Thread: Shaving edge variation

I'm having a little difficulty getting a consistantly fine edge when sharpening.

There isn't a lot of difference but I've noticed that if I'm cutting hair right off with the front 1/3 of the blade, the rear 1/3 will cut -most- of the way through but leave the end hanging by a remaining wisp of hair.

I've seen this on 3 different razors, I think that I can even detect the difference when trying the thumb test.

So the question is, Is this common and what causes it? Most likely some flaw in my sharpening/stropping I'm sure, but if anyone has any suggestions, I'd like to hear them!

Don in Ohio

Don,

Could you describe what you mean a little differently? Blades don't have a front and a rear. Are you referring to the tip and heal as shaving differently? Thanx

I need to know to form a reply...

And what does this mean?

Originally Posted by DonOhio39

but leave the end hanging by a remaining wisp of hair.

If I understand you correctly, and I'm not sure that I do, I think the tip is sharper than the heal. If thats the case I would suggest your going to an x pattern prematurely in your honing. Are you just an x pattern honer? And again if thats the case I would recommend continuing to hone as you do now (for consistency sake) and place a finger on the heal of the spine while honing and do some pyramids (just a few) with your finger on the heal of the razor applying gentle pressure.

The other alternative is to angle the blade at about 45 degrees and run it down the hone in a few pyramids (just a few) and get the heal or base of the blade. I might use my finger with this method too. This is probably the preferred method if you have practice using both methods.

Is this common? Not nearly as common as I should think it would be with x pattern honing but it does happen. Perhaps your applying pressure somehow to the blade tip when honing? I don't know. Or perhaps you apply too much pressure on the shank or handle when honing, thats a possibility too, even though its the tip that is sharp.

If this isn't what you meant...LOL, sorry!

Typically when you see this, it is a pressure thing. I try to hone at a 90 degree angle using the X pattern from heel to toe. The key is definitely keeping the blade perfectly flat during the stroke with virtually no pressure. Any pressure along the way will alter the edge. Lynn

You are right Front=tip and rear =heel. I'm just too new to have the terminology down pat.
"leaving it hanging by a wisp" The blade cuts the hair but it seems like there is enough resistance to the cut that the end of it rolls/flips/whatever off the edge before the hair is completely severed. If you take a pocket knife and cut long thin branches off a tree(like a willow tree) the branch sometimes bends at the cut and you can end up with it still hanging on the stub by the bark. It's the same thing, just on a different scale.

I'll try to work on my technique, still lots to learn!

Thanks

Don in Ohio

I have the same issue Don,
With me it was just the opposite however. My heel was so perfectly sharp it was amazing, but the belly and tip varied from sharp to painfully dull

Lynn is right on the money (as usual) it's a pressure/angle thing during the honing. I have a tendency to allow the scales to dip down at the end of the stroke so the heel allways had a constant pressure and was allways flat on the hone at the start...

When sharpening anything there are two variable that cause problems for people: 1)angle of approach and 2)downward pressure
The straight makes the angle of approach easy for us because we lay the razor flat. However, keeping the razor flat through the stroke can be a problem.. as Lynn says, perfectly flat is key!

Try honing your razor in short strokes, so that no more than 1/2 the blade over-hangs the hone at the end of the stroke. Yes, this makes for a tiny stroke, but keeping half the blade on the hone will help you get a feel for keeping the blade flat and when you get a little more steady you can increase the length of the stroke to speed up the honing process...

I see. Thanx for the clarification. Lynn has provided you with the cause, which was along my line of thinking as well. My post was designed to provide you with some immediate solutions which will correct the pressure you may have originally provided. The idea is to counterbalance the mistake. It may make sense at this point to just hone through the problem. Sometimes good honing can eventually start to push through the bad honing. Let us know how it goes. The x pattern is really the way to go, its worth the extra learning curve.

Sorry about sounding technical on you, that wasn't my point. I really wasn't sure what you meant. Sometimes people say front and back when they mean edge and spine.

Like anything else worth doing, there is a learning curve.

I really appreciate the help from everyone.

Don in Ohio

Something else which is sometimes an issue is the shape of the edge. If it is anything less then perfectly straight (and often even if it is) a VERY subtle rolling of the blade from heel to toe throughout the honing stroke will ensure that the whole edge gets honed. This, as I say, is especially true for razors with a slight curve or 'smile' to them. In my book, this blade shape is actually preferred. Although it takes a little more expertise on the hone, it makes for a nicer shaving experience.

X