Thread: Is this bevel fine?

Originally Posted by Maladroit

I've just bought one of those and the spine was warped. I'm half way through correcting the thing. I'll have it shaving soon but I'm sure the bevel will be wider than ideal when I'm done!

These new TIs are a POS as regards the forging and grind quality.

Curious why you didn't return it...like others have mentioned, I would not accept a new razor with geometry problems as I don't believe one ever 'fixes' them. Sure there are work arounds and yes, a wide uneven bevel can be an excellent shaver, but...

Just personal, but I would add to what Euclid440 said above and would want a new razor made by someone who uses a straight razor, and has a sense of their history and importance as one of man's perfectly evolved tools.

Originally Posted by WW243

Curious why you didn't return it...like others have mentioned, I would not accept a new razor with geometry problems as I don't believe one ever 'fixes' them. Sure there are work arounds and yes, a wide uneven bevel can be an excellent shaver, but...

Much appreciate everyone's input. This is my very first brand new straight razor, and again I have no clue what is normal and what isn't. I've only shaved with it once so asking me "how it shaves" isn't going to help much because again I'm new to straight razor shaving, the shaves aren't that great right now.

Do you think I should return it? Reading all these posts are making me feel uneasy about it now and I spent close to $200 on the razor.

Originally Posted by Justino14

Much appreciate everyone's input. This is my very first brand new straight razor, and again I have no clue what is normal and what isn't. I've only shaved with it once so asking me "how it shaves" isn't going to help much because again I'm new to straight razor shaving, the shaves aren't that great right now.

Do you think I should return it? Reading all these posts are making me feel uneasy about it now and I spent close to $200 on the razor.

I would return it if possible and check the classifieds on this site for a shave ready vintage razor at a much lower price point. You can possibly bring some ammunition from this thread regarding the problems with the razor. I for one think the problems originated with the quality of the razor and were compounded with heavy handed honing. Good Luck

The problem is with the honing, not the razor

I don’t know that there is a geometry problem with the razor, the bevels are pretty even, except for the one side, where the honer was honing on the stabilizer, which probably caused the un-even bevel on that side.

It was said, “Bevels are large for a new razor & looks like it was honed with a lot of pressure or honer had to compenate for poor geometry & remove more steel than usual. I can't see any frown in the pics.”

Not that it had a problem. It could be, it was sharpened on a belt sander or the honer is not experiences in honing razors and just honed it like a knife, or … possibly “the honer had to compensate for poor geometry”, but there is no indication of that, or that he just used too much pressure and no tape.

Now that the spine has been excessively ground, I doubt the seller would accept a return.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

The problem is with the honing, not the razor

I don’t know that there is a geometry problem with the razor, the bevels are pretty even, except for the one side, where the honer was honing on the stabilizer, which probably caused the un-even bevel on that side.

It was said, “Bevels are large for a new razor & looks like it was honed with a lot of pressure or honer had to compenate for poor geometry & remove more steel than usual. I can't see any frown in the pics.”

Not that it had a problem. It could be, it was sharpened on a belt sander or the honer is not experiences in honing razors and just honed it like a knife, or … possibly “the honer had to compensate for poor geometry”, but there is no indication of that, or that he just used too much pressure and no tape.

Now that the spine has been excessively ground, I doubt the seller would accept a return.

The razor was honed by the seller.

Wow, new razor?
Lot's of spine wear + large bevel -> not right for a NEW razor at all, also uneven

Tape or no tape, that bevel is wide -> too much pressure

I have razors I have honed a LOT without tape and with normal pressure I don't get any excessive wide bevels, the spines are well worn, but the bevels are normal looking

I have razors that also have uneven hone wear due to how the razor was made, and the bevel might look a bit uneven, but nowhere near that picture, that's excessive

That's just a very poor honing job IMO, unacceptable; either that or that razor has severe issues

Originally Posted by Euclid440

When having a razor honed the first question to ask is, do you shave with a straight razor? Also ask if they use machines or stones. Machines are not acceptable.

If not find someone else.

Looks machine honed and was riding on the stabilizer, in the first 2 photos. This would have keep the heel off the belt/stone, so he use more pressure on the heel until he ground the stabilizer down and caused all the heavy hone wear and the sharp heel.

That was a rounded heel originally and is now almost square and does have a sharp point that will cut you if you are not careful.


Attachment 229331


Next time have the heel reshaped and find someone that hones razors. Unfortunately this is common. Honed a new TI for a guy yesterday, who took it to a guy at a local big name sporting goods store, where they hone knives. The guy told him they hone razors all the time on a belt sander and polisher. Fortunately he said, he did not feel right and did not leave the razor with him…

Yes, many new TI do have issues and the bevels do not always come out even, but they can be made to shave well.

After seeing the wear on the stabilizer on the one side and not the other this makes sense.

Oh, ok I missed that…

I really looks like to much hone wear to me. I would send it back. I am not sure on the conversion rate but 200 dollars for that razor is about 70 dollars more then what I paid for my 1937 from SRD.....it had no hone wear and shaved great. I think you are not getting a very good deal.