Thread: Tough razor to hone .

First let me say , I've restored the edges of more than 20 razors , and some were easier than others , but I've been working on a Shumate "For Barbers" and the steel in this razor is harder than I don't know what . I also restored another Shumate "For Barbers" and it was just as hard as this one is . Has anyone else had this experience with this or any other Shumate razors ? Are all Shumates this tough ?

American razors tend to have harder steel. I'm guessing that this one just needed more work to start with. That happens sometimes, and you can't always see it coming.

Originally Posted by dave5225

First let me say , I've restored the edges of more than 20 razors , and some were easier than others , but I've been working on a Shumate "For Barbers" and the steel in this razor is harder than I don't know what . I also restored another Shumate "For Barbers" and it was just as hard as this one is . Has anyone else had this experience with this or any other Shumate razors ? Are all Shumates this tough ?

I always like to see what they look like to determine if prior wear or honing is creating an issue.

Have fun,

Lynn

Hi,

While leaning about the honing the process my brother gives me a wedge to hone. Put an edge on that he says. No other comments.

I struggled with it for a long time, an hour here and an hour there. I read the wiki and then it it hit me, "A wedge just has more material to remove to set the bevel." Now my brother never said a word. I think he was messing with me.

If you know the work ahead it does not seem like soe much work. I read, I think in the wiki, if you make a few passes on an 8k, you look for the shiny line to see how much work you have to do to get the bevel set. At least for a wedge that is.

I guess that was a long way to say, you now how to put an edge on it, you just did not know it would take so long.

- Mike

I had one also that was very hard. 'Threw me off for a while. My Gencos have been about like the Avg soligen - harder than Sheffield, softer than Shumate or the Wackers. If I do a micro bevel w/ 1 added layer of tape, Sheffields take about 7-8 strokes on a bone dry c12k. The Shumate, wackers take 30. Stones vary, but it does give an impression of the difference the steel makes.

Thanks for all the replies . I've honed out frowns , and small chips on other razors , so I know how long some edge restorations can take . But this Shumate , and the other one I restored seem to have extremely hard steel . Since they are both stamped "For Barbers" on the tang , I was wondering if they were made of harder steel than other Shumates , because they were made for barbers , and needed to be more durable .

Whenever you get into a razor that has a lot of uneven flattening on the spine and it is not the same on both sides, you are in for a long ride. I alot of cases, the amount of metal removal is simply not worth it to me. You have to decide that on your own however. There is a reason you can get some razors for $10-$20.

Have fun,

Lynn

I own and have honed quite a few Shumates, I can tell you it isn't the hardness of the steel in general, that doesn't mean you don't have one that missed the tempering process a bit back in the 20's...
But all the "Barbers" from Shumate that I have done have been easy, no special tricks...

I would think the problem is more what Lynn has already said, in the previous honing... There is a very small chance in bad hardening from the factory...

i have experienced with 2 blades. One was 8 years ago i was just learning how to hone.blade was wedge and i honed for a month and didnt get nowhere.then i send pro.s to hone . took him to hone this 1 more months and didnt get noweher ether. Blade was sharp but not shave ready. Recently i got blade in nos condition name says english best silver steel. I have been honing this blade now more then 8 hours. It is only a little above 8 k level. I wouldnt waste any more time on it but i just dont give up . Will get it done but how long time i am not sure. I do think Lynn is correct there is may be factory issues in such hard blades.gl

I've run into some vintage blades, can't specify brand, that I did Lynn's full pyramid on (following bevel set) and still didn't get there. Had to repeat the full pyramid. (here) The second pyramid would do the trick nine times out of ten. More often than not an abbreviated pyramid, here, would bring a razor up to the finishing level but we don't hit a home run every time we go up to bat.