Thread: Problem honing

Has anyone had a razor that you have honed in the past, but for whatever reason, have issues come up trying to hone again?

I have a Hartsteel that I have successfully honed and had great results and shaves with. An unfortunate circumstance came up that caused me to have to "clean up the blade", and ended up dulling it in the process. I have tried for about a year off and on to get it back to a usable edge. Getting frustrated and putting it away for a while but eventually bringing it back out only to get frustrated again. Well, after all this, I finally got it back to a usable edge. I don't think it is as good as I got it originally but it is comfortable and gives me a nice smooth shave.

No other razor has given me such a headache and I am glad it is usable again as I love the way this heavy blade shaves.

I will use it as is until it needs a touch up and hopefully my "issue" with it is over.

I've had a few that just don't like to be honed and I have to set them aside for a bit to save my own sanity lol!! Maybe the Hart has real hard steel and it just takes more time

Hart Steel can be very awkward although I have one that literally hones itself.

Most issues are at the bevel set.

Set it gently and just about set it.

Try to set it with the least jagged edge.

I'm a newbie here, so for interest's sake-what stone/stones are you using & what do you use to strop?

Not to worry. All of my Hart steel razors took some effort to get them where I like them, edge-wise. Pretty hard steel.

I have one Hart Steel razor and it is the most difficult to hone of my collection. I t took me many ours of experimentation before I could get a decent edge. Finally I got a decent edge using a double bevel.

I first set the bevel without tape on a 1K. Then I completed the full honing sequence. Then I taped the spine and went back to 5K and set the second bevel and finished off the razor with tape all the way through my final finishing hone. It was a lot of effort, but it finally gives a decent shave. Good luck!

Originally Posted by FOTOPAT

I'm a newbie here, so for interest's sake-what stone/stones are you using & what do you use to strop?

I have Norton 1k, 4k, 8k and a c12k.

Originally Posted by Chugach68

I have Norton 1k, 4k, 8k and a c12k.

One thing to add, I have a carborundum barber hone that I also used to get this edge. I ended up using it after the c12 because I didn't like where the edge was,(it was still uncomfortable). After I used the barber hone I went back to the 8k and c12 again. I believe the barber hone is what finally got me over the hump on this razor.

Originally Posted by rodb

I've had a few that just don't like to be honed and I have to set them aside for a bit to save my own sanity lol!! Maybe the Hart has real hard steel and it just takes more time

I do believe that the steel is hard, or there is some property that causes different than my other razors. My sanity was tested with this one. lol