- Messages
- 3,123
- Location
- Essex
I suspect the variance from handle to top cap is the soap? Maybe this is the variance affecting the patina and wear on the metal as opposed to the handle that's just held and has water exposure?
Closed Pass Around: Hone Type 15 - Completed
- Thread starter riverrun
- Start Date
-
- Tags
- hone pass around
- Thread Starter
- #412
Hone Type 15 - Shave #3
Mühle 33K257 synthetic brush
Truefitt&Hill Lavender shaving cream
Hone Type 15
Feather blade (1)
Alum block
Speick ASL
It’s been a while (December) since I last shaved with the Hone. I reported on the two shaves I had with it here and here.
I did today’s shave with a fresh Feather blade merely to jog my memory and give me a benchmark for more experimental shaves to come. Two things are worth mentioning:
The razor didn’t seem as heavy as I remembered. Yes, it is heavy, but the weight didn’t bother me at all. It gives the Hone a nice, chunky, quality kind of feel. The other thing I noticed and liked a lot is the heat retention. It stays nice and hot all through the shave. A very pleasant feel.
Four very enjoyable passes later I have a smooth, incident free face. Alum and ASL didn’t sting at all. Nice. Mild (tame), yet efficient.
Feather blades deteriorate quickly, so I’ll use a fresh Feather blade for all upcoming shaves with the Hone (I have to find a way to get through all those 100+ Feather blades I bought before I discovered PolSilvers
). Today’s blade has already been mutilated into a shim for tomorrow. I might start with using two shims.
TBC...
Mühle 33K257 synthetic brush
Truefitt&Hill Lavender shaving cream
Hone Type 15
Feather blade (1)
Alum block
Speick ASL
It’s been a while (December) since I last shaved with the Hone. I reported on the two shaves I had with it here and here.
I did today’s shave with a fresh Feather blade merely to jog my memory and give me a benchmark for more experimental shaves to come. Two things are worth mentioning:
The razor didn’t seem as heavy as I remembered. Yes, it is heavy, but the weight didn’t bother me at all. It gives the Hone a nice, chunky, quality kind of feel. The other thing I noticed and liked a lot is the heat retention. It stays nice and hot all through the shave. A very pleasant feel.
Four very enjoyable passes later I have a smooth, incident free face. Alum and ASL didn’t sting at all. Nice. Mild (tame), yet efficient.
Feather blades deteriorate quickly, so I’ll use a fresh Feather blade for all upcoming shaves with the Hone (I have to find a way to get through all those 100+ Feather blades I bought before I discovered PolSilvers
). Today’s blade has already been mutilated into a shim for tomorrow. I might start with using two shims.TBC...
- Thread Starter
- #413
That's my assumption as well, but I'll leave judgement to Andrew
- Thread Starter
- #414
Hone Type 15 - Shave 4
Omega 49 big piggy brush
Truefitt&Hill Lavender shaving cream, face lathered
Hone Type 15
Feather blade (1) - double shim
Alum block
Speick ASL
Number one on my list of things to try with the Hone is shimming. For those not familiar with shimming: You can increase the gap between the blade and the base plate of a razor by putting something between the base plate and the blade. This ‘something’ is usually another blade, whose sharp edge has been cut off with a pair of scissors and great care. To increase the gap even more and make the razor even more ‘aggressive’ you can use more than one shim. The Hone 15 is a fairly mild razor, so I’m starting with two shims.
To start with the shims seem to change the shaving angle. It’s now more like 50 degrees rather than 30. Noted.
I’m not going to go too much into details. The Hone Type 15 with two shims is markedly more aggressive than without. I got a very close shave after four passes, but also a few nicks and the alum and aftershave have a strong opinion.
So if you like your razors aggressive, use shims with the Hone. They work. I prefer it tame. Maybe another blade would work better for me when shimmed, but I’m not going to find out. I have three more razors coming in and won’t have the time.
Also, the glue spots on the Feather blade stuck to the first shim quite firmly and made it a little bit tricky and potentially hazardous to remove it again.
I have a few more things to try with the Hone: straight from the freezer, shaving oil only and I want to compare it to…. errrm… one of the other razors on their way to me...
TBC...
Omega 49 big piggy brush
Truefitt&Hill Lavender shaving cream, face lathered
Hone Type 15
Feather blade (1) - double shim
Alum block
Speick ASL
Number one on my list of things to try with the Hone is shimming. For those not familiar with shimming: You can increase the gap between the blade and the base plate of a razor by putting something between the base plate and the blade. This ‘something’ is usually another blade, whose sharp edge has been cut off with a pair of scissors and great care. To increase the gap even more and make the razor even more ‘aggressive’ you can use more than one shim. The Hone 15 is a fairly mild razor, so I’m starting with two shims.
To start with the shims seem to change the shaving angle. It’s now more like 50 degrees rather than 30. Noted.
I’m not going to go too much into details. The Hone Type 15 with two shims is markedly more aggressive than without. I got a very close shave after four passes, but also a few nicks and the alum and aftershave have a strong opinion.
So if you like your razors aggressive, use shims with the Hone. They work. I prefer it tame. Maybe another blade would work better for me when shimmed, but I’m not going to find out. I have three more razors coming in and won’t have the time.
Also, the glue spots on the Feather blade stuck to the first shim quite firmly and made it a little bit tricky and potentially hazardous to remove it again.
I have a few more things to try with the Hone: straight from the freezer, shaving oil only and I want to compare it to…. errrm… one of the other razors on their way to me...
TBC...
- Messages
- 134
@riverrun Its been on quite a journey, so I will be very interested to see what that has done to the surface.
I agree the difference between in the head and the handle is most likely down to contact to the soap (the brass is all from the same stock, there is no material difference). The head of the razor is also where most of any cleaning has probably been concentrated too, I'll be interested to see how much difference it has picked up in person. The edges of the cap and the guard usually stay brighter for me (although I think that has something to do with the soap I use too, it does seem to 'clean' the razor, I can see where spots of it have been on the handle if I leave them there, because its brighter).
I will do a little piece on cleaning - I think I have come up with a satisfactory cleaning/polishing method that I can recommend that won't be dependent on getting hold of any specific (or expensive) cleaners or polishes available in any particular country which was something I was keen to avoid, its good to have options. And it should provide a nice piece to finish the pass around I hope.
Thanks for your follow up thoughts, I'm glad with some time between shaves its still gets a positive review and incident free I am interested to hear what you think of the freezer test, its not something I've tried myself! The shim is also an interesting experiment, and I have been listening to all the feedback on the feel, its been heard I'm also pleased to offer something mild too, and I'm glad it has a place.
Humm another razor you say... what ever could that be?
I agree the difference between in the head and the handle is most likely down to contact to the soap (the brass is all from the same stock, there is no material difference). The head of the razor is also where most of any cleaning has probably been concentrated too, I'll be interested to see how much difference it has picked up in person. The edges of the cap and the guard usually stay brighter for me (although I think that has something to do with the soap I use too, it does seem to 'clean' the razor, I can see where spots of it have been on the handle if I leave them there, because its brighter).
I will do a little piece on cleaning - I think I have come up with a satisfactory cleaning/polishing method that I can recommend that won't be dependent on getting hold of any specific (or expensive) cleaners or polishes available in any particular country which was something I was keen to avoid, its good to have options. And it should provide a nice piece to finish the pass around I hope.
Thanks for your follow up thoughts, I'm glad with some time between shaves its still gets a positive review and incident free
I am interested to hear what you think of the freezer test, its not something I've tried myself! The shim is also an interesting experiment, and I have been listening to all the feedback on the feel, its been heard I'm also pleased to offer something mild too, and I'm glad it has a place. Humm another razor you say... what ever could that be?
- Thread Starter
- #416
The Hone is already in the freezer for a first test tomorrow morning. I'm sure the only difference will be frost bite on my fingers,Thanks for your follow up thoughts, I'm glad with some time between shaves its still gets a positive review and incident free
but somebody has to do it. I also have some Stirling ultra cooling soap coming in for the coldest shave in the world. Shimming does make a difference, but I prefer the Hone without the shim.It's not the Schick Adjustable injector, it's not the Cobra, it's... something else. Let me just say it won't be as bloody heavy as the brass Hone 15.Humm another razor you say... what ever could that be?
- Messages
- 3,123
- Location
- Essex
Why not just the head in the freezer?
Make it a little easier to hold come morning
Make it a little easier to hold come morning
- Thread Starter
- #418
D'oh! Of course! Thank you! Why didn't I think of that? I'm off to the freezer now...
- Thread Starter
- #419
Hone Type 15 - Shave #5 - The frozen Hone
Mühle 33K257 synthetic brush
Speick Men shaving cream
Lots of cold water
Hone Type 15 (head frozen overnight)
Feather blade (1)
Alum block
Speick Men ASL
Speick Men ASB
I’m not a fan of cold water shaves. They are fine if it is 40 degrees C and I’m shaving on a hotel terrace on a Greek island, overlooking the deep blue sea.
Nevermind. It’s 14 degrees in London and I’m using the Hone Type 15. The head has been in the freezer overnight. Luckily I removed the handle from the freezer (thanks @Whosthedaddy - good call) otherwise I’m sure it would have stuck to my fingers.
The question is: Is the Hone Type 15 more aggressive when the head is cold? Or the other way round: Does heating it up expand the head slightly to make it milder?
After four shivering passes I can say with confidence that the answer is NO. It didn’t feel all that different from the unshimmed hot Hone, just a lot colder. Just like its heat retention, the Hone’s freeze retention is excellent. It felt icy cold on my skin right through the shave.
The alum block and aftershave agree with my judgement: Hardly any sting.
That’s it. Sorted. I don’t have to do this again. Except that I’m planning ‘the coldest shave on earth’. I’ll use @Nishy’s Stirling original glacial soap (the coldest soap on earth, he claims) with the frozen Hone and finish off with Alcolado Glacial.
Can’t wait
TBC...
Still waiting for the... errrmm... other razor to arrive...
Mühle 33K257 synthetic brush
Speick Men shaving cream
Lots of cold water
Hone Type 15 (head frozen overnight)
Feather blade (1)
Alum block
Speick Men ASL
Speick Men ASB
I’m not a fan of cold water shaves. They are fine if it is 40 degrees C and I’m shaving on a hotel terrace on a Greek island, overlooking the deep blue sea.
Nevermind. It’s 14 degrees in London and I’m using the Hone Type 15. The head has been in the freezer overnight. Luckily I removed the handle from the freezer (thanks @Whosthedaddy - good call) otherwise I’m sure it would have stuck to my fingers.
The question is: Is the Hone Type 15 more aggressive when the head is cold? Or the other way round: Does heating it up expand the head slightly to make it milder?
After four shivering passes I can say with confidence that the answer is NO. It didn’t feel all that different from the unshimmed hot Hone, just a lot colder. Just like its heat retention, the Hone’s freeze retention is excellent. It felt icy cold on my skin right through the shave.
The alum block and aftershave agree with my judgement: Hardly any sting.
That’s it. Sorted. I don’t have to do this again. Except that I’m planning ‘the coldest shave on earth’. I’ll use @Nishy’s Stirling original glacial soap (the coldest soap on earth, he claims) with the frozen Hone and finish off with Alcolado Glacial.
Can’t wait
TBC...
Still waiting for the... errrmm... other razor to arrive...
- Thread Starter
- #420
Hone Type 15 - Shave #6 - oil shave
King of Shaves Sensitive Oil
Hone Type 15
Feather blade (1)
Alum block
Speick Men ASL
I was wondering how the heavy and smooth Hone would cope with an oil shave. Being right handed I know that the best way (for me) to handle an oil shave is to apply the shaving oil with my left hand to the face and keep the right hand mostly oil free. The razor handle always picks up some oil when rinsing though. I tried picking up the Hone with my oily left hand and it is quite slippery, but not to the point where I wouldn’t be able to use it without dropping it. Just a little concentration needed. In my right hand the handle was a a little bit slippery, but not excessively so. I don’t have a porcelain sink to worry about though
Not much to report about the shave otherwise. A good, gentle, close shave. I’m now quite getting used to shaving without lather and not missing bits. The nicely hot brass head on my skin made a nice difference to yesterday’s freezer shave.
Overall I prefer oil shaves with my rubber handled Schick N3 injector, but using the Hone Type 15 with shaving oil is definitely possible.
I’ll briefly divert my attention to the Cobra Classic that arrived in the mail today, then I’ll do ‘the coldest shave on earth’ and then hopefully compare the Hone to… errr… the other razor I’m waiting for, then sending it back to Andrew @Hone
TBC...
King of Shaves Sensitive Oil
Hone Type 15
Feather blade (1)
Alum block
Speick Men ASL
I was wondering how the heavy and smooth Hone would cope with an oil shave. Being right handed I know that the best way (for me) to handle an oil shave is to apply the shaving oil with my left hand to the face and keep the right hand mostly oil free. The razor handle always picks up some oil when rinsing though. I tried picking up the Hone with my oily left hand and it is quite slippery, but not to the point where I wouldn’t be able to use it without dropping it. Just a little concentration needed. In my right hand the handle was a a little bit slippery, but not excessively so. I don’t have a porcelain sink to worry about though
Not much to report about the shave otherwise. A good, gentle, close shave. I’m now quite getting used to shaving without lather and not missing bits. The nicely hot brass head on my skin made a nice difference to yesterday’s freezer shave.
Overall I prefer oil shaves with my rubber handled Schick N3 injector, but using the Hone Type 15 with shaving oil is definitely possible.
I’ll briefly divert my attention to the Cobra Classic that arrived in the mail today, then I’ll do ‘the coldest shave on earth’ and then hopefully compare the Hone to… errr… the other razor I’m waiting for, then sending it back to Andrew @Hone
TBC...
