Thread: Bevel size?

Got an old silver steel 6/8 blade to practice on and happily, after a session on bbw, coticule, 1um diamond film, chrome ox strop and leather I got an edge which slid smoothly and effortlessly through my beard. Despite this I'm thinking the bevel which is about 1.5mm deep, is too big as my new dovo has a barely visible bevel. Does it matter or would reducing it make the edge last longer? Only way I can see to correct it is to tape the spine up.

Probably due to spine wear? I believe that, if honed properly, the spine and edge should wear relatively even and maintain the razor's geometry. A certain spine thickness a certain distance from the edge will result in a particular bevel angle. If the spine decreases in thickness at the same proportional rate that the distance to the edge decreases then the bevel angle will be maintained.

As the razor gets worn the edge will move back into the thicker part of the blade and the bevel width will get larger. The bevel angle will be the same but the width of the side of the bevel will be larger.

I think the tradeoff would be between bevel angle and how long the edge holds its keeness. Less bevel angle will effectively give you a keener/sharper edge but won't hold it as long. More bevel angle will give you a stronger edge but it won't be as "sharp". If you are getting a wonderful shave AND the edge lasts long enough between touchups on a stone, then I wouldn't worry about how wide the bevel is.

Thanks, that's what I was thinking, shallower, sharper but weaker. It does cut better than my dovo though. Do heavier blades give better shaves I wonder?

Originally Posted by muddy250

Thanks, that's what I was thinking, shallower, sharper but weaker. It does cut better than my dovo though. Do heavier blades give better shaves I wonder?

That's entirely a matter of shaving technique

Originally Posted by Quick

That's entirely a matter of shaving technique

Just seemed easier to control, maybe sharper, smoother but may also be the extra weight stopping any tendency to bounce. Very happy to have got it to that stage first time of asking though.

Originally Posted by muddy250

Thanks, that's what I was thinking, shallower, sharper but weaker. It does cut better than my dovo though. Do heavier blades give better shaves I wonder?

Wider bevel panes don't necessarily mean the bevel has a smaller angle. On razors, it depends more on the thickness of the blade than on the actual bevel angle. If the razor has a less hollow (read stiffer) grind, than wide bevel angles certainly doesn't mean that your edge is weaker. Quite the contrary. In general, if the razor shaves well, the width of the bevel is nothing to worry about. Adding two or three layers of tape to the spine won't do that much for the width of the bevel sides and even less for edge longevity, if at all.

Sounds like you did an outstanding job,
Bart.

Originally Posted by muddy250

Just seemed easier to control, maybe sharper, smoother but may also be the extra weight stopping any tendency to bounce. Very happy to have got it to that stage first time of asking though.

It may well be sharper/smoother than your dovo. Even if your dovo was properly sharpened by a honemeister you may have dulled it somewhat with improper stropping or even very bad shaving technique. I shave around a beard and, on the beard edge, I come in at almost a 90* angle and scrape away from the beard edge until I'm able to get a proper shaving angle. My edges need touchup more often than other people's .

I think a heavier/thicker/stiffer blade give one a larger margin of error with respect to shaving angle and technique. Wider margin of variation within which you're still able to get an acceptable and comfortable shave. Something like a full hollow is somewhat less forgiving and you have a smaller margin to work within. That's not to say that, with proper technique, you can achieve a better shave with one or the other. Once you have impeccable technique, then it's a matter of preference (mainly feel, both on the face and in the hand).

Originally Posted by Quick

It may well be sharper/smoother than your dovo. Even if your dovo was properly sharpened by a honemeister you may have dulled it somewhat with improper stropping or even very bad shaving technique. I shave around a beard and, on the beard edge, I come in at almost a 90* angle and scrape away from the beard edge until I'm able to get a proper shaving angle. My edges need touchup more often than other people's .

I think a heavier/thicker/stiffer blade give one a larger margin of error with respect to shaving angle and technique. Wider margin of variation within which you're still able to get an acceptable and comfortable shave. Something like a full hollow is somewhat less forgiving and you have a smaller margin to work within. That's not to say that, with proper technique, you can achieve a better shave with one or the other. Once you have impeccable technique, then it's a matter of preference (mainly feel, both on the face and in the hand).

It's certainly stiffer so that's likely what I'm feeling in the shave. The dovo is full hollow and the edge very fine and flexible indeed, this old Castleton, less hollow and having been honed back into the meat a little is more stable in use I think.