Thread: brand new TI razor

Hello all, I'm hoping to get some advice from a honemeister, or someone who has honed a brand new TI razor. I bought it a few weeks ago, and she is simply stunning! Dreadnought 7/8 with buckeye burl scales (I have a buckeye burl brush being made now!) So out of the gate it was very sharp, but the shave was very harsh. I figured it was either technique or lather issues, so I tried changing things up for several shaves, still very harsh. So I am a decent honer, able to get smooth edges on my jnat, and recently acquired a 20k, so I figured I'd hone this bad boy. The previous honing appears to have been buffed over after it was honed. I can see significant hone wear when looking closely in the light. When I put it to the 1k, one side took several minutes to even out a bevel. The opposite side is far worse, I've spent probably close to an hour on the chosera 1k, and the edge will not contact more than approximately 1 cm of the hone at a time. I'm really frustrated so I set it down for now. I already had an issue with the seller because it arrived to me with several rust spots, but I'm curious if this is a typical problem to have with a brand new $400+ razor?? I can edit some pics in later if necessary, I'm about to be busy so I can't right this second. Thanks!

Did you order it shave ready?

Unless it is seriously damaged, it can be honed with a rolling x, but if there is hone wear, send it back. It may be an issue if you have honed it and not discussed these issues with the vendor. Either way it can be easily fixed, with a proper honing.

Many cutlery shops use belts to “sharpen” razors like they do everything, and believe they are just another knife…

I have honed many new TI's none had hone wear.

$400??????????

Yea I've already committed to keeping it, but it is from a reputable vendor who assures shave ready razors. The hone wear is really covered up well because it was surely buffed after it was honed. I'll definitely get some pics up and let you guys see for yourself. Yea new TI razors are not cheap. It was a 400+, however I was given a nice discount due to the rust on it. Sending it back would cost a lot as its from the UK. It's been one disappointment after another but the razor is quite stunning and I'm sure one day I'll be pleased.

Have you taped the spine when honing? At that price you really should have returned the razor when you had the chance - it's only about $20 for postage to the UK. However, that doesn't seem to be an option but maybe you should ask the seller to take it back for re-honing. If it really is that bad, he may still be able to get a replacement from TI.

It's $20 if I don't declare the value, but that's a risk I'm not willing to take. Which brings postage up to around $50. I tried taking some pictures but because it was buffed over its really hard to see, much less take a good picture of. I guess I'll contact him and see what they say. It's going to be hard at this point to do anything about it because I've already shaved with it and have started the honing process. Well I guess I'll wait to hear from him until I send it out, but I'm thinking it's going to have to go to a pro...