Thread: Frowning blade

I picked up a straight razor from a flea market the other day and started to hone it when i noticed a frown in the blade. I guess it got this way from someone using a stone that was not flat but high in the middle. So i decided to get the blade straight again on my dmt lapping plate, this worked out great. I am having trouble now getting the razor to sharpen out like the other razors i have. could it be the razor Lucky Star brand or just my honing skills. Anybody got any ideas? Thanks in advance.

Hey there. The frown was mostly likely caused by improper honing technique, but the important thing is getting it out, which it sounds like you did. Maybe a picture of the blade would help also.
Does the razor pass the basic bevel setting checks?

When you say you decided to get the blade straight, what exactly did you do?

I used a sawing motion until the blade was flat all the way across. So after that the blade was flat across the frown was gone. so then i started honing the blade on a flat stone, then it looked like the spine had uneven wear on it.

It would make sense for the spine to have uneven wear, as the wear on the spine typically matches the wear at the edge, which you said was uneven. What you have done is usually referred to as "breadknifing." If you search that, you should find a lot of discussion about it. Not usually the best way to deal with edge issues, but you can get the razor shaving again.

Just to add to what is said. When the edge is bread knifed at a 90 degree angle the edge gets super blunt and it takes a lot of effort to get the apex to form properly again. Are you using a loupe to make sure you are getting to a full bevel set?

Well i do have a loupe but i have been using a celestron microscope from the old Hobby Lobby. I guess i did bot realize how much i blunted the edge when i was breadknifing the blade. It does make sense now after you fine fellas brought it to my attention. Well tomorrow is a new day trying to get this old boy back to shaving quality.

I am still new to honing, so I am not the best source for advice...but here is my experience anyways:
I have used the bread knife method to cure uneven wear on a couple of blades. However, it takes a LOT of working to get the edge back, and if you aren't careful you can end up with a frown again because of the spine wear. Don't ask me how I know
Keep at it and be patient!

GSSIXGUN has a great video out on breadknifing. I recommend you watch it 2 or 3 times. Lots of great advise and information there.

It is a Japanese Western style razor. They can be very hard and if honed on Diamonds can be chippy.

Frown as said was probably due to honing with a straight stroke. If bread knifed use a 45 degree stroke with a 1k diamond plate, to knock off the corners, then set the bevel with a 1k stone.

Should take and hold a nice edge.

Post some pics.