lets have a new razor thread.

[Desert Rat]

My understanding about arka is that they only polish the edge and do t remove much of any steel. Sorta like the migaki-bo burnishing needle. I might be completely off the mark as well… They might be tempered very hard. How do they feel on other stones? Glassy?

I'm one of those weirdos that do ark progressions, so Washita first and couldn't get the bevel set and it didn't go well with a hard ark finisher either after a coticule progression. I have other Kamisori that do well with arks but not all of them. I'm not sure it has to do with the hardness, but maybe the alloys?
Anyone know anything about these razors? Maker or steel used?

 

[Rangen]

I'm one of those weirdos that do ark progressions, so Washita first and couldn't get the bevel set and it didn't go well with a hard ark finisher either after a coticule progression. I have other Kamisori that do well with arks but not all of them. I'm not sure it has to do with the hardness, but maybe the alloys?
Anyone know anything about these razors? Maker or steel used?

Washita to hard ark is weird, yes, but if you can pull it off, it confers tons of street cred.

I've done post-finishing on a translucent Ark on a pretty fair number of kamisori edges that were ready to shave and just needed that final bit of Ark magic, and I've never run into anything resembling what you describe. I don't think I give my stones a fair shot at the cladding steel, since I am torqueing toward the hard steel edge.

 

[blokey]

Found something interesting on Yahoo auction, just not sure if these are legit
https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/p1124312814
https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/w1123788408

 

[zizirex]

I love those Iwasaki Western, they take a nice edge and are easy to maintain. I find it easier to maintain than the kamisori

 

[blokey]

I love those Iwasaki Western, they take a nice edge and are easy to maintain. I find it easier to maintain than the kamisori

Nice, just want to know if these price are normal or not, seems like too good of a deal for 500 yen

 

[zizirex]

Nice, just want to know if these price are normal or not, seems like too good of a deal for 500 yen

it's a starting Bid, it will go up in the next 2 days.

 

[blokey]

Got this one home, looks nice but bit of small rust here and there, how would you restore it? Bit afraid to use too coarse sandpapers

 

[zizirex]

Nice, you got the Tamahagane one.

 

[Legion74]

Got this one home, looks nice but bit of small rust here and there, how would you restore it? Bit afraid to use too coarse sandpapers
View attachment 302353View attachment 302352View attachment 302351View attachment 302350View attachment 302349

If you don't mind a little patina, just get in there with some metal polish (like Autosol) and it will shine it and knock any active rust off. Then a hone, and you are good to use.

 

[captaincaed]

Yep

 

[blokey]

Some stainless Henckels fidour, looks nice, got it off eBay for $90, hope this isn’t fake

 

[refcast]

@blokey

Fine rust eraser

https://www.amazon.com/Rust-Eraser-Sabitoru-Medium-2-piece/dp/B00FS0BFJC

 

[blokey]

@blokey

Fine rust eraser

https://www.amazon.com/Rust-Eraser-Sabitoru-Medium-2-piece/dp/B00FS0BFJC

Thanks!

Some stainless Henckels fidour, looks nice, got it off eBay for $90, hope this isn’t fake
View attachment 302673View attachment 302674View attachment 302672

Shaved with it, super nice… Bought from Stressfreestraights on eBay, he wasn’t lying this is shave ready, not even stropping is needed…

 

[refcast]

@blokey

Between iwasaki tamahagane and Yukio Kamijo, I preferred kamijo.

Between those and Hiyoshi Maru, I prefer Hiyoshi Maru, but lol good luck finding one hahahahaha. I like eureka a lot too

 

[onasram]

Got this one home, looks nice but bit of small rust here and there, how would you restore it? Bit afraid to use too coarse sandpapers
View attachment 302353View attachment 302352View attachment 302351View attachment 302350View attachment 302349

Some stainless Henckels fidour, looks nice, got it off eBay for $90, hope this isn’t fake
View attachment 302673View attachment 302674

View attachment 302672

@blokey

Fine rust eraser

https://www.amazon.com/Rust-Eraser-Sabitoru-Medium-2-piece/dp/B00FS0BFJC

I'd start w/Naval Jelly appl;ied w/Qtips and rinsed oftern. Don't see anything here that justifies sandpaper. The NJ will 86 the rust, then buff w/crocus cloth.

 

[onasram]

@blokey

Fine rust eraser

https://www.amazon.com/Rust-Eraser-Sabitoru-Medium-2-piece/dp/B00FS0BFJC

Wouldn't use rust eraser--problem is too small for such brutality. RE will ride high, scrubbing spots that don't need it and missin the rust in the pitted areas. Naval Jelly + Qtips provides precision.

 

[daveb]

My, what an unusual introduction...

 

[onasram]

During the 19th Cy Tong Wars in NYC and SF's Chinatowns the unofficial 'word to the wise' was "better to have hatchet in pocket than little razor."
That help?

 

[blokey]

Some new haul, not sure how are their steel but the conditions are all good

 

[captaincaed]

Doing great grand dad’s razors today. Did five overall, but these two made me smile most.

Finished on a restored thrift store strop. The surface ain’t perfect, but it’s got a great feeling, study but flexible.

 

[blokey]

Finally got around to sharpen the Iwasaki, rusts are removed with auto sol and some sandpaper, the grey spot are too deep so I just left it on. It’s hard to feel the steel the way straight razor is sharpened, unlike knives, but the end result is very nice, very smooth shave. The razor has been use quite a bit before I gotten it done the bevel is on the large side

 

[ethompson]

Fuji branded teuchi marked razor on a Nakayama suita. Testing some tomo but I remain unconvinced of the need for nagura in general unless you’re dedicated to using just one natural stone in which case I think they make a lot of sense in a razor context.

Weird steel, doesn’t sharpen like many I’ve used. Abrades slow but feels nice. Doesn’t seem like it’s taking a hyper keen apex like some other good razors I’ve used, but the shave is super comfortable.

 

[cotedupy]

but I remain unconvinced of the need for nagura in general

Philistine!

Weird steel, doesn’t sharpen like many I’ve used. Abrades slow but feels nice. Doesn’t seem like it’s taking a hyper keen apex like some other good razors I’ve used

Probably should’ve used nagura, I reckon.

 

[Rangen]

Fuji branded teuchi marked razor on a Nakayama suita. Testing some tomo but I remain unconvinced of the need for nagura in general unless you’re dedicated to using just one natural stone in which case I think they make a lot of sense in a razor context.
View attachment 311759
Weird steel, doesn’t sharpen like many I’ve used. Abrades slow but feels nice. Doesn’t seem like it’s taking a hyper keen apex like some other good razors I’ve used, but the shave is super comfortable.

Maybe a long shot, but any chance the steel is at a very high hardness? I've had the experience you describe with such razors. Someone here finally gave me a hint to use very slow finishing strokes, and, to my surprise, that solved the problem I was having.

Also: what is that Naniwa thing in the picture? Did you put a sink bridge inside a sink bridge?

 

[cotedupy]

Also: what is that Naniwa thing in the picture? Did you put a sink bridge inside a sink bridge?

Stone holder put on a sink bridge, innit! Perfectly regular and normal* thing to do.






* Relatively speaking, within this hyper-niche community. Not a normal thing for normal people to do.

 

[Rangen]

Stone holder put on a sink bridge, innit! Perfectly regular and normal* thing to do.






* Relatively speaking, within this hyper-niche community. Not a normal thing for normal people to do.

But why? The Kasfly holds stones just fine.

 

[M1k3]

But why? The Kasfly holds stones just fine.

The bottom might be irregular instead of flat?

 

[ethompson]

Couple notes…

@Rangen i do think the steel is hard, very hard. And if I had to guess relatively low carbon.

@cotedupy weve had this discussion before hahaha. I think the fact that I am utterly spoilt for choice with naturals colors my view on nagura. If I want something to act a little coarser and faster than my finisher, I’ll just grab a nice pre-finisher block.

It’s not so much that I can’t get the steel sharp or have trouble with it, it just doesn’t show aggressive keenness when I do nail tests or test on my finger pads. I never really feel a burr either other than the first time I set the bevel. But it passes hht and shave feel easily. Loaned it to @refcast who is better at talking about sharpening feel than me and encyclopedic in his steel knowledge so maybe he has content.

@Rangen @M1k3 I use the stone holder in the kaslfy for height, easier on my back to have the stone higher up

 

[refcast]

@Rangen

Yeah I sharpened the Fuji teuchi and it vexes me lol. Maybe I didn't apex it completely, haha. I didn't want to change the bevel on a NOS razor pretty much, so I didn't do anything major, just a finishing stone and nagura for extra aggression.

I agree feels lower carbon high hardness. It's such a weird steel...very smooth and ....civilized? Grabs hair just the right amount and has the least irritation of any razor steel I've sharpened. Almost feels like it never gets sharp haha...and I'm pretty sure I apexed it, but without forming a burr, microbevel. Yeah I tried almost everything aside from resetting the bevel. It does shave close

 

[Moooza]

The Iwasaki tamahagane kamisori is in OK condition, but it's rare to see one with an original leather sheath, hand-made by Iwasaki himself:
https://page.auctions.yahoo.co.jp/jp/auction/c1130506160