Post your latest progression.

I had 2 different progressions this week...

I took an FW Holler 6/8 half hollow that had been quite troublesome on both oil and water stones in previous efforts. I could get an acceptable shave from it, but not the shave I want and enjoy. I was almost lost on it, because I tried my Arkansas progression and my synthetic to jnat progressio, both with and without tape, without real success. As I said, I could shave, but...not with the desired rsults I've become used to...

I received a Belgian coticule bout. So I figured...something different, right? I put the razor to the coticule with slurry, worked through the dilucot process, and "finished" on clear water. The edge was sharp and would shave arm and leg hair, but was not "popping" the way I like. So I grabbed my Shoubudani type 100 and Mikawa Asano nagura set, and finished the razor using this method. The edge was treetopping leg hair effortlessly, and giving me an HHT 4/5 with my daughter's super fine blonde hair. Test shave was great! Still not quite on par with my best edges, but definitely better than previously, and a shave that was exceptionally comfortable. Success!

The next progression was one of the first straights I owned. JR Torrey 5/8 extra hollow that I received in a trade on DFS a little voer a year ago. The razor was a great shaver from day one, and provided a sound example of a "shave ready edge" for me to learn from. When it deteriorated to the point that I was not getting good shaves, I put it to the side, afraid of ruining it with inept honing skills, and poor technique. With virtually no hone wear and a beautiful bevel, I was giving this razor as much respect as possible by waiting until my skills were truly up to the task.

So this week, I took her out and ran her through an Arkansas progression. Lansky soft followed by white translucent and finished on a surgical black. 25 laps on ChromOx pasted fine canvas, 25 laps on FeOx pasted fine canvas, 25 laps on leather. HHT 5+ with my daughter's fine blonde hair. BEAUTIFUL!!! The edge is BETTER than it was when I first got it, providing an extremely comfortable shave that effortlessly mowed down my stubble, and left me extremely close. An exceptional shave from a great razor. I really am glad I allowed my skill to improve before I tackled this one. WELL paid off!

Dmtxxtracoarse.
Tomo nagura.
Aiiwatani base stone.
Gold Dollar.
Now to decide what to finish it on.

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Refreshed a Henckels & Hammesfahr and a Filarmonica 13 on a Thuri

I've taken 3 different razors to my Belgian coticule bout recently, trying to finally put in the effort to "learn" this stone. All 3 edges turned out to be just fantastic!

These were all razors needing a refreshed edge, with a solid bevel and great performance off of the Shoubudani, so I thought it would be a good way to test the coticule, since I know all 3 razors pretty well, and what they are capable of being.

Progression was to start with a medium slurry, that was fairly well watered down. I've heard that the garnets in coticules can be detrimental to the edge if "overhoned", and knowing that all 3 razors had great bevels already, I didn;t want to use a heavy slurry, and risk damaging the edge. I just wanted to refresh, so the slurry was fairly thin already, and I diluted it further as the feedback from the stone started to become more noticeable. I kept diluting the slurry until I was using clear water, and then I took the bout and razor to the sink and finished under running water.

15 laps on fine canvas with ChromOx and 15 laps on fine canvas with FeOx, followed by the standard pre-shave stropping of 25 linen/25 leather, and all 3 blades shaved incredibly well!

The Dubl Duck Special No.1 and the Wostenholm IXL Celebrated each took edges that easily rivaled anything I've achieved on the Shoubudani or Arkansas stones, and the Case Red Imp near wedge took the best edge it's ever had. All 3 provided outstanding shaves with exceptional comfort and easy shaving.

Now I know that there are some that do not believe in the power of pastes, and that is OK. I hope that I reach a point in my abilities that I can achieve the same edge without paste as I can get with paste, but truth be told, I have no issue following my stone progressions with pasted strops to finish. Some will say that means I have a FeOx finish on the razors, not a coticule finish. Me...I don't care what you call it. Using the pasted strops alone to refresh, which I tried before taking out the coticule, did not even come close to the edge I got after the coticule AND pasted strops, so to me it is clear that I am performing work with the stone prior to the strops. I have been told that the pasted strops are "ruining the work" of the finish stone, but I stand firm that the pasted strops, being roughly 60k and 125k, are building on and refining the finish provided by the stone.

I don;t say all of this to be controversial. I say that to say this: Do what works for you. Whatever method you use to achieve the edge you need is a perfectly legitimate way to hone your razors, and don;t let anyone ruin that for you. I have had people try to belittle me for using pasted strops after my stones. If you experience that, don;t let them get to you. Use what works, be proud of what you use, and if anyone tells you that you're "doing it wrong" tel them to go pound sand. The shave is what counts.

Green Naniwa Professional 1k.
Salmon Shapton Kuromaku series 5k.
Vermio hone .

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Allegheny Instruments Corporation 4/8 near wedge and Utica Cutlery Red Point 5/8 extra hollow

Both needed a little refreshing, so I took them to the Belgian Coticule. Slurry diluted down to clean water, finished with running water.

Chris,

I am very impressed.
I could never attain the extraordinary degree of patience that you have.

Mickey

https://youtu.be/nZfr73OcDbY
A little lore and opinions today .
Finished on a black true hard Arkansas stone.

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Honing warped razors.
https://youtu.be/yUSnf9cbGEI


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Divide the distance from edge/apex to the top of the spine wear by 3.5 to discover whether or not your razors spine is to thick or thin.

It is a rule or guide and not fixed in stone.
A few razors have been found to shave well when built at a ratio of 1 to 4 .

It is important to measure from the top of the area on the spine that actually touches the hone and not the top of the spine that may or may not actually be near the wear zone on the spine.

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