Results 1 to 7 of 7
Like Tree11Likes
  • 1 Post By trondsi
  • 5 Post By gssixgun
  • 2 Post By rodb
  • 2 Post By trondsi
  • 1 Post By Razorfaust

Thread: I suspect that I created a wire edge. What to do?

  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    371
    Thanked: 31

    Default I suspect that I created a wire edge. What to do?

    I managed to get an old razor quite sharp, and I shaved pretty well. However, I noticed that it skipped hairs here and there. After the shave, I notice that the toe and heel of the razor are extremely sharp, but the middle feels sharp-ish and rough. I don't think the roughness was there before the shave. Did I overhone that part? What's the best way to go from here?

  2. #2
    At this point in time... gssixgun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    North Idaho Redoubt
    Posts
    26,948
    Thanked: 13221
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Check it under magnification first

    Another little known test is the TP test

    Take a loosely folded square of TP and do a light push test, if the edge is anything but "Smooth" you will know


    LIGHT touch is the key

  3. #3
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    371
    Thanked: 31

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gssixgun View Post
    Check it under magnification first

    Another little known test is the TP test

    Take a loosely folded square of TP and do a light push test, if the edge is anything but "Smooth" you will know


    LIGHT touch is the key
    Interesting! Using the toilet paper (I don't have a good microscope though I sometimes use a loupe for viewing slides) I found a definite rough spot on the blade, but it is smaller than I thought and a bit more towards the toe than expected.
    pcb01 likes this.

  4. #4
    At this point in time... gssixgun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    North Idaho Redoubt
    Posts
    26,948
    Thanked: 13221
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Overhoning is actually a much blamed little seen issue

    Microchipping however is an real issue

  5. #5
    Senior Member rodb's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Saint Paul, Minnesota, United States
    Posts
    2,943
    Thanked: 433

    Default

    Another thing to look for is a frown, hold the blade very lightly edge down on a known flat hone and see if there is light showing through the middle of the blade with the heel and toe touching the hone. As gssixgun said chipping is way more common than over honing
    pcb01 and FranfC like this.

  6. #6
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    371
    Thanked: 31

    Default

    Ok, no frown it seems (it is smiling )

    Anyway, I also took out my slide loupe, and put the razor into some strong light. Turns out the rough spot detected by the toilet paper is a tiny nick. I couldn't see it in dimmer light. I honed it some more on my fine Chinese stone, and the nick got even smaller (dang, I thought it was gone, but maybe now I won't feel it).

    Another thing is that the bevel is wide at the toe and gradually getting narrow towards the heel. It was always like this, and I think it has to do with the thickness of the spine. Both ends shave well so I'm not sure it's a problem.
    gssixgun and rodb like this.

  7. #7
    Senior Member Razorfaust's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2014
    Location
    Bergen County, N.J.
    Posts
    1,265
    Thanked: 225

    Default

    I think on smilers having the point end worn more than the heel is a common occurrence. I say this because many folks honing that type of blade don't take the needs of the heel into account when making a rolling x stroke. It's easy to make this mistake because the point by default will stay in contact on the hone for most of the strokes travel thus possibly getting honed more. By the time the heel has become sharp enough a lot more metal was removed from the toe end. Be mindful of what part of the razor needs more attention. I sometimes ride the heel a little longer on the hone before swooping out to the toe to compensate. It's not always needed but I find many smiling wedges or hollows even need this strategy to even the edge wear. Just a thought.

    Sent from my SM-G935V using Tapatalk
    Euclid440 likes this.
    Don't drink and shave!

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •