Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 13
  1. #1
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    108
    Thanked: 13

    Default Bevel Setting a Smile: Heel is dull!

    Im bevel setting a new W&B I picked up and the heel just doesnt want to set. The rest of the blade is set fine, but not the heel. Any ideas?

  2. #2
    I used Nakayamas for my house mainaman's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2009
    Location
    Des Moines
    Posts
    8,664
    Thanked: 2591
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    Here a nice tutorial on the different strokes for honing razors with different problems
    Strokes for honing a razor - Straight Razor Place Wiki
    Stefan

  3. #3
    Senior Member blabbermouth JimmyHAD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    32,564
    Thanked: 11042

    Default

    Take a look at page 24 of the 1961 barber manual excerpt here, 'Honing Technique For the Advanced Student'. You don't have to follow that exactly but it'll give you the idea. IOW, work on the heel with back and forth strokes or circles but interspersed with X strokes (rolling x if necessary) to keep from putting a step in the bevel. Check with TPT and magnification as you go to keep things even as possible. Just what I would do, not necessarily the only way.
    Be careful how you treat people on your way up, you may meet them again on your way back down.

  4. The Following User Says Thank You to JimmyHAD For This Useful Post:

    DogHair (12-22-2009)

  5. #4
    At this point in time... gssixgun's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2007
    Location
    North Idaho Redoubt
    Posts
    27,024
    Thanked: 13245
    Blog Entries
    1

    Default

    First you will most likely find that the heel was never set in the first place they rarely were... Now if you are an anal retentive idiot like me that just won't cut it, so take a look at the heel by sighting down the tang... You will probably find the the heel is warped... You are going to have to follow Jimmy's advice with the circles and target the heel specifically and use a bit of pressure to yank that heel into line...
    BTW expect hours on the hone...

  6. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to gssixgun For This Useful Post:

    alanm (01-07-2010), Pete_S (12-22-2009)

  7. #5
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Posts
    108
    Thanked: 13

    Default

    I did an hour of X Honing last night and it seems that the trick from the barber's manual is doing the trick.

  8. #6
    Senior Member blabbermouth JimmyHAD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    32,564
    Thanked: 11042

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by JonnyO View Post
    I did an hour of X Honing last night and it seems that the trick from the barber's manual is doing the trick.
    Yeah, those old boys knew what they were talking about. Glad to hear that it is working for you.
    Be careful how you treat people on your way up, you may meet them again on your way back down.

  9. #7
    Senior Member
    Join Date
    Mar 2007
    Posts
    608
    Thanked: 124

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by gssixgun View Post
    First you will most likely find that the heel was never set in the first place they rarely were... Now if you are an anal retentive idiot like me that just won't cut it, so take a look at the heel by sighting down the tang... You will probably find the the heel is warped... You are going to have to follow Jimmy's advice with the circles and target the heel specifically and use a bit of pressure to yank that heel into line...
    BTW expect hours on the hone...

    Thats really useful. All this time I thought I had problems honing heels. I've had to go back to the bevel a bunch of times because of dull heels, which is especially annoying if it takes you a long time to hone, like it does me.

  10. #8
    Senior Member DogHair's Avatar
    Join Date
    Sep 2008
    Location
    Illinois, USA
    Posts
    128
    Thanked: 24

    Default

    Good info in the manual. I spent an hour or so last night setting the bevel on a Greaves wedge. It's nearly done but I'm interested to try what the manual recommends.

  11. #9
    Senior Member doleeo's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Columbus, IN
    Posts
    105
    Thanked: 77

    Default

    It's a good thing this thread came up as I'm working on a Wostenholm smiling wedge and having a bit of trouble withe the heel.

    Upon setting the bevel do you have to continue to use the same honing method or will a rolling x work?

  12. #10
    Senior Member blabbermouth JimmyHAD's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2008
    Posts
    32,564
    Thanked: 11042

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by doleeo View Post
    It's a good thing this thread came up as I'm working on a Wostenholm smiling wedge and having a bit of trouble withe the heel.

    Upon setting the bevel do you have to continue to use the same honing method or will a rolling x work?
    Whatever works is what you would want to use IMO. On those old Sheffield smiling blades the rolling x is often the best bet.
    Be careful how you treat people on your way up, you may meet them again on your way back down.

Page 1 of 2 12 LastLast

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •