Thread: What am I doing wrong?

I'd recommend reading up on all the flat strokes in the wiki and trying them-the ones where the blade doesn't leave the hone- and see if any of them hit the marker edge. If that doesn't work you could try the strokes where you lift off the hone, like the rolling x stroke, but be really careful if you have to go the lifting route, that's a difficult stroke, and I can't really say I think its a good idea to try your first time honing on a new, expensive (I assume) razor.

Wonder if AoS needs a specialist I'm moving to a depressed area... Fresno, CA. and I'm getting nervous about finding a job in a kitchen... I'll have to look ANYwhere that will cut a check for me Kitchens, Knife shops, AoS (lol), ugh not looking forward to the move...

Originally Posted by tryonix

Ok , here are some pics, This is after 10 laps on a norton 8k using an x stroke.

OK, you have quite a (nice) smiling blade there, with significant rounding at the heel and point. Jimmyhad's post seems very relevant.

I have to confess, I don't try too hard to get the curved parts of my blades perfectly sharp. I'm happy for the sharpness to taper off. Maybe that makes me lazy, but it doesn't affect the shave.

I also feel that a well sharpened round point is more dangerous than a square point. Mostly because you won't show it the necessary respect.

If the middle section of the blade is responding, but it is just toe/heel problem, check out "rolling x stroke".

Rolling X stroke - Straight Razor Place Wiki

-Chief

Thanks guys, I will try the rolling X stroke and let you know.

The razor does have very heavy SS scales, and it was honed by Lynn originally.

How long has it been since it was honed by Lynn? Unless the edge got ruined somehow, you should have been able to go a long time without honing.

Yep, as pointed out by others, two flat planes intersect to form only a straight line. Not a curved line. Thus, if it has a smile it will need either a rolling x, or a narrow hone, or some other trick. Just laying it flat across a wide hone won't work very well.

nice little cage-fight on this here: http://badgerandblade.com/vb/showthr...t=92545&page=4

hmm, narrow hone. i never considered that.

it was honed about 6 months ago