Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 20
Like Tree23Likes

Thread: Bowed straight razor

  1. #1
    Junior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
    Location
    Victoria, BC
    Posts
    8
    Thanked: 0

    Default Bowed straight razor

    Hi Folks,

    Long time SRer, long time lurker, first or second time poster. (edit: it says I have 5 posts!)

    I have a Dovo Best Quality I bought new in 2015. I have used it since then, only with a strop (fire hose and leather) since that time. I purchased an 8k Norton about a year ago, and did 3-7 strokes once every 5 months. It never really seemed to make a difference but I was simply attempting to maintain the edge. I have pretty thick stubble and the razor, since I learned how to use it correctly, has always kind of pulled, but not uncomfortably, and the shave was always very close so I just continued doing what I was doing.

    As a grad present, I bought a Dovo Bismarck 6/8, so I decided now was the time to learn to hone on my BQ. I bought a 1k/4k Norton, and will soon have a 12k (haven't decided, Shapton or Naniwa, yet) on the way. With the 8k, I think that's a pretty complete setup.

    I started in the other night on the 1k. After about 50 strokes, I noticed something: on one side of the blade, the bevel on the heel and toe were pronounced but there was no bevel in the middle. On the other side of the blade, the bevel looked consistent along most of the blade except at the very tip of the toe and heel, where it was noticeably absent.

    I took a look down the spine and sure enough it's warped. I checked it on a metal straight edge which confirmed this to be true. Note that I did properly lap my stones before beginning to hone.

    Anyways, I am at a complete loss here on how to proceed. I have a bunch of questions and am looking for some help. I have searched the internet but this does not seem to be a common problem. I remember seeing someone post somewhere that, out of their 80 razors, only 1 was bowed/warped (and ironically, it was a Dovo BQ).

    Note my funds and equipment are limited; I don't, nor do I have access to any metal working gear, and the only hones I have are those listed. The main reason I decided to go this route and learn myself was because, where I live, for some reason, there are no sharpeners who do straight razors... in a city of 350k, mostly filled with newlyweds or nearlydeads.

    With that background, my questions are:

    1. Did I cause the warping of the blade by something I did? Rather, could I have caused the blade to warp, or would it have come from the factory that way? I have been so incredibly careful with it because I was always afraid that, if I did damage it, I wouldn't be able to fix it and would have to go back to the gillette, which always caused my face to break out.

    2. Is there a cheap solution to this issue? Something that preferably will cost me zero dollars?

    3. Should I contact Dovo? It was bought brand new, but that was 3 years ago. Would they care?

    4. Is the razor garbage?

    Thanks for any help.

  2. #2
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Location
    Mooresville NC
    Posts
    729
    Thanked: 131

    Default

    Honing razors with warp can be very annoying. Sometimes warp can make it so the razor can't be honed at all. I would contact dovo I think they might be willing to replace the blade free of charge.

  3. #3
    Senior Member blabbermouth bluesman7's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2014
    Location
    Denver CO
    Posts
    4,560
    Thanked: 810

    Default

    1. Did I cause the warping of the blade by something I did? Rather, could I have caused the blade to warp, or would it have come from the factory that way? I have been so incredibly careful with it because I was always afraid that, if I did damage it, I wouldn't be able to fix it and would have to go back to the gillette, which always caused my face to break out.

    No, you did not cause the blade to warp.

    2. Is there a cheap solution to this issue? Something that preferably will cost me zero dollars?

    Yes, there is a cheap solution. You will need to learn how to do x strokes and hone towards a smile. A slight smile on the edge will help the most on the side where the bevel is thin in the center as that side is presenting itself as concave to the stone.

    3. Should I contact Dovo? It was bought brand new, but that was 3 years ago. Would they care?

    I would not bother contacting Dovo personally, others may feel differently.

    4. Is the razor garbage?

    I doubt that the razor is garbage. One well known honing person always makes a point of saying that the Dovo 'Best' is actually their worst and that he had purchased three of them and all three had the same problem that you are describing. The razor will not be the easiest to hone and probably a very bad choice to learn honing on unless you had an in person mentor helping you. If you add your general location to your profile there may be someone close that can help you.

    Worst case is that you could send that one out to be honed and learn on a razor with better geometry and try to tackle that one the next time that it needs attention after you have some experience.
    Last edited by bluesman7; 06-18-2018 at 01:15 AM.

  4. #4
    Senior Member blabbermouth
    Join Date
    Jun 2013
    Location
    Pompano Beach, FL
    Posts
    4,014
    Thanked: 631

    Default

    Another quick fix can be done with electrical tape. Put one or two layers in the low spot of the warped spine then one layer the length of the blade. You are artificially removing the warped for honeing.Name:  1529284623325-156178228.jpg
Views: 260
Size:  28.0 KB

  5. #5
    32t
    32t is offline
    Senior Member blabbermouth 32t's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    50 miles west of randydance
    Posts
    9,573
    Thanked: 1352

    Default

    I vote to look into the X stroke.

    A perfect bevel on both sides of a blade is arguably the exception not the rule.

    Unless it is extreme an uneven bevel will not effect performance, only looks.

  6. #6
    Razor Vulture sharptonn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Lone Star State
    Posts
    25,828
    Thanked: 8588

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by bouschie View Post
    Another quick fix can be done with electrical tape. Put one or two layers in the low spot of the warped spine then one layer the length of the blade. You are artificially removing the warped for honeing.Name:  1529284623325-156178228.jpg
Views: 260
Size:  28.0 KB
    I hear what you are saying.....Sometimes I put a layer of tape on and forcibly hone the one side the way I want it to go. This will wear the tape more where I want it to. The good side should be worn, yet supposedly even? Then, another layer of tape.
    Onward with that, changing only the top layer, if needed.

    Still, some toe/heel-heavy circles, high-angle honing, and even some breadboarding/stabilizer work are sometimes necessary.
    Some even advocate dragging the bad side off the side of the hone.
    Personally, I abhor that idea.
    OP,
    If it is warped, put it away until you learn more.
    Lots to learn on the subject using the search box. Many, many threads.
    rolodave likes this.

  7. #7
    Senior Member MrHouston's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2017
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    274
    Thanked: 70

    Default

    Another option is to use a very narrow hone, so that you are just hitting that area that isn’t getting honed.

    To mimic that with your setup, you can hone towards the corners of your stone - if that makes sense. I’ll do circles with the problem edge section within the last inch of a corner.

  8. #8
    Skeptical Member Gasman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Colorado Springs
    Posts
    10,473
    Thanked: 2182

    Default

    Im with Tom on this. Learning to hone is one thing. Then to learn to hone on a warped blade? Your adding a lot of problems for yourself. Dont get me wrong. You can do it, but by the time you get it right, your going to have worn a lot of metal away.
    sharptonn likes this.
    It's just Sharpening, right?
    Jerry...

  9. #9
    Razor Vulture sharptonn's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    Lone Star State
    Posts
    25,828
    Thanked: 8588

    Default

    Just thinking about it, It may get the razor sharper, but it exacerbates the problem.
    The inwardly-curved side could be a cutter!
    Besides, what about as the razor needs honing again?

    Best to resolve the issues (if possible) the first time?
    BeJay likes this.

  10. #10
    Skeptical Member Gasman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Colorado Springs
    Posts
    10,473
    Thanked: 2182

    Default

    What about send it off to a honemiester and have it really honed right. Enjoy shaving with a truely honed razor and pickup a couple vintage german blades without pitting in the edge or a frown and learn to hone and shave with those. When you can shave with them and feel the same keen edge as the warped one. Then it will be time to hone it. You will then have a go9d idea on what your gett8ng into.

    This is just my opinion. You can hone up the warped one and maybe get lucky, but your not going to get it as nice as a pro can and you might even damage it worse with hone ware or tip ware or ...
    Maladroit likes this.
    It's just Sharpening, right?
    Jerry...

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

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