Thread: How to proceed with 5/8 full hollow?

I am honing a 5/8 full hollow and would appreciate some advice about how to hone it. It has a slight smile in the spine; at the edge it is straight. There is some hone wear in the spine, more in the middle. I have honed it up to 4K on the Norton. I am using one layer of tape on the spine. It needs a little more on the toe. I'm wondering with the hone wear on the spine how I would continue with this razor; do I need to even out the hone wear and if so what is the way to do this?

Thanks

Check for frown or any other issues ? You shouldn't have to do anything to the spine to get a good edge on it.


A picture would be nice and more info. Otherwise we are throwing darts at the side of a barn.

Do you have a 1k, is it cutting water as you go across the 4k with what stroke. See what I mean ?

My opinion is the full and especialy extra holow razors need / must / be honed withowt absolutely no presure .
This is to prevent bevell wierdnesses and to assure right bevell and edge building .
Absolutely light strokes as , you have to look for proper water displacement ,, to assure that you have best contact with the stone .

Make sure you are not using a straight stroke. If you lead a little with the heel and then swoop or j hook the toe it will lean towards a smile as you hone. A smile makes everyone happy. If it needs a little toward or on the toe use both hands and the weight of one finger closer to the toe and just push it a little. It sounds like you are getting close. After several strokes with a little pressure on the toe check it with a loupe and then if you are done then move up and if not try another 6 strokes.

The edge is straight now. It should be slightly smiling as the spine. The toe needs a litthls work. I used a marker and it doesn't come off at toe and also doesn't catch the water as good. I just thought with the spine not being worn even across that would make for a problem getting a smile. I will try more honing and push a little on the toe to get it up to the rest.

Thanks

Maybe do a search for honing towards a smile. That should help correct the edge and help with honing. Good luck

If your stroke is for a smile, the edge will eventually match the spine. It is probably best not to do that is one sitting. Let it come to a smile over time. The tip will likely come along with a tiny push and that j hook at the end of your stroke.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2dqBluDteQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DStkiyHB9PU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEtb9k3APYM

These videos are about a smiling wedge but it does show the heel leading stroke ending with a swoop or j hook quite well. As the smile on the wedge is quite dramatic so is the stroke. You need to do a similar stroke, just a little less dramatic. By doing that stroke and just a touch of pressure at the toe the edge will begin to follow the spine.

Thanks for the posts and videos.
I honed the razor some more. 4k & 8k Norton. The razor looked good with a loupe (at least to me). It cut arm as easily as other razors and they shaved well, but this one didn't cut easy and left a lot of stubble. Anyone have ideas on why this is and how to continue?

Thanks

go back and look at the edge. Ensure there is no white line or sparkles when you are looking almost straight at the point of the apex. Any place where you see that is a place where the bevel is not complete.