Thread: Uneven Sharpness

I have a few razors from Japan that I recently tried to hone. Strangely enough, one side is considerably sharper than the other. In other words, if I test shave with the blade facing one direction, it cuts hair very easily. If I test shave with the blade facing the opposite direction, it's like cutting with a butter knife.

I know many people in Japan hone back and forth instead of in an X pattern. Perhaps one side was honed more than the other. Even though I'm honing evenly on both sides, it's still technically uneven since I'm going off the previous honing. What do I do?

EDIT: These are Western razor that happen to be from Japan.

IIRC, a Japanese razors' sides should be honed with a 5/3 ratio (or something similar). Maybe that would help.

EDIT: Here's the link I saw: http://straightrazorpalace.com/basic...akamisori.html

Originally Posted by Sticky

IIRC, a Japanese razors' sides should be honed with a 5/3 ratio (or something similar). Maybe that would help.

EDIT: Here's the link I saw: http://straightrazorpalace.com/basic...akamisori.html

I know how to hone Japanese razors but these are Western razors from Japan.

Originally Posted by TstebinsB

I know how to hone Japanese razors but these are Western razors from Japan.

Oops, I assumed they were Japanese razors from Japan...

Originally Posted by Sticky

Oops, I assumed they were Japanese razors from Japan...

That's my fault. I should've specified that in the OP.

Have you looked at the edge under any sort of magnification? Maybe the previous honer thought they were Japanese razors from Japan . Or, more likely, maybe they just honed them that way for the same effect. If they did then the edge would be over to one side of the blade and honing it equally on each side would tend to maintain that.

Originally Posted by Quick

Have you looked at the edge under any sort of magnification? Maybe the previous honer thought they were Japanese razors from Japan . Or, more likely, maybe they just honed them that way for the same effect. If they did then the edge would be over to one side of the blade and honing it equally on each side would tend to maintain that.

I've been meaning to get a scope...

Have you tried to reset the bevel and working from square one? It sound like something funky was going on with the previous owner.

Perhaps it is a poor attempt by an American Co. to make a single sided razor?

Either way if its not your bag, +1 on the reset of the bevel.

Originally Posted by TstebinsB

I've been meaning to get a scope...

Once you do get a 30X or better scope you will be amazed at what you can shave with. IMO without a scope you just don't really know what is going on with the edge no matter how it performs.