Thread: I dropped my razor... and a plan came together

I was getting ready for work on Wednesday and I lost grip on the shank of my razor. It clattered into the sink making sure that the edge stuck the counter, heel and toe on the way to the drain.

Crud. Cursory inspection revealed enough damage that the blade was taken out of the line-up, leaving me with only one shaver ready to go, and it also needs a touch-up hone.


Somewhat fortunately over the past several weeks I have been accumulating stones because I knew this day would come when I'd have to hone one one of my Dovos in order to be able to continue shaving. I even bought a couple of inexpensive straights to practice on, and I'm not even done working on the first one.

OK... Rookie on the field... Game Time. Gotta got to war with what ya got.

So. I get my razors all taped up and go directly to the Norton 4K/8K. I soaked the stone and went to work with the 4K on my 'damaged' blade. A few strokes on the 4K and I inspected the edge with a magnifier and could no longer see the little flattened dings along the edge. I thought "OK, good" and then did about twice as many strokes on the 8K side. I cleaned it up, wiped on a little oil and set it down to work on the second blade. A few strokes on the 8K on that one, clean and oil. Seemed easy.

I get up this morning and select the 'second' blade to shave. Wiped off the excess oil and stropped. It seemed noticeably sharper than before the hone, and that was good, but I noticed that my skin seemed an bit more irritated than usual after I had shaved and I'm curious. Is this an indication that the edge is not finished properly after honing or just that it's a bit sharper than I'm 'used' to?

In any case, I think my first emergency honing experience turned out well, and I'm looking forward to testing the work on the 'damaged' blade tomorrow or the day after. With luck, it will be good too.

I dinged a blade, but I knew that day would come. Sooner than I expected, but I was prepared and it worked out.

Or at least I think it's worked out.

I did take the precaution of ordering two new Dovos before I put steel to stone, just in case I screwed it up.

Mama didn't raise no fool.

Did you lap your new stone?

Sounds like the bevel is not fully set. Here is a good post on honing a razor with good micrographs on what to look for.

Second Try at Honing.

It is a bit long, but post 42, page 9, Photos 4 & 5 (upper right hand corner) show and edge that is close, (not fully set). Post 51, page 11, first photo, shows a fully set bevel.

You might also read the first 3 post in the Honing forum, for more information.

You are probably, pretty close to a shaveable edge.

There are a couple of threads about finishing on Norton 8K hones. I cannot link the thread from my iPad, but Janorton is a good read. Gssixgun did a good video

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=y53SL9QMq6I

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=qq4bB7oTCLc

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=WdFfMjDgj9M

Any time there is a meet in traveling distance, you will be amazed at how much easier it is to learn with others. There are some very subtle techniques you can pick up easier in person. The videos help and practise goes a long ways too. I hope you are using tape. A lot of new guys use way too much pressure on the spine, the tape will save premature wearing.

You may have a wire edge on the blade.

Originally Posted by FWiedner

I get up this morning and select the 'second' blade to shave. Wiped off the excess oil and stropped. It seemed noticeably sharper than before the hone, and that was good, but I noticed that my skin seemed an bit more irritated than usual after I had shaved and I'm curious. Is this an indication that the edge is not finished properly after honing or just that it's a bit sharper than I'm 'used' to?

As a razor dulls we often compensate our pressure & angle. If your blade was indeed sharper than previously & you shaved with it in the same manner as pre honing,well , you may just have needed to lighten up a little.

Originally Posted by onimaru55

As a razor dulls we often compensate our pressure & angle. If your blade was indeed sharper than previously & you shaved with it in the same manner as pre honing,well , you may just have needed to lighten up a little.

I was guilty of this very thing when I first started.

Thanks for the advice. I didn't think that I was putting much pressure on the blade and I just let it take whatever angle the spine and a piece of electrical tape set (while honing). I guess that doesn't necessarily mean I got it right.

So here's the next question... The blade is 'shaving'. Can I improve it without going back to the stone? Maybe by stropping a few more strokes?

Thanks for your input!

Update: I shaved with the 'damaged' razor this morning. After honing to get the edge repaired the other day and a few more runs across the strop than I did with the 'second' razor, I actually got a (what I as a 'beginner'), would call a pretty good shave. I didn't even bother to clean up with the DE.

I'll try the same thing with the 'second' razor tomorrow and see if there's an improvement.