Thread: Implications of uneven bevel/spine wear

I've got a couple of razors that have slightly uneven spine wear and also the depth or thickness of the bevel is uneven as a consequence. My question is, does this matter? Is the bevel considered set even though the bevel is not of a consistent depth? I would have thought it doesn't matter because the plane between the spine and the tip is still there or am I mistaken?

The width of the bevel is a direct consequence of the geometry of the width of the spine, the width of the razor, and the thickness of the grind near the edge.

The bevels are set when they meet along the entire length of the blade. The edge is formed by the meeting bevels.

I've seen plenty of bevels that looked like a warped tree branch and they shaved perfectly fine.

Yupper, worry about the bevels meeting all along the edge for a bevel set and not what the bevels look like. This awful looking bevel shaves just fine because both bevels meet all along the edge.

Bob

Hi guys, responses much appreciated and confirm what I thought to be the case. Thank you .

Mate, a lot of the time, you see a bevel like the one you posted, when you are bearing down on the razor with pressure. Causing a slight flexing of the blade. Not at all unusual, and as was said, you will shave fine. But be aware that pressure kills more edges, than anything, and it's an easy thing to do, as you may be honing two razors, steels totally different, but the 1st one you need heaps of pressure. The next is softer, and you bow your bevel, by downward pressure. Less is more re pressure.

It is obvious that, the wide of a bevel on a razor or a knife for that matter is caused by a few factors:
1-the thickness of the blade at that given spot
2-the angle at which it was sharpened
3-for straights, the spine.
Of course razors are not made perfect, especially vintage ones, but in Lynn's honing videos, and Glen's as well I always hear them saying look how "even the bevel is across" Glen likes to use tape and "even up" the edge.
In my opinion I do not see at all how this really matters, but I will say I have a couple razors in which I evened up the edge, in terms of bevel width and they shave great... could be coincidence, maybe not. Hard to say.
If I take a bran new razor, and put it on the hones as flat as possible... it is not often that the grinding will be even across... could be my human error or could be the razor. Tough to say.

If the hollow is not ground evenly the bevel will not be uniformly wide even though the spine may be straight and even. Pretty common on not-so-great regrinds of English razors. But as has been said, as long as the bevels meet in a line it should shave fine.

Cheers, Steve

How could it not meet in a line though? I'm confused by which you mean with that one. You mean meet in a straight I take it.

Originally Posted by glytch5

How could it not meet in a line though? I'm confused by which you mean with that one. You mean meet in a straight I take it.

A frown is a good example, but if the grinding is bad, you can have a low spot in the hollow that acts similarly as far as honing it goes.

Cheers, Steve