Thread: uneven bevel - how to adjust

It depends on why the bevel is not fully contacting the hone. If you have some pictures of razors with this issue, it may be easier to advise you about that razor.

Four main issues can cause uneven bevels,
1. A warped razor,
2. Honing on the stabilizer,
3. Honing with too much pressure on a Hollow Ground bade, or
4, Uneven grind, the geometry is off, angle is off, or spine thickness varies, caused by the honer or the grind, original or re-grind.

The first two are most common as most razors have some warp, caused during heat treating. Honing with a rolling X stroke can get an edge on it and even the bevel width somewhat. Ink and a taped spine will help you see where you are honing and where you are not, protect the spine from further damage and compensate some, for damage or deformation.

Honing on stabilizer, requires re-shaping the heel to move the heel corner of the edge forward of the stabilizer.

You must do what the razor needs, which is why honing by formula does not always work with vintage razors. Adding to the inherent issues of a razor, excessive honing on aggressive stones for years by heavy handed honers will exacerbate problems. Tape can compensate for lost or uneven steel, but first you must understand the cause.

Jumping in blind, doing what the guys before you did may be making it worse. But if you just want to get an edge on it and don’t care what the bevels look like, then it does not matter.

Studying the razor for a minute or two can save you some frustration and get you a stronger smoother edge.

There are other things you can do, depending on the issue and how bad you want an even bevel. In addition to aesthetics, an even bevel makes a stronger edge at a more consistent angle.