Smileys Anyone?

Hey all,

Was looking around for some info on how to hone smiling blades. I just bought an old Tillotson's Celebrated, and it has quite the smile to it.

I do not wish to get rid of it at all. It is one of the things that I like best about the razor.
I have heard people reference a 'rolling X' pattern and a 'rolling circle'. I also heard about a heel led 45 degree angle.

There are these three options that I know of so far. Are there any others that I have not been observant enough to find?
Any tips on how to make sure I do it right?

I have tried this method with good result. Instead of honing the whole length of your bevel in one stroke, break it up into halfs or even thirds. When I first tried to get them smileys going it work for me. It is safer in some respects in that it is easier to repeat part pf a complex stroke rather than the whole thing. Just concentrate on making contact the same way each time and repeat the same motion.
So first say the heel area laps back , then the middle then the toe third. A black marker on the bevel will let you know how true your motion is. Guys that are really good pop them off quick with one hand, but I still can't get them as sharp as I like that way. Hope this helps.
Mike

Hello,

Actually, I posted a very similar question a couple of months ago...several of the more accomplished advised the Rolling-X found here:

Rolling X stroke - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Also, in the honing video section found hereL

Honing videos - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Go down to the video entitled, video by Jockeys and Kenrup...the guy in this video is dealing with a smiley blade vintage razor.

I'm sure some of the other more experienced will chime in...good luck!

I didn't look at the links but I would also advise using a thin hone.

I know this sounds like stating the obvious, but it really helped me when I honed my first smiley the other week; To make sure you get contact with the whole length of the blade, watch the water in front of the edge to see where is making contact and where isnt. If theres a section thats less sharp than the rest or isnt making contact, roll the edge along to focus on that section until its where you want it to be.

This really helps make sure that you get even contact along the whole edge. I also found doing rolling circles really helped make the bevel setting easier. I then finished each on each hone by doing 10 or 15 rolling X patterns. I got that pointer from Lynn's SRP '09 honing videos, which are massively helpful...! Check 'em out if you havent already, as well as the Kenrup's honing videos mentioned above.

Good luck and keep us posted!

Thanks to all who answered. Helped a lot. Cannot wait for her to arrive!

Oh.. you don't have it yet, it's going to make more sense once you have the razor in hand and try it out on the hone. between all of those techniques you should be covered technique-wise... the rest will be up to execution.


if you give the edge a once over with a sharpie, or other magic marker on both sides, you'll be able to see if your strokes are honing the entire bevel, and exactly where metal is being removed.

Good luck!

Dave