Thread: Inefficient hair removal after honing

I got a razor that I had honed (set and went through progression) a year or so ago and it worked brilliantly. A couple of months ago I did a touch up on it, and it didn't seem so good after that, not as smooth. I couldn't remember how much tape I'd used when I'd originally set it, and perhaps that was the issue with the touch up I thought.

So today I reset it and went through a progression, and it seemed good with arm hair test and under the loupe and all, but when I went to shave with it it just didn't seem to efficiently remove hair. I had to finish up with a different razor.

What would be best way of diagnosing/correcting the problem with this one? The one thing I did do today was add a bit of extra tape in the middle as the first time I'd honed it the bevel was a bit wide in the middle and I thought I'd even it out. That seemed to work, but, again, as I said, not shaving as it should.

Is it best just to try to reset it? What sort of things should I look out for?



more photos

So you used a loupe. Do the bevels go all the way to the edge along the entire length of the blade on both sides? You need to at least come very close to the same taping arrangement you did during the original bevel set if you want to get by with just a touch-up.

If you are not able to replicate that, then you likely will need to do a new bevel set and this time write down how you taped it. Since you said that you today re-set the bevels and that it does not shave adequately, then the odds are good that you did not fully set the bevels. You might as well start over again.

Originally Posted by Utopian

So you used a loupe. Do the bevels go all the way to the edge along the entire length of the blade on both sides? You need to at least come very close to the same taping arrangement you did during the original bevel set if you want to get by with just a touch-up.

If you are not able to replicate that, then you likely will need to do a new bevel set and this time write down how you taped it. Since you said that you today re-set the bevels and that it does not shave adequately, then the odds are good that you did not fully set the bevels. You might as well start over again.

I'll have to have another look at the bevels and make sure. Yeah, I assume I mucked it up when I retouched it. This was one of the first ones I'd honed, and I didn't have many razors back then so I didn't think to write down the tape at the time. I've started keeping notes now though.

So it's most likely a problem at the bevel level then, yeah? I'll try it again - I'd like to get this one back in the rotation, it was a brilliant shaver.

You could also use a felt marker pen on the bevels to help you see what is going on.

Bob

Originally Posted by benhunt

So it's most likely a problem at the bevel level then, yeah? I'll try it again - I'd like to get this one back in the rotation, it was a brilliant shaver.

If you do much reading in this section, you will find that it is almost always the bevel. You can shave with a razor that has been properly honed on just a 1k. If the bevels have not been set, then it won't shave well at all.

Which stones do you have?

You do not have a set bevel, not even close. You have a double/triple bevel thing going.

Put 2 layers of tape on it and set the bevel on a 1k.

Originally Posted by Euclid440

Which stones do you have?

You do not have a set bevel, not even close. You have a double/triple bevel thing going.

Put 2 layers of tape on it and set the bevel on a 1k.

I think part of the x2/x3 bevel is the original one I had set before - and I was trying to get it a bit thinner/evener this time.

I had originally set it on 12micron lapping film, and somehow had managed a really decent job of it, despite being one of my first.

Now I have a Chosera 1k, which is what I used today. This time I used 3 layers of tape and a couple addition bits of tape in the middle to try to get the bevel evener.

Originally Posted by BobH

You could also use a felt marker pen on the bevels to help you see what is going on.

Bob

I used to do that - I'll try it again.

Originally Posted by Utopian

If you do much reading in this section, you will find that it is almost always the bevel. You can shave with a razor that has been properly honed on just a 1k. If the bevels have not been set, then it won't shave well at all.

Yeah, that was my guess - I just wanted to make sure the problem wasn't at some intermediate polishing stage.

Do you have any other razor that needs to be honed? I ask because it may be enlightening for you to shave off of a 1k edge. I consider it to be an excellent learning experience for beginners to try and you may be surprised to find how little the upper stones contribute to the shave relative to the 1k, or whatever you have for setting the bevels.