This has been an interesting (and disappointing) discussion. For disclosure, I sometimes use a shavette. I have used a straight razor, but I personally don't care to master and perform the tasks associated with maintaining a proper edge. I do, however, have respect for those that choose to master the technique. Can't ideas be presented without resorting to personal attacks? Why does anyone really care what type of hone someone else uses? Isn't the hobby big enough to allow for discussion of difference techniques? Won't the best honing techniques "win out" in the end as they are proven to be effective? I just wonder how many bystanders like me are following this thread just to observe a good street fight. Thankfully, I don't think its tone is typical of the threads here on TSD.
The issue of Convex Hones isn't as simple as "different strokes for different folks". It has gone way further than that. Convex Hone talk was initially used as a way for a former member to sell Convex Hones, from his struggling shave business. The few blades that were evaluated, by others around here, including myself, were found to have issues caused by the type of stones being sold. Those that have many years of knowledge, and hundreds, to tens of thousands of razor honing under their belts addressed the inherent flaws with using these stones. Some of these issues could be overcome with additional attention to the honing process, some could not. I'm sure a properly convex honed stone could be used to touch up a razors edge, but there are the issues inherent to extended use of convex hones that have been spoken about in detail. What sticks in my mind the most is, the foremost expert on Convex Hones still touts their virtues, and he still says he touches up his straights after 6-10(+-) shaves. Not because it needs to be done, but because he likes the feels of a freshly honed blade. If honed, and stropped properly, a straight razor will give you that feeling 10x that many shaves. Not a ringing endorsement for the Convex Hones. Also, a couple of these Convex Hone enthusiasts refuse others, from this forum, the opportunity to send a couple of razors to be evaluated, or even to hone a few and send them back for a non-biased evaluation. These proponents of Convex Honing have, for a few years, slammed others by name, on their videos. And these attack videos are still being made. So, the issue of Convex Hones are not as simple as they seem.
Me, I am waiting for @PLANofMAN to make those Convex Hones he has talked about making, so several around here can use them, and evaluate the stones, in hand.
I am working on the plates. I will have them done on Monday. I will post pictures of the finished plates. 4 plates in total. Then the rest will be up to @PLANofMAN
To be fair, I kicked this whole thing off by initially stating that manufacturers used convex hones to deliberately shove substandard razors out the door. I don't believe that anymore. However, I still do think that they use convex hones to get razors 'sharp enough,' and 'quickly,' in a production environment. Reason enough to use the technique, and I don't doubt that 'master grinders in Dusseldorf' are still trained in this method today. I don't think anyone from either side of the debate disagrees with that statement. It's the "are there additional reasons for and other benefits to the process?" question that has people riled up.
It is just a different honing technique. It will not be a night and day difference. This is an extra hollow ground razor I just honed using @Steve56 concave bevel by pressure management. Heavy to feather light pressure. This was honed on a jnat. 650x magnification on tiny bevel. This works great too. Notice the curved striations, and a slight refinement at the apex. De blade comparison
Now we’ve got a real debate! I do doubt it, not in a factory environment, but smaller shops, yes. I don’t think that in a large factory, you pay a highly skilled master hollow grinder to put the edge on the razor. An apprentice probably does that. The factory can’t spend an hour on each razor cutting a bevel and hand honing it. I’m pretty sure that most of the factory edges that we see today were not made by a master anything. I’m OK with that BTW, I just wish that they wouldn’t hone a frown into the razors.
I would like to have an option that said unhoned. Give me a blunt edge, and I can set the edge with a minimum of wear on the razor. I would take that over some of the factory edges. Would be a win win situation for me and the manufacturer.
