Thread: Zowada Website - double bevel info. updated

Interesting stuff. I really wondered about double bevels and razors when I first found SRP; I was left going like this when I know somewhere, pre-crash someone had said double bevel and a straight razor = bad.

Woodworkers have been using double bevels on chisels and plane irons for who knows how long to produce wood shavings so thin you can read through them, so I thought Why wouldn't/shouldn't a double bevel work on a straight razor????

I'm glad to see there's is talk about this and I'd like it if someone for whatever reason has a negative opinion on double bevels and razors to share their views. I myself have NOT tried a double bevel yet, but I will.

Thanks for the info, Tim.

Originally Posted by Chrisl

I'm glad to see there's is talk about this and I'd like it if someone for whatever reason has a negative opinion on double bevels and razors to share their views. I myself have NOT tried a double bevel yet, but I will.

Thanks for the info, Tim.

I have experimented with this method on a lot of different razors and have found that it produces really good results on most razors in significantly less time than my "traditional" natural stone progressions. On the other hand, assuming you can completely polish the lower grit scratch patterns away on the single bevel method, I think that your edge will be a little bit sharper because the inclusive bevel angle will be a little bit shallower. I also would rather touch up without or with just one piece of tape than to have to use two or three pieces so my razors are honed with a single bevel (most without tape, a few with tape).

Tim, did you use the factory finish on the UF to
give the edge that you photographed, or had you
lapped the stone previously? If so, how did you
lap it?

I've been curious

- Scott

My latest Ebay addition, a shiny Clauss arrived today.

It had the original bevel but two really nasty 1/2 bevel chipped out areas.

So, I 325'd it until the chips were gone, then 600 then 1200 all DMT.

Then, I put two layers of tape on the spine and did about 40 stokes on the Norton 8K. Then about 40 strokes on the yellow coticule.

With 60 strokes on my Tony Miller Latigo, the entire process took less than 40 minutes--I'm thinking more like 1/2 hour.

Shaved. Whoa there Betsy, this sucker is frickin' sharp. BBS on my mustachios shaved only WTG. And a couple of bleeders. Not cuts, just unexplained bloody spots.

The razor wiped the whiskers off my chin, it was quite amazing, but I also have more redness now than I had with other razors I have honed.

I remember someone else described their experience with a Feather or one of those disposable blade razors, and this experience rings a bell. Unfortunately I think that posting got lost in the database failure.

Anyway, this sure works great on restorations with wide bevels.

The only problem I see with this is if I sell this razor to someone, it will be cool until it starts to need honing, and then a barber hone probably won't help unless they guy knows to tape the spine first.

Other than that, this is pretty awesome.

I've got a couple of questions. Tim's write-up says do traditional honing as you'd usually do. I took this to mean hone as normal to the point where you would then take the razor and shave with it. Then, whack some tape on the spine, increase the angle, and do some more finishing.

First, what happens to the edge created under traditional honing when the angle is increased? Do you create a small wire edge that breaks off?

Second, and maybe I'm not visualising this correctly, but I'm not getting how a steeper angle is any more effective at removing coarser grit cuts than polishing at the original angle

Can anyone help me out here?

James.

Ok, well I'm definitely going to give double bevels a try. One thing I'm curious about is what to do when it comes time to touch up the razor – whether to put three pieces of tape on and hit just the secondary bevel, and if so, how many touch-ups before you have to reset the primary bevel, etc.

I'm also wondering about pasted hangers. I have a linen with chrome oxide that I'm pretty attached to, I do ten or so strokes on every few shaves...I hate the idea of having to put tape on the razor just to give it a few licks on a hanger.

... But does it shave better...

What is the advantage of a double bevel?

I would think sharp is sharp. I'm naive. On wedges a single bevel with tape should resolve the speed of honing issue. What is the fundamental advantage of a double bevel beyond the fact that it is possible?

- Bob

I have experimented with the method on a lot of razors and am sticking with the traditional single-bevel method.

Originally Posted by sebell

Tim, did you use the factory finish on the UF to
give the edge that you photographed, or had you
lapped the stone previously? If so, how did you
lap it?

I've been curious

- Scott

Scott,

It was lapped so that the original factory marks were about 50% gone. I used 400 grit Silicon Carbide paper on a surface plate. I wish I had a DMT !

Tim Z.

Originally Posted by Tim Zowada

Scott,

It was lapped so that the original factory marks were about 50% gone. I used 400 grit Silicon Carbide paper on a surface plate. I wish I had a DMT !

Tim Z.

I'll trade you my DMT 325 grit for a damascus blade