Thread: What's the trick?

I found/bought an Ern 63 at an antique store, cleaned it up, and wanted to use it to learn how to hone razors. I've watched all of Lynn's videos on setting the bevel and follow on honing numerous times. My problem is, I can't seem to get the bevel set to where it'll cut hair. I've spent hours on a Norton 1K and I can't get anything sharper than it'll slice a sheet of paper like it's hot butter, but when I put it to my arm hair, it just scrapes. Any tips? Below are some pics. Not sure if they'll help, but maybe a someone who know better can spot something from the blade.

That Blade has alot of issues,as a novice you keep at it they will just get worse.
Send it to a pro.JMO

That's why I bought it. I just wanted a beater to learn on.

Originally Posted by roden011

That's why I bought it. I just wanted a beater to learn on.

Let me ask you this,What have you learned?? your asking for a trick,are none.

I guess I was hoping someone could tell by the wear on the blade what I'm doing wrong and offer some advice on how to correct it...

Originally Posted by roden011

I guess I was hoping someone could tell by the wear on the blade what I'm doing wrong and offer some advice on how to correct it...

Put two layers of tape on the spine and try again,others will come along with perhaps better advice.sorry for your problems.

That blade will not be a good one to learn to hone with.
The first pictures shows a lot of hone wear on the spine at the toe end - so you don't have an even spine to set the bevel with.
It doesn't even look like the tip on that side has hit the stone.
The second picture shows a lot of hone wear on the spine in the middle, which I bet has led to a frowning blade.

Can it be honed? Yes. Do you want to learn to hone with it? Probably not.

My advice would be to put that one aside for now and get another beater razor to try to learn with. That one is going to drive you nuts to learn on.

It is difficult to say what your issues are. Did you create the spine wear or was it present when you got the blade. Try to find someone in your area who can give you hands on advice. If you are intent on trying on your own try using a layer of tape or two if the blade is wedgy,use a sharpie and ink the edge ,ensure your hones are lapped, take a couple of light laps,look at your inked edge and reevaluate your technique based on where you see the ink removed. Again I would try to get someone to give you firsthand advice,because a bad blade with a warp or uneven wear is not a good one to learn on.

And stop cutting paper with your razors , you will not get one sharp enough to shave with if that's what you do to them to test sharp. Tc

Originally Posted by Wirm

It is difficult to say what your issues are. Did you create the spine wear or was it present when you got the blade. Try to find someone in your area who can give you hands on advice. If you are intent on trying on your own try using a layer of tape or two if the blade is wedgy,use a sharpie and ink the edge ,ensure your hones are lapped, take a couple of light laps,look at your inked edge and reevaluate your technique based on where you see the ink removed. Again I would try to get someone to give you firsthand advice,because a bad blade with a warp or uneven wear is not a good one to learn on.

I didn't take great note of the spine wear before I started, but if I had to guess, what you see is the result of what I did. I would love to find someone in my area, but I don't know of anyone and Google hasn't help much. I guess this'll be a trial and error learning curve... Thanks for the advice.