Thread: Honing a brand new filarmonica

I recieved my new filarmonica, Or suposedly filarmonica "Olympic" a couple of days ago.Wether or not its a genuine filarmonica,it sure is a high quality razor! I haven't recieced my lapping stone yet, so there was no chance of any honing.Anyways, I was very impatient with shaving with it, so I gave it about 150 laps on the linnen side of my strop with thiers-Issard paste.It then actually went from dull.As in I could easely use some pressure with my thumb, without getting cut.To popping hair. I was actually a bit surprised by this.It was really a big change from just using paste.I usually never use that amount of laps on the pastet strop, but I was desperate.
When I had stropped it up, and started to shave I noticed something was wrong.It shaved rather well, but it seemed that the razor was actually losing its sharpnes.It also gave some irritation, I'm not used to handle such a heavy razor, so there could be some tech.issues as well
Upon inspection, I noticed that the bevil was very narrow.And this made me suspect that the factory edge is at a much to steep angle, I'm afraid that this could meen a lot of honing.
Also I think the steel of this razor is very hard...Any input on this?
Should I go for setting a new bevil?

This is probably going to be a challenge....

You're certainly not the first to encounter these challenges.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/basic...larmonica.html

X

There is nothing wrong with a narrow bevel. It's a clear sign that you have a new razor that's all.
I have just purchased a Whacker 7/8" full hollow and it also has an almost invisible spine bevel and a very narrow edge bevel, but after resetting the edge bevel, it is a 10/10 shaver and a joy to use.

I suspect that your razor edge will now be rounded after so many strops on the Thiers Issard paste.
That paste has diamond grit within the mix and it is very abrasive. Just five passes should touch up a tired blade even on a hard steel. To many strops will round the razors bevel edge. To be honest, the Thiers Issard paste is only useful for a quick touch up. You are much better off getting some Chromium Oxide. The Chromium Oxide is in a different league.

I suspect that you will now need to reset the razors edge bevel to a straight edged V using 1000 grit and rework the edge up to sharp again.

You really need a 10X loupe to look at the edge. You can clearly see if it is flat or curved with the loupe or something that gives a real 10x magnification.

If you don't have a full hone set from 1000 up to 12000, you would be better to get this resetting work done by a professional in the interim It will stop you damaging what sounds to be a very fine razor.

I can fully understand your impatience.

thanks guys, I'm actually expecting a 30x loupe in the mail shortly.And yes I understand that 150 laps on the paste is about the newbeest thing you can do
Well, new bevil it is then...I've got the set from 1000 to 12000, but who wants to stop there..
Nagyama, shapton,etc.....money