Thread: Barber Hone: Problem: I don't remember if pro honing was done w/ or w/o tape...

Originally Posted by Corgi

Thanks, everyone...

The problem is that the razors came back from the professional sharpener with different degrees of cutting ability, no doubt due to the age and the blade-geometry of each. One, a Wade & Butcher wedge from the early 1800's, went into a drawer immediately because it just wouldn't shave; another, a late-19th-C. Wade & Butcher 1.1" wedge, did OK with the grain, but still pulled and skipped noticeably, in spite of its wonderful heft; the last, another 1" Wade & Butcher, this time an aggressive hollow ground, cut OK the first couple times, but it quickly started pulling as well.

I know it may be my stropping technique, but I've had a Filarmonica that just wouldn't quit and has not yet necessitated another trip to a pro sharpener; this is why it seems odd to me that this razor is the only one that I'd strop correctly.

I am therefore hoping (since I *love* the vintage W&B's) that taking a barber's hone to them may at least allow me to experiment, and at best enjoy some wonderful shaves with these 19th-century veterans. Any further advice would be immensely appreciated.

Thanks again

Tom

Sounds like a bad honing job. I have never sent a razor back to someone that won't shave smoothly or pass at least HHT 4. That is the whole point of paying someone for honing.

Every wedge I have honed passed HHT with flying colors and are some of the easiest smoothest shavers. It sounds like the bevels were never even set properly.

If you can't fix them yourself I would be happy to do it for free. I really hate to hear of people paying for honing and they don't get a usable razor out of it.

If you can find someone near you to help locally that would be even better as they can show you some pointers on your B-Hone. But if all else fails I would be happy to help, just cover the shipping charges.