Thread: Irritating edge

Is there an easy way to tell if an edge is over-honed? I have a hollow-ground blade that will shave fairly well but I get a lot more irritation than when I use my Wapi. I get a lot more razor burn with the hollow ground. I honed it myself but I am not a very experienced honer. So one possibility seemed to me to be an over-honed edge. Any comments?

That's one possibility, but an overhoned edge will tend to jump around and not really shave well after the first few strokes because it will just crumble.

More than likely, the bevel just isn't refined enough.

What are you using for hones and can you describe your process in using them?

I am using a set of Norton waterstones. I'll take the razor back to the 1k and make sure it has a good bevel. I wait for it to be sticky and then continue on. Thanks!

one sign of overhoning is the first shave is good and the next stinks. Ie it loses the edge really fast.

also sounds to me like the issue is the bevel.