Thread: When did Breadknifing get popular?

I think it made it much more difficult to achieve a good edge on, yes. I'm not sure if breadknifing is what I did. The razor had a smiley part, and a frowny part, I guess wavy is the word. I put it edge on to the side of a grinding wheel until the edge was straight. I had a hell of a time getting an edge back on it.

Originally Posted by Ditch Doc

I think it made it much more difficult to achieve a good edge on, yes. I'm not sure if breadknifing is what I did. The razor had a smiley part, and a frowny part, I guess wavy is the word. I put it edge on to the side of a grinding wheel until the edge was straight. I had a hell of a time getting an edge back on it.

Although it is usually done by honing with the edge down on a hone, I think what you describe qualifies as breadknifing too. Based upon your description of the edge curvature, I think you would have had a hell of a time getting a decent edge anyway. I'm not even sure how such a curve could be corrected without breadknifing.

For absolute clarity, most times I breadknifed an edge after restoring a razor, I only removed the very outer part of the present cutting bevel. I think many objections here are made on emotional grounds. It' s very contra-intuitive to put a razor with the edge perpendicular down on the hone.

And for a final disclaimer to new aspiring honers reading this post: it's not something that has part in a normal honing job. It's not because I defend it as a viable option to solve certain issues, that I think it should be promoted as something to try if everything else fails.
Like Glen said, it's an advanced technique, mainly to deal with issues in blade restauration.

Bart.

I hate the lowering of standards. People have to remember that most often traditional methods became traditional because they worked so well for the vast majoity of people.

Its funny that we have guys wanting to shave with a straight but use wild new honing methods . . . er, restoration methods.

I agree that its not a honing method. Most of the honing problems I've had were spine related.

But, its a fast way to get rid of a bevel.

It reminds me of interior decorating with handgrenades.

Most of the guys I've seen on here lately have a good handle on whats going on. I think we see a lot of "whatever" works for you when guys say something is working for them. Very few people want to buck success.

I think where we need to head is a series of pictures that show what a chip is that gets honed out and what a nick is that gets "breadknifed". Being rather traditional I'm not even sure I should actually be using the term "breadknife". I don't really bother reading the forums anymore, I assume that when someone recommends breadknifing that they are also emphasizing the need to recreate a bevel. Recreating a bevel would take me hours and hours.

It sure is true that we have a lot of underhoners too.

I think the diagnoses of honing issues is a big part of the "honemiester" moniker. I wonder if we could build up a better common set of instructions for fixing bevels and assessing sharpness.

Very productive thread though I'd say.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

Its funny that we have guys wanting to shave with a straight but use wild new honing methods . . . er, restoration methods.

... I think where we need to head is a series of pictures that show what a chip is that gets honed out and what a nick is that gets "breadknifed". Being rather traditional I'm not even sure I should actually be using the term "breadknife". I don't really bother reading the forums anymore, I assume that when someone recommends breadknifing that they are also emphasizing the need to recreate a bevel. Recreating a bevel would take me hours and hours.

It sure is true that we have a lot of underhoners too.

I think the diagnoses of honing issues is a big part of the "honemiester" moniker. I wonder if we could build up a better common set of instructions for fixing bevels and assessing sharpness.

Very productive thread though I'd say.

A while ago Lynn was asking about what type of web cast we would like to see in the future. THe end decision was one to demo a complete edge restore w/ a less than perfect EBay special. The second was a demo of a person giving another a shave. This was a while ago so hopefully they will be presented in the near future. I'm sure this would help a lot.

There is a lot of good advice on how to hone and/or repair an edge in the forums here on SRP. I can't understand why newbies are trying to deviate or alter methods that work before they get their first good shave in. I guess they are looking for something other that the good straight shave.

I've had to remove nicks out of old razors to make them serviceable.

Basically you have to remove a lot of metal and the process I found was made easiest by using a low grit hone and honing in the usual way but with a heavy action. In this way, the spine bevel and the edge bevel are kept in line, geometrically. If the metal removal is more than 1/16", the feel of the razor will start to change and the better route would be to send the razor for a full regrind.

Bread knifing is a new one for me, but if you saw away at a chip, surely, it's difficult to saw the extremes of the bade at the toe and at the heel and surely you are likely to put a frown on the blade. Also, whatever time you save removing the chip from the edge must be spent later re establishing the Spine bevel. Strikes me as poor way to go about things.

Now for removing a frown, I can see how you have to grind down the edge and I accept the experience of the seasoned honers and I am proud of them in going to such trouble to save a blade. I however do not enjoy using razors that have been resized by so much. I believe that when a razor gets to such a point of break down, it should be reground.

But it's a free world and it's just a shame that some high quality razors are relatively so inexpensive that they can be ruined by the non caring or inexperienced. The supply of vintage razors is not endless and will eventually dry up.

Here you go gentlemen a nice older Boker.... In for complete restore....

Now please, let's hear your prognosis, look close because the edge is waving at ya !!!!!




Lets see, do I just tell the customer" Gee it sux, the shaving geometry is going to be off, I tossed it out, buy a new one"

Or" Gee I'm sorry it is no longer a nice spike, and the spine looks all worn out, I had to keep honing until it was right"

Come on gentlemen let's get real here, how would you fix that edge??????

BTW just for information, some expert in the past honed it that way.....


PS: The rest of the story, Failure here is not an option, this belongs to one of the gals I work with, it was her Grandfather's, she wants to give it to her husband for Christmas, custom scaled in Tulipwood.....

Originally Posted by Ditch Doc

I think it made it much more difficult to achieve a good edge on, yes. I'm not sure if breadknifing is what I did. The razor had a smiley part, and a frowny part, I guess wavy is the word. I put it edge on to the side of a grinding wheel until the edge was straight. I had a hell of a time getting an edge back on it.

Ouch. I wonder if that might have effected the temper?

Originally Posted by Quick

Ouch. I wonder if that might have effected the temper?

My thoughts exactly!

Originally Posted by Quick

Ouch. I wonder if that might have effected the temper?

I use a hand turned wheel that I got from some Amish dudes in PA. The same wheel as was shown on here a while back for some 600 dollars. I paid about 10 for mine though.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/basic...ng-wheels.html