Thread: Question about American steel?

First off, I'm fairly new to honing but have managed to put some nice, shavable edges on some Sheffields ( Barlow 13/16 near wedge, W&B ) and Solingens but I sat down to work on a bunch of razors I picked up over the summer.
I have a small 5/8 half hollow Torrey that is kicking my butt! Just wondering if the American steel is known to be harder and therefore I just have to stay on the 1k bevel set longer? I have a King 1k/6k that has worked quite well for me so far. It is lapped before each honing session.
When I inspect the bevel with a loupe it looks nice and even for the full blade and no sparklies ( thanks Euclid440, great tip ) but won't cut any hair.
BTW, Thanks to all the awesome people on here who share their knowledge!!! Never would have figured out this honing thing without ya'll!

SRP Rocks!

I don't really know how to fix your problem, but I have a suggestion. Wash the stones to make sure they haven't gotten loaded. It might get them to cut a little better. Run the razor blade over a soft wine cork a couple of times feel of it to see if it feels any different. Then try to set your bevel again.

My guess is that the two bevels have not meet so the bevel is not set yet. If it was set it should cut hair easily. Maybe just more time on the 1K longer. There is no standard X number of strokes to get a bevel set, it just takes what it takes for any particular razor.

Bob

When looking for a bevel set with a loupe you should be looking almost straight down on the apex, right at the point of the V, If you are looking at the bevel you will miss the white line and sparkles. Basically if the bevel is set it should shave arm/leg hair at the skin level. So I am going to say with some confidence your bevel is not complete. So if you follow bob you will be fine.

Yea, I have a Livi with takeda Steel which unfortunately met with a clumsy mishap which needs a new bevel being done. The steel is rock hard and it's really slow going. It looks great under mag but won't cut butter.

Razors like that, you just have to keep at it until the job is done.

Torreys are hard compared to old Sheffields, in general, and sometimes take a good bit to get right.
Go all the way back to the 1k as one disappoints. The bevel may not have been there yet.
As was advised, freshly lapped hones cut better, some slurry on the 1k to start is not a bad idea, either.
Once right, they are great and hold an edge well, FME.
Keep trying!

Originally Posted by AlienEdge

I don't really know how to fix your problem, but I have a suggestion. Wash the stones to make sure they haven't gotten loaded. It might get them to cut a little better. Run the razor blade over a soft wine cork a couple of times feel of it to see if it feels any different. Then try to set your bevel again.

Yeah, I learned that the hard way! 1k didn't have the same sound and feel so I scrubbed it with some dish soap and a scrub brush and man, what an instant difference!!
Thanks!

Originally Posted by RezDog

When looking for a bevel set with a loupe you should be looking almost straight down on the apex, right at the point of the V, If you are looking at the bevel you will miss the white line and sparkles. Basically if the bevel is set it should shave arm/leg hair at the skin level. So I am going to say with some confidence your bevel is not complete. So if you follow bob you will be fine.

That was my reference to Euclid440! He turned me on to the sparkly edge when you are looking down at the edge. That one tip helped out my honing tons. Really shows where the bevel is not meeting. That's what has me stumped is the edge looks really nice by eye.
Wish I had decent photo equipment to take pictures that close up.
Thanks RezDog!

Originally Posted by sharptonn

Torreys are hard compared to old Sheffields, in general, and sometimes take a good bit to get right.
Go all the way back to the 1k as one disappoints. The bevel may not have been there yet.
As was advised, freshly lapped hones cut better, some slurry on the 1k to start is not a bad idea, either.
Once right, they are great and hold an edge well, FME.
Keep trying!

Yeah, that's kinda what I figured Sharptonn. You can hear and feel a difference with this razor than all the old Sheffields I been doing. Had the same problem with an Cattaragus a while ago but I haven't had to do anything but take it to a Swaty for an occasional touch up. So figure this Torrey will be the same! Tough to set but once you got it it's set for a long time.

You might want to try killing the edge gently and trying again. Be gentle and use your finger nail. It should show with your loupe as a perfect and fine white line.