Thread: Bevel setting

Hey all,
Yesterday i continued setting a bevel on my straight razor and I'm getting frustrated! I've been working on this over and over and still cannot get it very sharp. I use a Norton 1k and my method has been doing the circles on each side, then 10x strokes, then repeat. I stopped doing the circles because I was afraid I'd be overdoing it by taking off too much metal and did only x strokes continuously and periodically checking the sharpness. I've made some progress- under a light there is an even shine running along the blade on both sides and it does cut leg hair, but barely- I have to use a little pressure along the skin and it will cut well enough to where I have bald patches on my leg but will not cut the hair by grazing it. I even moved on to pyramid honing on my 4K/8k stone to thinking maybe the bevel was good enough to move on and get it to shave ready but no dice! So then went back to the 1k to set the bevel again!
Is it normal to take this long? Should I just be patient and keep at it or am I doing something wrong? Should I go back to 40 circles then x strokes and repeat this cycles until it's ready or just do x strokes? Is my pressure too hard/too light?
Btw, I have the spine taped and I make sure to change it before it wears away so I don't think there's any problems there. And the razor is a vintage ja henckles in pretty nice condition.
Thank you!

No it is not usual for a Henckels Hollow grind to take very long

Can we see a pic of the razor ????

This is the razor as it was when I first bought it. Since then I've removed the minor rust and tarnish and began honing it, but otherwise, this is it.

Am I seeing a crooked cutting edge, like at the toe and looks like a frown in the middle? Might need some work to align before setting the bevel,, but I,m not a hone guy, just what I,m seeing. Good luck with that. Tc

There will be guys to come along with some real ideas, but the bevel doesn't look like your reaching the edge In The frown. Is this your first razor honing? i see about someone local to help you, to quote a good guy at honing ,, " honing is easy till it ain't" doing refreshes and light maintenance is not bad but razor edge restoration is a skill. Tc

It might be better if the photos were of the razor as it is now after you cleaned and started honing it.

Bob

Ok

Do you understand what a Magicmarker Test is ????

Put 2 layers of tape on there
Color the edge with a marker
Do 2-3 Perfect Light X laps on each side using the 8k
Carefully wipe away the water

Now look at the bevel from heel to toe this is going to show you how even and well formed you bevel is

If you see marker below the top of the bevel edge you have to adjust the stroke to take that out, we call that "Honing Gymnastics"

Razors are rarely Perfect, stones are Rarely dead flat you have to learn to work through getting those two things to meet evenly and equally across the hone...

Simple Huh ????


ps: After you see the state of the bevel with 2 layers of tape drop to one and check again then proceed to getting it Even and Sharp

@ gssixgun, Thanks. I have heard of it but never read into it much. But okay, I'll for sure try that tonight. And if this shows me that my razor will require adjusting my strokes, how exactly would I do that?
Thanks for your help!

Search and watch the bevel setting videos might be the best step
You find the maker test and magnification are your freind when bevel setting