Thread: Wavy Bevel and Heel Issues

Sadly, this morning, my Dovo 5/8 had an unfortunate encounter with the faucet.

Though I am rather green when it comes to honing, I managed to get the nick out, and it seems to be working fine again.

However, with the X pattern I am using, the bevel is much more developed toward the middle of the blade (this section is in contact with the stone longer, of course), and the heel is getting almost no attention (starting higher up doesn't work, as the shank itself gets in the way of the blade lying correctly).

So, is the wavy bevel a problem? And what tips do you guys have for getting that heel nice and keen?

Thanks!

Originally Posted by Danist

Sadly, this morning, my Dovo 5/8 had an unfortunate encounter with the faucet.

Though I am rather green when it comes to honing, I managed to get the nick out, and it seems to be working fine again.

However, with the X pattern I am using, the bevel is much more developed toward the middle of the blade (this section is in contact with the stone longer, of course), and the heel is getting almost no attention (starting higher up doesn't work, as the shank itself gets in the way of the blade lying correctly).

So, is the wavy bevel a problem? And what tips do you guys have for getting that heel nice and keen?
Thanks!

The "wavy" bevel is a potential permanent problem. If you hold the razor with the edge downward and parallel to the floor, the edge should look like a straight line OR a have a slight scimitar, smile shape to it.

If you continue to hone your razor the way you are, you're going to have a "frown" to your razor's edge shape and that's bad. Eventually, the razor will become prematurely unuseable. You ought to correct your technique.

Instead of a very steep X-pattern covering only a few inches of your hone, lengthen the sweep to use more of the hone.

Also, the greater threat is continuing to rinse your blade under the faucet and risking another razor-2-faucet collision. Why not get a number of old towels or buy some cheap ones (or Ray's barber towels?) and wipe the blade on those as you go along? It's hard to ding an edge on a towel.

Instead of a very steep X-pattern covering only a few inches of your hone, lengthen the sweep to use more of the hone.

David, can you give us a graphic of the motion you are talking about or perhaps a 3 part photo sequence of the movement?
1. Beginning of stroke
2. Middle of stroke
3. End of stroke

That would be most helpful.

Tanks,

I've been thinking about this recently as well. I susect it's an exacerbated result of having to run a hundred lengths on the hone to repair the ding. The normal upkeep using an X stroke would likely not become noticable for some years.

Could an answer be to keep the whole blade in contact with the hone and advance the blade at an angle (quite steep at 50º for a 3" blade on a 2" hone, a more reasonable 33.75º on a 2.5" hone). This would only leave room for a 1" advance on a 2x4" hone! That doesn't seem very economical to me. Does this REQUIRE a 6" or 8" long hone to get the job done properly?

Well, aside from the bevel and heel problem, the razor performed great today... in fact, the best yet, way better than the edge it came with.

In that regard, I am very pleased with myself.

Uthed, you are exactly right about the steep X-pattern, and how it could turn into a "frown." I will in fact go fix it this evening before it becomes any more of a problem. Since this last hone turned out so well sharpness-wise, I am not afraid of really working that 4k stone until the bevel is acceptably uniform.

And yes, I have now started the habit of wiping the blade on a dedicated wash cloth.

Xman, the problem is exactly as you described it... it took so many rounds on my 4k side (a 2" norton, btw) to get the ding out. It likely wouldn't be as noticeable a problem for just normal upkeep.

Thank you all so very much for your feedback. I shall report again after I try to fix that bevel.

And if I thought this morning's shave was good... I'm just giddy about tomorrow.

In fact, to my astonishment, this blade wickedly passed the hair test.

The bevel is still not absolutely perfect, but I fixed the most troubled areas and got the heel nice and keen. More importantly, with the technique on page 3 of the 1961 Honing and Stropping (in the yahoo group's files section), I managed to get the heel and point bevels to start moving up. As I keep honing this way, the blade will develop a slight smile shape rather than a frown.

I feel it is a personal high mark for me that I could fix my ding and make this a great shaver. I can see there is a lot more depth to honing, and having made it this far, I am even more curious and more appreciative of the wisdom collected within this group.

Thank you all for making this such a fantastic resource!

So, wouldn't be a good idea to fix this kind of a problem on a coarser stone, like 1000 and then finish on the 4K/8K?

Originally Posted by Danist

Xman, the problem is exactly as you described it... it took so many rounds on my 4k side (a 2" norton, btw) to get the ding out. It likely wouldn't be as noticeable a problem for just normal upkeep.
try to fix that bevel.

So, wouldn't be a good idea to fix this kind of a problem on a coarser stone, like 1000 and then finish on the 4K/8K?

Yup, except that I don't have one yet! :lol:

FROM:danist

So, wouldn''t be a good idea to fix this kind of a problem on a coarser stone, like 1000 and then finish on the 4K/8K?

Yup, except that I don''t have one yet! :lol:
















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Straight Razor Place Forums

Originally Posted by forums

And if I thought this morning''s shave was good... I''m just giddy about tomorrow.

In fact, to my astonishment, this blade wickedly passed the hair test.

The bevel is still not absolutely perfect, but I fixed the most troubled areas and got the heel nice and keen. More importantly, with the technique on page 3 of the 1961 Honing and Stropping (in the yahoo group''s files section), I managed to get the heel and point bevels to start moving up. As I keep honing this way, the blade will develop a slight smile shape rather than a frown.

I feel it is a personal high mark for me that I could fix my ding and make this a great shaver. I can see there is a lot more depth to honing, and having made it this far, I am even more curious and more appreciative of the wisdom collected within this group.

Thank you all for making this such a fantastic resource!----
Straight Razor Place Forums

Very good, Grasshopper .... now, give us five laps and go hit the showers. ink: 8)