TI Sharpening Problem

Hello Gentlemen, I have a TI sheffield steel blade that simply does not want to get sharp. It would probably be my favorite...If I could ever shave with it! I have several razors (Dovo Prima Klang, Le Grelot, Henkels...) and several hones (Norton4/8, Coticule,Thuringian) diamond pastes and a Tony Miller strop. It seems like I have worked it and worked it and its barely sharp. My other razors are sharp! What the hell gives? I have looked under magnification and nothing seems wrong. Do I just keep working it? I am ready to throw my hands up in the air....HELP! I know its sort of a tough call, but is there any common wisdom in this type of situation? Thanks! (Can some blades take several hours of work?)

Dave I moved this over to the Honing Forum where it should get even more attention....

Sometimes a razor can give you a mental block I was just talking with somebody earlier in the chat that was havening a problem on an SS dovo... Once you convince ourself the razor has a problem then it does...

You are missing something in the routine, what technique are you using????

Well, I am not really sure what you mean by routine. I tried the pyramid several times...I have put it back to the stones multiple times...I have had the razor for over a year and quite truthfully after many sessions with it, I just put it away and let it grind my gut. Sometimes I get the impression that most folks get a razor, do a few pyramids...strop it and have a perfect shave. Can a SS blade take 5-10 times as long to shapen as a carbon blade?

Honestly, I have seen hardly any difference between an SS an a carbon on the hones....
Maybe just a smidgen when it comes to setting a bevel the first time...

Those TI's sometimes have a slight little warp that will mess with ya, look at the bevel really, really, close and see if it is even...

If it is, then you might push the edge for 10 laps on the 4k just to get it started what I mean by that is use two hands guide the blade with a slight heel forward angle and do 10 even laps with just a touch of pressure... then go back to minimal pressure and continue on the 4k until the razor is popping arm hair from heel to toe then move to the 8k for 20-30 laps and you can finish out with whatever stone/paste trips yer trigger....

Now if the bevel is uneven then you have some choices to make, either you can do some serious X stroking and hone around it or you can add 1 layer of tape and that should correct it...

I have also never experienced much difference between SS and carbon. SS might be a little tougher, but it doesn't stack up to a wedge IIRC.

PM sent with free honing offer.

I have an AOS rebranded TI carbon and had a similar problem. I then started looking at the spine and figured out that the factory puts them on a wheel to "sharpen" them. The problem is that it was done in an extremely sloppy way. One side had the center ground more than the heel and the toe was completely untouched. The other side the toe and heel are ground more than the center. I did 80 circles on both sides with a 1k stone and that helped enough that I could get a good shave this morning but the side with the untouched toe it still needs some work. I used a rolling stroke for that side.

I personally will not be purchasing another TI blade after seeing this craftmanship.

dustinw is right they do have that problem in new TI.
You should keep it going will take some time a lot time. i would suggest make sure your bevel set at first.I think your bevel hasn't been set you may need to tape back of the blade.
good luck

The newer TIs supposedly went to the new steel that they developed with the Silverwing. That is some tough stuff. I have found the previous alloy tough to sharpen too but with patience and persistence you'll get there.

I have seen heavydutysg135 and others say that most razors that they receive where the owner cannot get them sharp lack a properly set bevel. I don't know if that is the problem but you might check that out. Have you done the marker test to see if you are making contact for the length of the blade all the way across the hone ? As Glen pointed out sometimes there is a warp in the spine.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by DustinW

I have an AOS rebranded TI carbon and had a similar problem. I then started looking at the spine and figured out that the factory puts them on a wheel to "sharpen" them. The problem is that it was done in an extremely sloppy way. One side had the center ground more than the heel and the toe was completely untouched. The other side the toe and heel are ground more than the center. I did 80 circles on both sides with a 1k stone and that helped enough that I could get a good shave this morning but the side with the untouched toe it still needs some work. I used a rolling stroke for that side.

I personally will not be purchasing another TI blade after seeing this craftmanship.

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my ti was the same from new mine does'nt sit flat on hone narrow hone does the trick my bevel is narrow and fatter in ceretain areas

I have found with the new TI's that a definite bevel re-set at the 1K is necessary. Then lately, I have been going to the 5K, 8K and 12K followed by .5 diamond spray on felt and it has been working very well.

If you are getting close, you might try 10 strokes on the Coticule followed by 10 strokes on the .5 diamond and then strop and test. It would be better to dial it in, in this manner vs. spending hours on it at a sitting.

The alternative would be to re-set the bevel and as Glen recommended, get it to shave arm hair on the 4K, then go to the 8K and Coticule followed by the paste and see if that brings it around.

Another alternative since it's close with the diamond paste would be to try 10-15 strokes on some chromium oxide and see if that brings it to life for you.

Have fun,

Lynn