Thread: Trouble setting a bevel

CharlieBrian what exactly do you mean when you say "seeing if it'll cut hair"? It may be that your bevel is set but you're doing the wrong test. Are you trying to shave arm hair at or above the skin or a hanging hair test? How much pressure did you use on the glass?

As was mentioned earlier, if you keep doing the same thing with no results you need to walk away and figure out a different approach. This is a skill that takes some time to acquire. If you've been doing circles for two hours on a 1k with a new razor you've removed more steel then nesisary.

There are some good answers above. I would like to add the question; How much pressure are you using on the hone? Razors, even on the bevel set require exceptionally light pressure. Very much pressure and the razor flexes and the edge comes up off the hone.

Honing is easy till it ain't, a great guy said that its, true,,experience will help , but for now you need to relax, what made the edge bad to start with? ,, learning to hone would be easier after you learn to shave and strop. Good luck. Tc

Maybe Iam using too much pressure then.. The hanging hair test fails but rubbing it on my arm did take off a hair or two so I guess Iam making 'some' progress.. @sedell, thanks. I will keep at it till it's set. Question: should I circle 40 each way then set of 15 x strokes then test it and continue this process till its done? (So far, that's all I've been doing)
Thanks all.

Hanging hair test is not for bevel setting. I think your bevel is probably already set. Does it easily shave arm hair? You need to read up about bevel setting tests like the thumb nail test and thumb pad test. Stop doing circles you're just grinding away steel needlessly.

No offense, but throw the HHT out the dang window for now...lets just stick to attached hair. Listen to these guys who have been at it a while, find one you like and listen solely to them and they will get you through it. Razors aren't like knives. If you are flexing the steel with pressure, you are using 2x too much pressure...literally.

Put your honing gear away a take a long break till you are no longer feeling frustrated. Post a photo of the blade you are working on which would help a great deal for others to see what you are doing. I don't even know the type of grind on your razor or anything else. You have had some very good advice so far and all you have to is try on put in practice. Best is to find a mentor near you for some one on one.

Bob

First indicator that the hone is working is the grey coloured slurry/swarf.

If you are seeing grey then the hone is working, It's just a case of looking at the edge and moving it about in the light. A bevel that has met will show no light reflection off the cutting edge, An unmet bevel will reflect light from the cutting edge. This isn't the sides of the edge it's from the actual crown/peak of the edge.

While it's not a perfect test it will help.

Get a good overhead light, and use something dark as the background, You will see as you hone the reflected light from the peak will get thinner and thinner, then at some point it will be very hard to catch that reflected light at all. Once you have the feel of the reflection looking for it becomes a lot easier and you can check the bevel at a glance with a quick flick of the blade in to the light. I believe the pro's look for this more than they are actually looking at the metal itself, As it's easier than getting a loupe out when you are doing the rough bevel estimates.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...l-setting.html

I spent a few hours when I started with a cheapo razor, Dulling it then making the bevel meet to get a feel for the hones and to learn what to look for, It's never easy. The basics are, but the basics will only cover you when you have a razor that wants to play ball. The rest of the time it's trial and improvement.

Your also not grinding, you are honing. You only want to remove what you need to, If you go balls out you will cause more problems than you fix.

Bottom line, the bevel is not set and you do not have good test to tell when it is or if you are close.

Ink the bevel and ensure you are honing to the edge, then look straight down at the edge, if you see shiny reflections, the bevel is not set. Magnification will help diagnose your progress and the quality of the edge.

Do as many circles and or laps as it takes to bring the bevels to meeting. Always finish on X laps.

And as everyone has said, forget about hair test, they are unreliable. Some can have a place, but only when calibrated.