Thread: fixing an overhoned razor

Originally Posted by gssixgun

3-4 Backhoning strokes on the next lower stone...

but I am with Zib what makes you think it is overhoned??????

Thats good to know. Is that anything you dont know about honing Glen?

Originally Posted by JonnyO

Thats good to know. Is that anything you dont know about honing Glen?

Tons
I just keep figuring more out everyday

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Tons
I just keep figuring more out everyday

Should I ever learn everything, I would be bored with it.

I think I've really done a number on my razor. I have one that was pretty sharp but now it won't even cut arm hair. I got some hones I use to sharpen knives and was using those to try and practice. I didn't know about lapping stones and when I checked to see if the stone I'd be using was flat...after using it for a while...there is an obvious dip in the stone. Also my razor is dull now. I might just suck at honing too.

Could a caved in stone really cause a razor to dull bad like mine?

robert

Originally Posted by straightrobert

I think I've really done a number on my razor. I have one that was pretty sharp but now it won't even cut arm hair. I got some hones I use to sharpen knives and was using those to try and practice. I didn't know about lapping stones and when I checked to see if the stone I'd be using was flat...after using it for a while...there is an obvious dip in the stone. Also my razor is dull now. I might just suck at honing too.

Could a caved in stone really cause a razor to dull bad like mine?

robert

Based on what you just said, I really doubt it's an overhoned razor, it just sounds underhoned. The stones you tried using might not even be appropriate for a straight razor, what are they?

They are just some old knife hones. One is pretty rough. I figured I could at least set the bevel. But the razor just seems to get duller and duller.

Is it possible that I could be dulling the razor just because the stone is not flat??

A straight razor has an edge thinner than a piece of cigarette paper. It is very delicate and that is why bevel setters for straight razors are finer than polishing stones for knives. Different animal. Take a gander at the honing tutorials and videos in the SRP Wiki for good info on how to approach honing a straight razor.

So what stone do you use once you've really messed up the blade and need to fix it? From what I've read I won't be able to do this on my Norton 4k/8k (which is in the mail.)

For what its worth I hope to learn to repair antique store finds and stuff so I'll eventually need to get the right stone anyway. Can the blade restoration be done on a Norton 1k stone, or do you need even lower grit? Also, when purchased new, I assume the 1k stone will need to be lapped flat as well, is this correct?

I agree with jimmy most knife stones are what we would consider rough and uneven by the razor standards, I am master with knife honing and thought it would transfer to the razors and suffered the same fate as yours!

Now I own three stones and although one is a mutlipurpose it is only for setting the edge and the other two are now pure razor stones.