Thread: Honing a smiling edge with a spine cutout

Ok instead of writing this 3 separate times in PM's I decided to address it here


This thread about this razor has given me 3 PM's about how to hone them..

glen

I have a blade with the same spinal configuration as the wade and butcher you have in the photo of the latest article. any clues on how to hone it?





Ok honing is actually pretty simple if you forget the Rock-n-Roll X stroke, I use tape on every razor, period, I didn't spend hours polishing that beauty up to lay down some ugly hone wear when I can solve that problem for 10 cents worth of tape

Regardless of tape or no tape the honing is the same..

You have to use the 45 degree heel forward stroke so that you don't wobble the blade
Google "gssixgun, honing, smiling blade" and you can watch it done..

If you look close you will find an even spine line through there BUT you have to keep the spine fully in contact with the hone if you try a Rocking or Rolling stroke the spine will most likely bump where the spine cutout is...

Problems:

Someone in the past messed up the line already.
Solution:
1. Cut a new line then re-buff the razor
2. Use 2 layers of tape

Somebody in the past freehanded the edge
Solution:
A ton of work cutting a true bevel


Many of these older heavy Sheffields have some pretty bad spine wear,I still believe that the spines are much softer then newer hollow grinds which creates this problem way easier..
You can either:
Re-grind the blade (The solution in the past)
Spend hours to even up the spine and get a 1/4 inch wide bevel
Tape the razor

It is your razor so do what you want


ps: I never advise using more than 3 layers of tape it gets a little too squishy after that for my taste, but again it is your razor..


pps: For those reading the thread that think I am bouncing around to answer questions that haven't come up I was trying to hit all of the questions from the pm's Sorry

thank you Glen I will try this method. Mine was delivered honed by free hand and it IS taking forever to re set the bevel, never mind the tons of micro chips

Success! thanks a lot Glen, I got it shave ready. I had tried one layer of tape yesterday, in frustration, on the King 1 k but it didn't seem to make much difference. two layers , PLUS the hundreds and hundreds of strokes I did the last two days made the difference. After it was shaving arm hair off the 1K I went to the norton 4/8 k combo stone and did a pyramid of 25/25, 20/20, 15/15, 10/20

then onto the Chinese 12 k on water and lots of X strokes

then onto my vintage coticule on water and lots 50 X strokes
30 laps on linen and the 60 on leather and it seems very ready. we'll see tomorrow but thanks again, I was on the verge of selling or throwing this away ) and it's a great historic blade so what a waste that would have been.

I am still wondering what the heck the cuts are even for, I mean W&B has some razors with beautiful spine work why those kinda odd looking (IMO) cuts



But glad that helped a bit anyway

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I am still wondering what the heck the cuts are even for, I mean W&B has some razors with beautiful spine work why those kinda odd looking (IMO) cuts



But glad that helped a bit anyway

yea I can't imagine it's just a design 'statement' but what could be another reason? Anyway taping seemed to have done the trick and I was ready to go to three layers if necessary. Maybe if I had done two layers on day one it wouldn't have taken me so long. good honing lesson though and I do love the blade

Sixgun, just watched your smiling blade video very informative, thank you. I noticed a couple of things that might benefit new honers.

1. You have a high faucet. I replaced my bathroom facet with a high gooseneck, completely raising the faucet well above the sink bowl. The cost of the faucet greatly out ways the cost of smacking you favorite razor and clipping the edge.

2. You use dark towels. My wife bought me Black towels for sharpening. She would have a fit getting swarf and Thüringen slurry from white towels. The other day at Sam’s Club, I saw a pack of a dozen dark blue hand towels, like they use in the car wash for about 50 cents apiece, Restaurant supply section. Cheap insurance for household harmony.

3. And the tip on changing tape at each progression. For new honers looking at the tape on the razor, can also tell you a lot about how much and where you are applying pressure. Intentionally or not. I can be a useful indicator. For new honers, I recently began to teach my son to hone, the more feedback they get the better it all makes sense. Tape & Sharpie ink do that dramatically and inexpensively. I too, tape mostly for esthetics.

Thanks again, good video.

very usefull thread! thanks!!!

I just want one of those blades!!!