Thread: Experienced with a Hone in Scotland? / Uk

Afternoon Fellas.

Im looking to see If there is anyone in Scotland ( Just for closeness ) whos experienced with honing and If not Scotland anywhere in the UK as Im looking for someone or somewhere I can get my TI honed. Just looking for suggestions at this stage as Im going to continue with the strop to find out If it is just my technique or whether ir does need a good honing. The background is that last week I received my TI 7/8ths from the Invisible Edge. Great service and prompt delivery but the spec sheet that came with it said that it had been honed from the factory and was shave ready however when I tried it for the first time I found it to be nowhere near as sharp as the de blades for my shavette and quite uncomfortable to shave with. I used the strop post shave and tried again the next night thinking it could posibbly have been just me not used with the change in blade but again it was very uncomfortable and felt like it was pulling and not sharp enough and also noticed that the bevel was uneven ( I mentoned this in another post ). So thats where Im upto with it for just now, so do you guys have any reccomendations?

cheers.

I bought a TI from The Invisible Edge years ago. Steve Dempster did the honing IIRC. I would contact them and see what they say. I would think they would offer to correct it gratis. Now an uneven bevel is not necessarily a fault. The relationship between bevel and spine dictates the look of the bevel. Straight razors are not aways perfectly parallel between spine and bevel. If that is the case the difference will be reflected in the look of the bevel. It may be different from one end to the other, or from one side to the other ...... or all of the above. If is is sharp the unevenness is not an issue as far as the shave goes.

I haven't had a razor form them ,but one of my friends had and they put a really nice edge on it ,, are you sure it's not your technique? As in do you get good shaves from other razors? Or did you accidently strop incorrectly and roll the edge ? Might help to narrow down the options. Let us know. Tc

Forgot to add Neil Miller is in the UK

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

I haven't had a razor form them ,but one of my friends had and they put a really nice edge on it ,, are you sure it's not your technique? As in do you get good shaves from other razors? Or did you accidently strop incorrectly and roll the edge ? Might help to narrow down the options. Let us know. Tc

Forgot to add Neil Miller is in the UK

Yes, I saw the OPs original post and was under the impression the TI had a factory edge. IIRC I have read that The Invisible Edge hones their razors before shipping them. That might put the problem more into the question of either poor shave or stropping technique.

Bob

If Steve Dempster honed it, then it should be fine. Anything I've had from a factory was not shave ready.
Send it back to Steve for whetting. Alternatively if you pm me I will hone it for you, I'm in the Midlands. Or Gary Haywood in Nottingham.
I've seen uneven bevels on TI's before, its quite common. I've got one and shaves fine.

Joe

I bought a TI 7/8 Basic Black in August, and it arrived shave ready, but it was honed with tape or the spine off the hone. I reset the bevel, which is also not even, but boy does it shave like a million bucks.

You could likely get Steve Dempster to hone it, or Google Gary Haywood, he's a barber in England and at least used to post on coticule.be.

Cheers, Steve

Originally Posted by tcrideshd

I haven't had a razor form them ,but one of my friends had and they put a really nice edge on it ,, are you sure it's not your technique? As in do you get good shaves from other razors? Or did you accidently strop incorrectly and roll the edge ? Might help to narrow down the options. Let us know. Tc

Forgot to add Neil Miller is in the UK

It could well be my technique but I honestly dont think it is as I do get a very gd shave with my shavette, bbs no nicks and cuts etc but I do appreciate it could still be my technique. With the stropping I took my time to make sure I never rolled the edge but again Im by no means an expert and do appreciate accidents do happen so I could have incorrectly stropped.

Originally Posted by Deckard

If Steve Dempster honed it, then it should be fine. Anything I've had from a factory was not shave ready.
Send it back to Steve for whetting. Alternatively if you pm me I will hone it for you, I'm in the Midlands. Or Gary Haywood in Nottingham.
I've seen uneven bevels on TI's before, its quite common. I've got one and shaves fine.

Joe

I think I'll contact Steve just to confirm If it had actually been honed as the spec sheet suggested and probably go from there. Thank you for offering to hone it for me, I do very much appreciate and will likely take you up on it If and when required so thanks again. As with the uneven bevels I was not sure If having an even bevel was a pre requisite to gd razor performance, in theory when I think about it makes sense that it does not require to be even providing the edge is of satisfactory sharpness however I think I have probably jumped to conclusions when Ive shaved and felt it uncomfortable then noticed the un even bevel.

I don't know of anyone in Scotland offering a honing service. Hopefully Steve, Gary, Neil or Joe can sort you out. I'm happy to run it over my stones but I'm no honemeister, I just keep my own little rotation shaving.