Thread: How does sharp relate to smooth?

I still consider myself kind of new in the SR world. I'm wondering how sharpness relates to smoothness in a SR. From what I have read here, sharpness does not necessarily beget smoothness.

Before I learned anything of straight razors, I would have thought that the sharper one can get an edge, the smoother the shave would be. But it seems edges can be too sharp !

Understanding sharpness in terms of what is physically happening to the edge seems natural. But if you have two razors of identical sharpness, but whose smoothness is quite different, what at the physical microscopic level is different?

Does it have something to do with a certain grainy texture to the bevel?


Dave

I'm not an expert by any means but I think it might have to do with how smooth the actual edge is (looking through a microscope). You can have two edges sharpened to the same sharpness but one may have a more jagged edge under a microscope leaving the shave more harsh and less smooth. I might be wrong so I hope someone with more knowledge chimes in.

Nothing to add sorry, but very interesting topic and Im looking forward to reading everybody's replies.

Honing Properly - vs - Improper Honing

After literally 100's of these discussions I have come to the conclusion that there are only two ways to hone a razor and one way to use it correctly...

ie: If you think a razor is "Too Sharp" you have either honed it incorrectly or are using it incorrectly

I didn't start out this way, but am in Glen's camp now. 'Sharpest edges I've used (one from Glen) could be brisk/biting (still quite shaveable) and some that are so smooth you can't tell they're shaving. I have a bias toward smoothness, but with either - as sharpness increases, they tolerate less clumsiness.

Like I've said before have a razor too sharp is akin to having too much money.

I think people confuse the concept of sharpness with damaged and think the razor is too sharp when in fact it is damaged and sharpness has nothing to do with their problem. They're just confused.

The OP mentions a certain Grainey texture to the bevel,this I have always found interesting.
I have my blades pro honed and I inspect them under 100 power when returned before use.
One pro I use finishes on Jnats,the edges have a matt finish like water washed sand,they are uber sharp and very mellow.
another finishes on Eschers,again very sharp,always shave ready but with a shiney edge,these I find very crisp and tone down after a couple shaves.
Another uses and unkown to me finisher,edges are sort of inbetween the above.
All are perfect shavers in every way,but am amazed with the subtle differances in finishers.

This is why most people do some kind of finishing after honing. Treated strops or balsa polish the cutting edge to mellow that jagged edge. Probably after a long period of time, eventually just stropping would smooth the edge.

Have to agree with Glen and the others that sharper is smoother. I suspect that the "too sharp" idea pops up because, as we shave again and again the edge gradually degrades. As the edge fails we unconsciously apply a little more pressure and the greater pressure forces us to increase the angle slightly. As the edges decline we become accustomed to using the increased pressure and angle and then when we finally hone or have honed we use the same technique with the scary sharp edge and we just scrape off a bit more skin than usual. (There's another vote for frequent maintenance touchups.) I would further suspect that this tendency is less common among those who rotate through a large number of razors since we are constantly adjusting the technique to different weights and grinds, and are likely to be honing more often just to try different methods so seldom encounter the "too sharp" edge.

Good technique can deliver a decent shave with a mediocre edge but even the sharpest blade can't help with lousy techinque.



rs,
Tack

I'm still new to straights, but here's what I've learned from trying maybe a hundred brands of DE blades; A blade that is sharp, but not smooth, will give you a quick, clean smooth effortless shave, but still hurt like crazy. A blade that is smooth but not quite as sharp will be comfortable enough to do as many passes as it takes, painlessly. Sharp and smooth is way better!