Thread: Ruining the bevel.

Hey chaps. 1. i have a king 1k/6k and 4k,8k,10k naniwas. I should be OK. I recently bought a Dovo Bismarck, and as a new razor it 'should not' have needed any more than the 8k. I understand the method/reason about honing. But I end up doing this. I open the box, and it's not shave ready. Fine, I start with some light circles and strokes on the 8k, then for some reason it seems dull. So, out comes the 1K, and I re-set the bevel....so I think. It cuts arm hair and passes the TNT, so off to the 4K, 20 circles e/w, 20 light circles as per the rules, I check it and bugger me if it's dull. No point going to the 6k et al. So I hone it for another 10 minutes on the 4k. It seems OK, so I go to the king 6k (a smooth stone) It seems acceptable but not quite right. Ny now I'm getting the shits with the whole thing. But I decide to give the 8k a very light pressure for 8 strokes. Remember guys I've got a sore back from sitting down at the hones table. It's amazing there is any of the razor left...(Exageration)

My trouble is that once the razor feels 'pen knife sharp' and can nip a few hairs off, and I go the 4k and so on to the 10K and the .5 crox. If I come back to it a few hours later and after a TPT it's a good feel. Then I strop it and shave, not bad at all, but it is no more than 3 to 4 shaves before it seems to pull and feel average. It must be my technique. Should I rub it spine first into the 1k to get rid of what is probably an over honed blade. How much effort, (time) should I be spending to get one new razor 'Shave ready'. I reckon I'm a chronic over -honer. I reckon my 6/8 is one session away from being a 5/8. I'd just like a tip on how much time I should need to get a new razor to shave ready. I've had a razor pro honed so I know what 'sharp' is. It's identical brother 'Dovo Prima Klang', and I managed to get OK myself, but this bismarck 6/8 is a worry. I put it in the box with some light oil, wait 3 days till I strop it, and at the first shave it is OK, it just doesn't hold the edge. What am I doing wrong? I admit I have RAD, HAD and OCD and a few others. I don't worry about numbers of strokes etc, I just want to know that after say 15 minutes I need to stop and re-assess my positon. The more you hone, the less you get success, and the less success you get the more you hone, Help.

Hey mate, is there anyone reasonably close ( in Oz, that means a few hours driving ! ) that you could visit, who could mentor you ?

Haveachat 45, honed my 1st razor and two months later it's still OK, ( Touched with a half sdozen light strokes on the 10k and a couple of crox on balsa and is tops again. He is 1200 k's away. So I'm going to take away lots of pressure, and not put any more pressure, once the 4k is set. I can get it right with the Dovo Prima Klang, but this 6/8 bismarck has me scratching my head..Worry not though, I just bought an e bay, a good one but is 1/2 hollow and might not have the blade flex (Klaas of solinen brand new). It's back to the drawing board and gssxigun's videos on progressions. I'll get it right eventually, but this is a craft indeed. I stopped knicking myself 4 weeks ago, but still am searching for the best edge. (Crazy, but the 6/8 I sharpend yesterday, Iput some light oil on it today. I swear they improve after a day or two. I'll shave with it in the morning, and report.....This is a great hobby, makes golf look like meditation....lol

Is the problem blade warped ? Have you used a texta on the edge to see if the stone is contacting the edge evenly ?

No mate, I've not tried the texta test, but these razors are virtualy brand new..I mean one is pro honed and there (It's identical brother) is a nice enough shave but not quite up to the pro honed one. I really think I'll get it as I do it more. I worry about over-honing though. What is it, and what's the best way to correct it. The razor that feels less keen as the others is the 6/8 dovo, then the next day it feel good, so i rub a little mineral oil on it and put it aside for 2 days, and this morning I shaved with it and got a good result. BUT it is not as good as the pro honed razor. Only marginal but a little, which tells me I'm getting the 8k - 10 k wrong. I think I'm saving it by the strop with the crox balsa strop. I will not give up I promise you all, but I'd really benefit from knowing what over -honed is and it's remedy Cheers Bobski ( I also lap all my stones regular - they are good to go)

If you over honed on a 10 k the wire is easily removed on your CrO strop then 4-5 light strokes on your finisher should get you back in business.
I'd bet the bevel is not right on the non pro honed one. That's why I suggested the texta trick. You may even have a slight warp on the 6/8 which can create a foiled edge if you do not hone evenly. Magnification should tell you a lot. Can you snap some pics ?

Hey Oz, under 25 times magnification it seems smooth and even bevel, with perhaps a slightly lesser area in width towards the toe. (I can't take a photo of it,) I'm fairly certain that there is no warping. I have a new 'Klaas' solingen 11/16 arriving next week, so I'll first up texta test it to see where the starting point is. I'll let you know how I go. thanks mate for your time and interest.

Originally Posted by bobski

Hey Oz, under 25 times magnification it seems smooth and even bevel, with perhaps a slightly lesser area in width towards the toe.

Is the smaller area the same on both sides ? If one side is larger that could indicate a warp or uneven grind.

It is not the same on both toe ends. But the wear pattern is identical on both razors One side is noticeably skinnier on the last 1.5cm up to the tip, I looked at my other razors and I've found the culprit.When pushing away from me on the hone I'm using two hands on the razor, one being the toes, and in all 3 razors there is less width to the bevel on the opposite side, telling me I'm heavy handed pushing the razor away from me, ie, too much pressure from my left hand on the toe on my left hand side. When bringing it back, I'm using less pressure. I check these under 25 magnification and they are all similar to it. Now I'm conscious of how it's occurring so, I think the best thing to do is wait till my newest razor arrives this week and when honing it up, be conscious of the pressure and check with texta and magnifying. As to the 2 razors who have this imbalance 1.5cm end of toes on the left side as you push the razor away from you up the hone,,,too much pressure. I'm open to suggestion on the remedy. I'm sure there is no warping, and it's ,my inadvertent technique deficiencies. Could it be dealt with by going back to say the 4k and noticeably place extra pressure on the area needed, or is it something that could be dealt with the 6k or 8k. I don't know if the whole bevel needs re doing. Bare in mind the shave now isn't bad, HHT all work but it's just not up to the pro version. Cheers gents, at least I know whats wrong, just now how to fix if necessary at all.[/I]

Originally Posted by bobski

As to the 2 razors who have this imbalance 1.5cm end of toes on the left side as you push the razor away from you up the hone,,,too much pressure. I'm open to suggestion on the remedy. I'm sure there is no warping, and it's ,my inadvertent technique deficiencies. Could it be dealt with by going back to say the 4k and noticeably place extra pressure on the area needed, or is it something that could be dealt with the 6k or 8k. I don't know if the whole bevel needs re doing. Bare in mind the shave now isn't bad, HHT all work but it's just not up to the pro version. Cheers gents, at least I know whats wrong, just now how to fix if necessary at all.[/I]

Bite the bullet & learn to use one hand. It's really not that hard. If it's shaving ok I wouldn't try anything corrective at this point. The bevel should shape up over the next few honings.