Thread: First attempt at refreshing an edge...

+1 to all the advice above. I'm new and also dulled my edge with what I suspect was poor stropping technique. I purchased a barber hone but was not sure how to use it and did so without watching Lynn's video. I think I used too much pressure or something and ruined the edge further. Luckily for me, a local experienced member was able to hone my edge back to shave ready. I've been careful with the stropping since and the edge is still wicked sharp. Good luck!

Chrome ox should be more than sufficient for a touch up. I used it exclusively in the beginning, before I got a finishing stone to do hone touch ups, and still do. It should feel like sharpness has been restored to the edge, not dull by any means. Like some of the others, I suspect that the edge was either too far gone for chrome to be effective or you somehow duffed it with your technique, perhaps both. Out of curiosity, in which direction did you move the razor when using the paddle? Was is spine forward (like in stropping) or edge forward (like in honing)? I really don't mean to be condescending, but this has been an issue with newbs in the past.

Originally Posted by Ryan82

Chrome ox should be more than sufficient for a touch up. I used it exclusively in the beginning, before I got a finishing stone to do hone touch ups, and still do. It should feel like sharpness has been restored to the edge, not dull by any means. Like some of the others, I suspect that the edge was either too far gone for chrome to be effective or you somehow duffed it with your technique, perhaps both. Out of curiosity, in which direction did you move the razor when using the paddle? Was is spine forward (like in stropping) or edge forward (like in honing)? I really don't mean to be condescending, but this has been an issue with newbs in the past.

I used the stropping stroke. Spine forward, heel slightly leading, 5 x strokes, 5 straight strokes with little to no pressure. I also kept the paddle on a table and tried to focus on keeping the blasde flat and in contact at all times. I could try the swaty but a new stroke is a new variable and a whole new set of potential problems....maybe I'll try the cro again and see how that goes first.
Thanks!

Originally Posted by oldsCool

Caveat: I'm just a newbie and not all that knowledgeable, but when after a month or two a couple of my razors (all honed by pros and done well) started to tug, I got a barber's hone (from one of the vendors here--already lapped) and after reading the simplest technique on using a hone in the wiki, found I was able to refresh the edge pretty good with about ten x strokes on the barber's hone. That and gradual improvements in my stropping technique have helped me refresh my edges pretty well. Eventually I'll need to send them out for re-honing but so far, so good.

After reading the comments and looking again at Lynn's video--about 5 x strokes should be enough if you ever decide to go that route. I probably used a few more, but the video is pretty clear as are the other comments by more experienced members here. Thanks to all for the better advice.

I went the barber hone route. I did have one issue, when I did my first stroke I noticed that hard as I triedthe edge was not flat across the hone for the entire stroke. Turns out that what I thought was a flat hone was not. So I got to spend about 2 hours flattening it with sand paper. But when i got it done it was all worth it. I gave each of my razors 5-6 strokes on the Pike Swaty then finished with 5 strokes on crox and a good stropping on rough leather and SRD Premium I. The results were fantastic! Thanks to all those that provided me with so much excellent advice. My face thanks you gentlemen!

Hooray! Ain't life grand? (just refreshed an edge on a Spyderco Ultra-Fine and had a close irritation free shave last night).

Time to cue that song with the recurring lyric "I got the power!"

grand indeed!

Awesome! Glad you got it sorted out.