Thread: does an even bevel matter

besides the aesthetic of a nice even bevel from end to end, does it really matter if a little uneven? just so long as the blade edge itself is properly straight or smiled (not frowning).

as far as i can tell, as long as the bevel is fully set across the length of the entire blade, it doesnt really matter if its the same 'width'.

yes? no? maybe so?

Nope. As long as it shaves. Like you said, Its just looks.

Doesn't matter unless it matters to you really. It can be fixed if you work on the short side longer to even the bevel sides but if the razor has some deformation and the razor blade extends in less than a perfect 90 degrees out from the spine the uneven bevel will continue. Also if one part of the spine is worn more than the other that could do it too making one bevel face shallower than the other. Weird stuff happens to razors especially when they change so many hands. They are generally imperfect to begin with most being ground by hand and not always with the highest degree of precision.

If it is a new razor that has been ground by a master craftsman, then the blade may be perfectly straight and perfectly ground. In that case, you should be able to hone a perfectly even bevel on both sides of the blade. However, there are many blades out there, both vintage and modern, that shave well, but aren't perfect. Even a blade with a slight warp can shave well with the proper honing techniques.

We don't live in a perfect theoretical world, razors aren't ground 100% symmetrical and we don't hone with the same pressure on either side

if it's not troublesome it doesn't matter


I'm heavy handed on one side and I am fully aware, I need to pay extra attention to it, or do more strokes on the other side

I used to really obsess about this and still do on occasion but as stated if the razor shaves well that’s all that matters.

No it does not matter. The uneven bevel is a result of uneven grind job usually. As long as you can form bevels and and an edge the rest is cosmetics.

Originally Posted by TristanLudlow

...snip...
I'm heavy handed on one side and I am fully aware, I need to pay extra attention to it, or do more strokes on the other side

If you have one of the adjustable hone holders, you can, and I do often, place the end of the weak stroke on the top of the end piece rather than the normal notch. Just a way to lift one end to increase the pressure a bit on one stroke.
JMO YMMV
~Richard

Originally Posted by Geezer

If you have one of the adjustable hone holders, you can, and I do often, place the end of the weak stroke on the top of the end piece rather than the normal notch. Just a way to lift one end to increase the pressure a bit on one stroke.
JMO YMMV
~Richard

This is one of the reasons I have all but given up on hone holders or honing on a base of some sort. if size of stone allows I hold the hone in hand and can guage all sorts of pressure and feeling out even razor strokes with much better understanding and control. Sometimes razor can meet the stone and sometimes the stone has to meet the razor I feel it opens up a wide range of comfortable positions honing.

No, it doesn't matter, but I must admit to being slightly OCD myself about bevels I do find it extremely satisfying personally, it's something I try to attain with all my own razors.