Thread: Uneven Bevel

So, I tried my hand at repairing my razor after getting a few dings in it from a drop. I have touched up the edge a few times as needed, but this is the first time removing a lot of metal. I used two Norton combo stones (a 220/1000 and a 4000/8000).

Everything worked out rather well considering and the razor shaves nicely again, but the bevel is visibly uneven. I'm talking about the bevel on the side (where the stones contact the metal), the edge is nice and even. There's a wavy pattern to it, one side has a larger bevel towards the toe and less at the heel and the other is the opposite. I know that this can be caused by improper technique, but I was very careful to put even pressure throughout the process.

My question is, could it be that my blade became slightly bent during the drop causing this wavy pattern? If so, is there a way to re-shape a bent razor edge? If this is just a technique problem, what can I do to get a more even bevel?

I think you may be right with the geometry being changed from the drop, and I don't think it is fixable without risking even more damage or possible breakage of the blade, someone with more experience may advise otherwise but I wouldn't risk it myself.
if it is technique - did you try honing with your finger on the heal & point on the low sides to see if it helped flattern the blade against the hone better?
did you use tape when honing & if so did you notice if it was wearing even also or did it refleck the bevel ??

Try putting the blade on a guaranteed flat surface and then shine a torch from the opposite side. If you see light under a certain part of the razor you know the blade is warped somewhere. If not, it may just be technique, each razor does have its own "personality" so it may just be a case of getting to know each other.

Straights aren't exactly made from flexible metal. Usually an impact will crack, chip or shatter the metal. My guess is you applied some uneven pressure which is what usually causes uneven bevels.

What was the bevel like before? is it possible it was uneven to begin with and there is some issue with the razor?

The bevel was even to begin with (from manufacturer). It remained even when I would touch it up on the 4000/8000 periodically. I'm not sure If the carbon steel in the razor is especially flexible because the ding it received probably should have been a chip on more rigid steel, but was instead a fold over of the blade (about 3/4 to 1 centimeter deep).

I used tape for the initial grinding on the 220/1000 until I had a flat even blade to work with, then I removed the tape to set the actual cutting bevel. The tape seemed to wear evenly along the back.

As I said, the razor seems to be cutting fine for my tastes (as good as it was with any other of my touch ups), so it's not that big of an issue, I was just wondering if this was a technique issue that I needed to address.

I've seen uneven bevels here and there could be the spine is off a tad. I just honed one the other day (new) wide at both ends and narrow mid point. The bevel looked perfect but as I started honing it, it became noticeable.
I'm not in the thousands honed camp but 100 or more. The majority of razors I've honed are completely fine and even, once in awhile I run across one that does this. Or one side of the bevel is wider than the other.
Maybe as you said, you removed a lot of metal and the imperfection became more pronounced and now more noticeable?

I posted a similar thread a while back. I'd honed a razor and the bevel although set was uneven on both sides. It shaved well but just looked wrong to me, the consensus of opinion was this sometimes happens and could be due to incorrect honing or the geometry of the blade, but if the bevel is set, so what. I'm going back to this blade at some stage to see if by honing unevenly on each side I can even out the bevel and then get it reset. The razor was off eB and not to much cash so it's not one of my best. It may not work but it'll be interesting to try and the uneven bevel irritates me as I like things to not only work well but look right. Yes I will check the blade alignment before hand.

Like Anthony, I want the blade to "look" right and shave right.
This old (1810 - 1830?) Bengall wedge fell out of a paddle strop compartment and I planned to send it to Glenn (gssixgun) to get fixed.





With nothing to lose, I laid the blade flat on a 325DMT and took it up by 800, 1200 to 4k. After each stone my horror increased. What have I done?

When Glenn sees this "rolodave" will immediately be filed in the "IDIOTS" drawer.



Not wanting to waste money on this blade I double taped and took it through 800,1200, 4k, 8k, 12k and stropped it a bit and shaved.

WOW

One of the smoothest shaves I ever had. "Mr. Ugly" will now be a permanent part of the rotation. Sorry, Glenn.

Appearances can be deceiving.

Dave

@ RoloDave
Maybe you should start a thread named the ugly shaver - Or a Believe it or not.... it shaves and well!
I wonder if you could have that reground? it is a nice looking blade er was lol

Originally Posted by Trimmy72

@ RoloDave
Maybe you should start a thread named the ugly shaver - Or a Believe it or not.... it shaves and well!
I wonder if you could have that reground? it is a nice looking blade er was lol

lol, too.

My mentor thinks it may have been reground by a street vendor using a bicycle grinder contraption. That first pic does not do justice to how awful it looked.
If it had not shaved so well I was going to have it reground. For now, leave well enough alone.

Dave