Thread: Dulling the edge.

Just wondering why people dull the edge before setting the bevel.
When I first started honing I always dulled the edge. My thinking was that I want to start from ground zero.
Then some one with experience told me that dulling the edge is a waste of metal. I suppose because a dulled edge would require more honing.
Over the last year or so I've stopped dulling the edge and it works fine for me.

I do notice that it seems to be common practice to drag the edge on a glass or a stone.
Is there any benefit to dulling an edge , some thing I'm un aware of ?

I do it on those with hone wear, uneven bevels, old wedges AND problem razors. As I lightly drag it across a glass bottle a few times, I can TPT to be certain it is dull all the way across. As I begin, I can tell immediately if I am getting the complete edge or not. If not, I can tell where to apply more pressure/circles to bring the entire edge back to sharp on the bevel-setter.
Just insurance on some. It truly helps to keep that second trip back from happening. YMMV

I don't dull the edge either nor have I ever seen the point in it. I consider it to be the equivalent to breaking my legs as a first step for training for a marathon.

I don't see on the forum where that is common, I try to stay up on the posts daily,, maybe the few that do mention this method(for lack of a better word) are catching your attention. I don't "dull" a blade first.

When I set a new bevel, I just "work it through" whatever bevel is already there.

Originally Posted by Utopian

I don't dull the edge either nor have I ever seen the point in it. I consider it to be the equivalent to breaking my legs as a first step for training for a marathon.

Originally Posted by Hirlau

I don't see on the forum where that is common, I try to stay up on the posts daily,, maybe the few that do mention this method(for lack of a better word) are catching your attention. I don't "dull" a blade first.

When I set a new bevel, I just "work it through" whatever bevel is already there.

Not necessarily common, Gents. I use it to my benefit at times which, I am sure, is what the OP was seeking?
If some are not using this to their benefit at times, they must not be honing oldies from scratch.
Either that, or they are working way too hard on some.
Again, YMMV

The practice got started when certain members were experimenting a certain hone, not known as a bevel setter. Dulling on glass was to be sure that the entire bevel was set and the honist was not getting false positives from the old bevel.

Originally Posted by HNSB

The practice got started when certain members were experimenting a certain hone, not known as a bevel setter. Dulling on glass was to be sure that the entire bevel was set and the honist was not getting false positives from the old bevel.

It was probably ages older than that thread, IMO. BUT what possible benefit could come from dulling a blade and seeing what you can do with it? Dulling a blade which was pocketknife sharp, but would never shave, should hurt nothing.
Reaching an end's-all point of beginning again? It exists.
I truly wonder how many blades were dulled and how much was actually learned in this thread?

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...on-2012-a.html

Oh, I wasn't talking about that thread at all... It definitely goes back before that by at least a couple of years.

Originally Posted by HNSB

Oh, I wasn't talking about that thread at all... It definitely goes back before that by at least a couple of years.

It's 'old thinking'!

Originally Posted by HNSB

the honist

You said 'the honist.'