Thread: Setting A Bevel

I'm trying to set a bevel on a Gong Razor Solingen Germany, I bought this on eBay and it has been cleaned and polished but in doing this the seller has completely blunted the edge. I've tried to move this forward but could it take more than 200 laps on a Naniwa SS 1000 grit to start to produce and edge? Also should the razor be capable of cutting forearm hairs off the bevel setting stage? This is the third razor I've ever honed, the first 2 produced a reasonable shave this morning so I'm hoping that my technique is ok.

It seems that any time I've set the bevel on a razor that I've sanded and polished it does take some doing. I can't count laps, my doctor says I have AD somethinger other. Before you move from the bevel setting you should be cutting arm hair. How much effort it takes in an indicator as well. As my bevel starts to takes shape my strokes get lighter. I'm no pro, but thats how I do it.

Thanks Shaun that gives me the reassurance to continue and you've cleared up the Arm hair test as well I think I moved to quickly from the 1000 Naniwa for one of the razors I've honed but that's why I bought some cheap ones to learn on. I'll go back and see if I can improve the edge on that one

I have dmt for blades like that. Its a slippery stroke though as you have to take out the deep scratches with a 1k afterwards. It sometime seems like it goes faster, but maybe it only seems that way! Lol.

Thanks Bill I've seen a lot of mentions on here about DMT what is it and can I get it here in the UK?

Any time I have gotten a super sharp edge in the end it was because I spent enough time on the 1k to get the edge easily cutting arm hair. The bevel is the foundation of your edge, if it is weak, your edge will reflect that. I have never used a DMT but what Bill is saying makes perfect sense to me.

It really helps to have a loupe or some sort of magnifier . Then you can see what is happening as it happens. You should be able to shave off a 1k. Not more than once though :<0)

I'd have to go along with what RezDog is saying as that is what I do also when setting a bevel. I have also used a DMT plate on a couple of really bad blades and like Bill says it takes a lot of work to get those deep scratches out that the DMT leaves. For me using a DMT is a desperation move. You can also use a marker pen on the bevel to see how you are doing visually as far as getting the two sides of the bevel to meet all along the edge.

Bob

Thanks Bob,
The idea of the marker can I just check this out with you. If you mark all along the bevel both sides when the marker pen disappears this means the bevel is the same all along the length. Similar to marking the hone with a pencil before lapping?

Hint:

When the edge and bevel needs serious work and you need to bring in the DMT or a very low grit hone those deep scratches are a probability.
If you use a higher angle aka adding 2 layers tape you can lessen that problem, this doesn't allow those deep scratches to cut very low (Or is that high ) into the bevel..
Then when you drop the razor back down in angle and set the actual shaving bevel those deep scratches should come right out