Thread: Sharper in the center than the toe and heel

Originally Posted by joostmoree

Gentlemen,
It seems to me that we do not take proper notion of the subject and talk past each other. It is stated that the edge of the blade is right without any smiling. Then there remains in my humble vision nothing but looking to the properties of the stone. And a brand new Dovo, straight as an iron - if ever - has no other need than a simple flat stone and simple strokes performed by a simple shaving man. I'm such a man.

Joost

Well the blade appears to not be sharp except for in the center. The advise I gave you was valid IMO as the blade is not hitting the hone equally at certain areas of the blade. So I would do what I am telling you if it was my blade. It only follows the edge of the blade and that is necessary to hone this one, or if you keep honing the blade flat, you will remove a lot of metal in the center to eventually get to the heel and toe. Its your blade and choice of course and I feel Im giving you the best advice. Others know much more than me though.

Right guys, let's see if we cannot straighten this out.

First off, if your razor only hits the center of the blade, there may be a number of things going on.

As stated earlier, get your hone flat.
Getting that out of the way, should make things easier moving forward.
Now, from the description from the OP, it seems to be a Newer Dovo we are talking about, and honed by Lynn at that.
Based on that, I would say that it should be able to take an edge without going to the extremes of honing on the sides of hones and other more exotic maneuvers.

Furthermore, the OP has stated that the razor isn't a much of a smile to speak about.
So, then we need to address the actual stroke used to get the described result.
Does it behave the same on both sides?
If so, I would think it safe to say we have an issue with the honing stroke. (If as stated earlier, the hone is now flat)

A heal leading motion up and down the hone, with a slight rocking motion should in all probability do the trick.
With such a motion you are actually using just the first inch or so of the hones width.
This will allow you to actually get to all parts of the edge on most razors.
Only the really twisted or bent razors will not get properly honed using this method.

Right.
Let us know if any of our tips so far helps at all, and if not, what seems to be happening along the edge when these tips are applied?

Birnando

That is pretty close to how I do all my razors, 99% are not new and have some sort of quirk to the blade. The magic marker will tell me after the first stroke or two how I need to adjust the toque to the blade to get full even contact.

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

Birnando

That is pretty close to how I do all my razors, 99% are not new and have some sort of quirk to the blade. The magic marker will tell me after the first stroke or two how I need to adjust the toque to the blade to get full even contact.

Bob

Yeah, me too
The magic marker is indeed an indispensable tool when honing trouble-razors.

Guystlemen,

Considering my earlier entry announcing working this thing out to the bone, I
was about to deal with the basics of flattening a stone, though it is way past midnight. But in the meantime Mod. Birnando interrupted with among others, I quote: "As stated earlier, get your hone flat."
So, I retreat and await your reactions on Birnandos statements in their entirety.

Yours,
Joost

Originally Posted by Birnando

Right guys, let's see if we cannot straighten this out.

hehe - good one

Originally Posted by Birnando

First off, if your razor only hits the center of the blade, there may be a number of things going on.

As stated earlier, get your hone flat.

I THINK my hone is flat! I don't really know how to tell for sure but I ran the DMT over it again last night to be sure. I don't have alot of confidence in any of my honing skills

Originally Posted by Birnando

Getting that out of the way, should make things easier moving forward.
Now, from the description from the OP, it seems to be a Newer Dovo we are talking about, and honed by Lynn at that.
Based on that, I would say that it should be able to take an edge without going to the extremes of honing on the sides of hones and other more exotic maneuvers.

Furthermore, the OP has stated that the razor isn't a much of a smile to speak about.
So, then we need to address the actual stroke used to get the described result.
Does it behave the same on both sides?

It does.

Originally Posted by Birnando

If so, I would think it safe to say we have an issue with the honing stroke. (If as stated earlier, the hone is now flat)

A heal leading motion up and down the hone, with a slight rocking motion should in all probability do the trick.
With such a motion you are actually using just the first inch or so of the hones width.
This will allow you to actually get to all parts of the edge on most razors.
Only the really twisted or bent razors will not get properly honed using this method.

Right.
Let us know if any of our tips so far helps at all, and if not, what seems to be happening along the edge when these tips are applied?

OK I will try that. I was honing with the blade perpendicular to the hone and very little to no X-pattern.

Originally Posted by EggSuckingLeech

OK I will try that. I was honing with the blade perpendicular to the hone and very little to no X-pattern.

Traditionally razors have always been honed with an X stroke because straight razors are not always so straight & even a slight warp or misgrind will be a challenge to the beginner who tries to just go up n down the stone.
The spine determines the edge so both need to contact the stone. I know it's a simplistic view but you haven't achieved that with the stroke your using. Get the magic marker working & see what stroke will erase it. Personally I use a loupe to see where I'm at but the marker method is good too.