Thread: Missing the toe on return stroke.

He forgot warped edge. I think. You can put it against a straight edge and check for that. Draw lines on your hone in both directions half inch apart and lap to check for that. uneven spine wear hmmmmmmm.......

hold your razor flat on a piece of paper on a flat surface and shine a light from behind. check for light coming through at the toe

Most new honers keep their elbow at their side as they complete strokes. It is easier to maintain the blade evenly on the stone if the honer raises his elbow at least as high as the top of the stone surface. At first this seems uncomfortable, but it quickly becomes a valuable habit and it eliminates the issues with which you are concerned.

What these guys said above...including a rolling x

Here's my victim. Heavier spine and edge wear at the heel. Stone is flat, spine wasn't like this when I started. Pretty sure it's all me.

Is there a way to correct this?

Another question, I know I can use the rolling x stroke to get all of the edge. Once I use that on this razor, do I always have to use that stroke throughout the honing process?

Ideally, should you just be able to lay a razor flat on the stone and cover the entire edge?

Thanks for all your help.

I'm left handed by the way so this is the side that gets the return stroke.

It looks like you are using a little more pressure on the heel section of the razor when honing, and from your pic, it only seems to happen on the return stroke.
As Ace said it can be a great help to raise your left elbow a little higher than the surface of the hone.
Try to keep the same amount of pressure through the entire stroke on the hone, it does take some time to learn this.
This helps to keep the razor flat on the hone.
A rolling X stroke is a good stroke to learn when honing, not sure if you would have to use it throughout the honing process,
Perhaps concentrate on fixing your basic honing stroke for now, and once you are comfortable with that, learning new methods and strokes will be easier.
I would like to see what other more experienced members have too add here, they will have some great tips as well

Was this razor shave-ready before you started out? If not, the bevel might have issues and you'll have to take a step back.

One other thing to keep an eye on is the undercutting of water on your hone. Once you get the razor to undercut the water along the entire edge - not necessarily at the same time, but in the same stroke - you know it is at least making contact.