Thread: Losing my smile

I bought a 5/8 Wade & Butcher that looks as if it has never been honed. I started on the 1k stone, and I'm not getting any contact on the edge for the first 3/4 inch from the toe. The razor has a slight smile but as I hone it is flattening. I will have to keep at it until I get a sharp edge all the way, otherwise it won't be a shaver. Anyone else have this happen?

Question: do you not know how to hone a smiling edge, or is it your intention to straighten it?

Apparently I don't know how, if you could please educate me. I did try altering pressure from heel to toe, but no noticeable results. I don't want to use much more pressure, since that does not produce a good edge.

Pictures are a help.if you can take a few of each side and also from the top of the razor ( spine side) it will help us help you. [emoji4]

OK, first off, you don't need any extra pressure, but you do have to ensure that the edge contacts the hone from heel to toe. If this cannot be done with an exaggerated heel-forward stroke, then you must use a rolling stroke. Here are some good places to start:

https://youtu.be/wEtb9k3APYM

https://youtu.be/DStkiyHB9PU

https://youtu.be/x2dqBluDteQ

I'll have to wait until I get home from work for pictures. I checked for warp, none present as compared to straight edge. The razor had zero noticeable bevel when I got it, no hone wear on the spine. Now there is slight wear in the middle of each side, spine and edge.

A couple of pages on honing wedges and different strokes:

http://coticule.be/wedges.html

http://coticule.be/strokes.html

Don't hone out the smile in your near wedge. It is one of the secrets to a very comfortable shave. A smiling near wedge is my favorite grind. It also sounds like you are not taping your spine if you now have wear on the spine. I recommend you use tape. If you are just trying to learn to hone a blade like you have described you'll put a lot of unneeded wear on the spine and probably end with a wide bevel. If the blade is as nice as you have described maybe you should consider sending out and practice on something not so nice. If not the best advise has already been given. Watch GSSIXGUN's 3 videos. They are the best I have viewed on the subject. Tons of info in them. Watch them more than once.
Good luck,
Karl

How much electrical tape was there in the 19th century? I'm sorry I just don't believe tape is traditional. Also, it was not an expensive razor and not one that I mind learning on. I stopped when I noticed what was happening, so I could learn the right way.

Originally Posted by benjamin2515101

How much electrical tape was there in the 19th century? I'm sorry I just don't believe tape is traditional. Also, it was not an expensive razor and not one that I mind learning on. I stopped when I noticed what was happening, so I could learn the right way.

Honing out a smile is not traditional either. If the razor's spine has a slight curve/smile to it the edge of the blade should follow it regardless of using or not using tape. Tape is used to prevent needless wear on an old razor.

Bob