6/18/24
For today's shave, I went with the only real choice for an open blade shave, a vintage razor ๐๐จโ๐ฆณ๐๐๐ค๐ช
As anyone who knows anything about straights will tell you, that's the only real choice. They just don't make em like they used to. You just can't find good quality steel these days ๐
โโ๏ธ๐ข๐๐ซ Everything back then was better. Everything. Both quality and equality really reached their peak back then. By back then, I just mean any old time, that's not now! ๐ฅฑ๐ก๐ค
Today, in the spirit of the games, I'm going to share my proprietary honing method that comes from the blacksmiths of old ๐๐ง๐ช. People today may think they know how to put an edge, but they just don't compare. My proprietary honing method is inspired by Jarrod from The Superior Shave. The Convex Hone. But it is MY Proprietary Honing Method. Some folks may have opinions on Jarrod, like that he has a persecution complex. He's irrationally emotional and all too often tears up or gets wildly mad at any comment that may disagree with him. He uses alts on a regular basis to try and sway folks and then rapidly deletes any when someone disagrees. And THAT MAY BE TRUE! But boy, does he make a point ๐ฏ๐ต๐ฅฒ๐๐ญ๐คฃ
No one can hone like old blacksmiths do, except maybe me and Jarrod. That's because we use convex honing, just like blacksmiths of old. You see, only someone working a round stone wheel could ever get anything sharp. Now, you may say, "Pudding, Japanese are world famous for their edges and flat stones!" Well, that doesn't mean anything. Ignore that and anyone else who has used anything flat. They were WRONG ๐
โโ๏ธ๐ซ๐ฏ๐ช๐คฃ Cause a true master of an edge used a wheel.
Well, we can't really get wheel stones much these days, not like how they did way back, when everything was always better and the world knew peace. So I gave mine a convex on my own ๐คฃ๐ซก๐คฏ๐ฅฑ๐ฏ
I rubbed the edges of my stones on some concrete til they were well worn. Then, I rubbed the faces along the concrete in radial motions to get that ideal radius carved in. I started on my 1k (now convex) stone. I, of course, added a generous layer of electrical tape to the spine. I wouldn't want to wear this timeless piece any. I could have shaved off of this edge, as it is common knowledge that you should be able to easily pass a HHT at this point. I wanted to go the extra mile, though. So I moved to my 4k (obviously already convex ๐คฃ๐คฉโค๏ธโ๐ฅ๐ช). At this point, I'd worn a hole in my electrical tape. So I added another layer. From there, I did 350 laps on my 4k. Anyone else would call this good, but I want great. So I pulled out my strops.
These are just some scrap pieces of leather I found in my grandads shed, next to an old box of drivers licenses and small bits of clothes. One has a tattoo, but I'm certain he was just practicing once, and there is certainly no foul play there. He's from back when, when everything was better and we were free to ingest lead. WHICH I'M POSITIVE IN NO WAY HAS ANYTHING TO DO WITH HIS FREQUENT AND VIOLENT OUTBURSTS ๐ก๐ค๐ฉ๐๐คฌโ ๏ธ
Anyways, I loaded one piece of leather with Chromoum Oxide and gave it 250 laps. My next piece, I loaded up with Iron Oxide and gave it 500 laps. I then loaded diamond paste on to last and gave it 1000 laps ๐ตโ๐ซ๐คฏ๐ง๐น. I never strop on clean leather cause blacksmiths of old never had clean leather. That's it! I did it! Sharp as could ever possibly be, and all I did was take a note from history, history that was always good. God, I wish I was a boomer ๐ข๐ญ๐ซฆ๐งโ๐ฆณ๐ฝโญ๏ธ
The resulting shave was amazing. It only tugged in the areas that had hair, and I only gave myself several small cuts. When I applied my post shave it felt like my face was on fire. Just how I like it. It reminds of when my grandad held my face over the fireplace that one time I waved at a POC. What a trip down memory lane ๐ฅฐ๐๐๐คช๐๐คฃ๐ญ
The soap was fine, I guess. It's no TOBS and smells like a field. I don't get it, but whatever ๐
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Well, there you have it! My proprietary honing method. If I find out you used it, I will fucking sue you. ๐ ๐ก๐คฌ๐โ ๏ธ๐ฉ๐คก๐