Thread: How many times can a razor be bread knifed?

I have the opportunity to pick up a "problem" razor for very little cash and thought I'd pose this question as while the process is described in the Wiki I was wondering how many times it could be done before the razor was basically "all used up".

A little history...the razor in question is a fairly new Dovo that according to the owner came with a slight frown and in looking at it the blade appears to be warped (no surprise there) as well.

So to make a short story long he bread knifed it, honed it without dealing with the warp and ended up with a frown again. He then bread knifed it again and did a better job of dealing with warp but still somehow ended up with a slight frown. As you may have already guessed he bread knifed it again and as the third time being a charm didn't end up with an obviously visible frown although the bevel is a little thin in the middle. Feeling the heady rush of success he then proceeded with a test shave and yup you guessed it...he dinged the blade on the faucet. I'm not sure he's quite ready to go back to the cartridges but he swears this razor is cursed.

Anyway, assuming I'm willing to assume possession of the curse and knowing the ding is going to require removing around yet another 1/16 of an inch (not sure of the depth of previous honings) do you think the razor still has some life left or should it be relegated to a display item?

If you really think it has been cursed does it matter any life left on it or not?Anyway you won't be able to use it?
Why person doesn't send you pic and all questions will be answered?

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

Why person doesn't send you pic and all questions will be answered?

I was just kidding about the curse.

I don't need a pic as I've actually seen the razor in person. The problem is while I'm fairly proficient at honing I have very little "restoration" experience hence my question. I wouldn't know what to look for...and since I buy razors to use and not just look at if it can't be salvaged I'll probably pass on buying it.

Sounds like if that fellow didn't have bad luck he wouldn't have any luck at all. I would look at the blade facing me from the point looking back towards the tang. How far up into the belly of the blade is the edge getting ? If there is still plenty of hollow grind left it might be worth bothering with. If there is so much gone that it is up into the belly of the blade I would pass. I would also look at how much wear he put on the spine, I'm assuming he didn't use tape.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

How far up into the belly of the blade is the edge getting ? If there is still plenty of hollow grind left it might be worth bothering with. If there is so much gone that it is up into the belly of the blade I would pass. I would also look at how much wear he put on the spine, I'm assuming he didn't use tape.

Taping the spine is maybe the only thing the poor fellow did right...but I think after the second time he became concerned about the bevel angle and didn't use tape for the third go round. Still all in all it doesn't appear too bad.

It's a pretty standard "Dovo grind" in that if you look at the blade at just the right angle you can see where it goes from thick to shallow and back to thick again. There is maybe 1/8 inch or slightly less of the thick part where the bevel begins...and half of that is probably going to be removed getting the chip out of the bevel.

Is there a rule of thumb how much of the "thick part" needs to remain above the bevel? Sorry I don't know the proper technical term for that area.

Originally Posted by AusTexShaver

There is maybe 1/8 inch or slightly less of the thick part where the bevel begins...and half of that is probably going to be removed getting the chip out of the bevel.

Is there a rule of thumb how much of the "thick part" needs to remain above the bevel? Sorry I don't know the proper technical term for that area.

I think it is referred to as the belly of the blade but I may be mistaken. I wouldn't know what to tell you. If gssixgun doesn't chime in soon if it were me I would PM him and get his advice. He would probably want to see a photo though.

My rule of thumb is way simple, on a 5/8 razor when you are getting to a 4/8 size there will be a difference if the feel of the razor.... Doesn't mean it wont shave, it means that it is a different feel to the razor....Because you are up in the belly now
This is for a full hollow-1/2 hollow grind...