My Ancient Ocean Jasper - Barber's Size Hone showed up Thursday (a day early). Got into action right away.
I had selected my first straight, which needed touching up as my test subject. This was the razor I used for most of my 100 shave boot camp. It had been touched up on pasted balsa about the half-way point there, and refreshed on a Naniwa 12k since. A simple Dovo 300 5/8 half hollow, round point, jimped top and bottom. I did rescale it. Just a nice tool to learn on. Perfect geometry.
I tried a number of different honing techniques and found a reasonable comfort level with a light coticule slurry and progressive diluting till clear. A glass showed more scratches on the bevel than I like, so it got a few rounds on a CrOx pasted leather bench strop I usually use on knives. Then some time on a paddle strop with suede and leather. My test shave time was gone and Friday didn't yield either.
Saturday was cooperative.
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The first half pass seemed a little tuggie, which is not totally unusual for me with most true straights, but I couldn't rule out a crappy honing job.
So, I decided to convert the shave to a throwdown against the 6/8 Wacker Barber's Bride with only about 5 shaves after coming back from reputed professional honing at 30k.
Yeah, the extra hollow Wacker was louder, but not less tuggie, and not more efficient.
Moving ahead alternating equipment on half passes, I wound up with final results comparable with my norm, like always. I only give a slight advantage to greater smoothness on the newly honed tool on final the pass.
It appears that the Barbers Bride will be visiting the stones and strops soon.
Once again, I seem to reaffirm my belief that great straight razor shaving includes the craft of good edge creation and maintenance.
Oh, and can anybody tell me why such an ugly $11 boar brush works so well?
Happy Labor Day folks. In Sourh Central Whinselpania, through the weekend, there will be the Most Favored Max Headroom brisket done high and fast, steaks and a hot dog grudge match featuring the local favorite Sechrist Brothers vs Nathan's vs Hebrew National. Place your bets.
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