Thread: Asymmetry and slanted jimps

As a newbie I'm wondering how common the asymmetry shown in the picture is to vintage/new razors - and the same for the slanted jimps.

What effect would the asymmetry of the spine have on honing? I imagine that each side may need to be honed anywhere from slightly differently to very differently since there will be varied alignment to the stone on each side. Seems like one of the slants towards the "V" will be more acute than the other and that would have a significant effect.

Experienced ones, please impart your knowledge.

The jimps have no effect on honeing,On the older razors they were hand cut,thus not perfect.

It doesn't matter what the edge looks like, so long as its well honed. Asymmetry is not uncommon, nor are small warps, nor is uneven grinding of notches and/or jimps.

I would say it's not common to have something that far out on either an old or new blade. However, as long as the same degree of inaccuracy is maintained along the spine length then it should not cause a problem - you will just have a broader bevel on one side than the other. Given that some blades have tiny bevels, the difference on each side may not even be noticeable.

That was quick. Thanks for the info!

you will have bevels with different width on each side of the razor.
The jimps do not matter.

If you look at the side of the razor, where the spine rounds there is a spot where the side of the razor makes contact with the hone under the spine. That is known as the 'honing flat' and that is where the rubber meets the road. A lot of razors are not perfectly symmetrical from side to side. Probably more are not than are.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

If you look at the side of the razor, where the spine rounds there is a spot where the side of the razor makes contact with the hone under the spine. That is known as the 'honing flat' and that is where the rubber meets the road. A lot of razors are not perfectly symmetrical from side to side. Probably more are not than are.

Yes, I was thinking of the 'honing flat' when I posted, although I didn't know the term. There is some variance in the width of the honing flat as well. I imagine that is also typical.

p.s. I just thought of a honing video I was watching where the guy taped the spine and of course, the honing flat along with it - he said to save honing wear. This goes along with the idea that symmetry isn't essential, having tape would change the bevel angle slightly as well.

Originally Posted by RADisorder

Yes, I was thinking of the 'honing flat' when I posted, although I didn't know the term. There is some variance in the width of the honing flat as well. I imagine that is also typical.

Yes it is not necessarily typical on all of them but not atypical. If you don't use tape to hone you'll see the anomalies in the spine and bevel as you hone. If you do use tape they'll all show in the bevel since you won't get wear in the honing flat. Anyway, as others have said, you can still get a good shaving edge, just not as pleasing to the eye as it would be if there was perfect symmetry.

'Where the rubber meets the road' - it can;t be more succinct than that.