice travel set to have two rust-resistant great shavers (if I ever travelled any more!)

Comme ça, comme on dit içi:

 

[drmoss_ca]

But only honing once a day won't do. I put bevels on these two stainless Hen & Roosters, and I'll finish them the next time the urge to hone comes upon me.

 

[Ols67]

EBRO...this was a nice little battle. The razor had a small chip out near the toe, and some edge geometry issues. I think it’s fixed now, and this will get its shave test next.

I am really looking forward to it since I have read such great things about the EBRO razors!

Vr

Matt

 

[drmoss_ca]

I'm not sure the grinder was sober when he turned out that one!

 

[Ols67]

It’s an ugly dog to be sure, but as ugly as it is, I suspect that it will be that good of a shaver. I am going to use it next. Probably later today or tomorrow. See how the day goes!

Vr

Matt

 

[drmoss_ca]

The Hen & Rooster stainless razors are done and raring to go starting tomorrow. I have a feeling that one of them, maybe both, will actually exceed results on the Dovo EnVogue. I have always felt stainless razors were just a bit more difficult, and never quite got as sharp as carbon. Oh well, I'm working towards 11 stainless Friodurs and then I can revisit the Damasteel Livis to see how wrong I was. But there are still some pretty carbon Solingen razors to deal with first.

 

[Ols67]

Happy to report the EBRO shaved as well as it is ugly!

Nice razors Chris!


Vr

Matt

 

[Ols67]

I had some fun using a progression of Chosera 1k, a Zulu Grey Black, Zulu Grey Silkvein, Zulu Grey Green, Zulu Grey, Jasper w/ a Tomo Nagura, and Jasper under water to get this old Scargill in tip top shape for my next shave. The bevel near the edge is now a mirror, and it passed the HHT all along the edge!

Vr

Matt

 

[drmoss_ca]

Not a name I know, but that's a nice old razor - stubby tang, scales broad at the wedge, buulseye washers, pseudo-frameback spine, smiling blade wider at the toe, no stabilisers. That comes from the 1820's I'd say.