Thread: sharp from one side only?

Hi Bud

No sir I have never had a blade done by a master so I know not any better

While mine does the job I really have to wonder what I am missing-

I just know its something as I am just learning the hones but I think I am making some critical mistake somewhere.

I know I tend to leave a finger from my left hand on the blade as I guide it on the hone. I know this is wrong for some reason but do not trust myself to let go. I might have made this condition happen.

I have a lighted 10x loupe and the bevel on one side is real hard to see-

Mark

Originally Posted by Oldfalguy

Hi Bud

No sir I have never had a blade done by a master so I know not any better

While mine does the job I really have to wonder what I am missing-

I just know its something as I am just learning the hones but I think I am making some critical mistake somewhere.

I know I tend to leave a finger from my left hand on the blade as I guide it on the hone. I know this is wrong for some reason but do not trust myself to let go. I might have made this condition happen.

I have a lighted 10x loupe and the bevel on one side is real hard to see-

Mark

Mark in your case there is no way you could know if your blade sharp enough or not. may be it is no one knows.
I would suggest get 1 of your razor sharpened by honers and take that blade check the edge under the microscope then shave with it . See how it acts.
This will help you so much in long run you will appreciate later
whom to choose go to member services and see the names and choose one move on.
Now about your problem with the bevel.
please check the back of the blade for mistake. if you have done some mistake while you hone then 1 side of the back of the blade should have more hone wear then other. if that is the case then try to hone less honed side until you get even hone wear on both side of the back.
Sharpness of your blade.
when you cut arm hair most likely your hairs should fall off next to blade or on to the blade.if hairs jumps then your blade is not shave ready.
there should be 0 resistance when you cut the hair. approximately keep blade 2/8 or 1/8inch above your skin level. hope this helps.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

when you cut arm hair most likely your hairs should fall off next to blade or on to the blade.if hairs jumps then your blade is not shave ready.
there should be 0 resistance when you cut the hair. approximately keep blade 2/8 or 1/8inch above your skin level. hope this helps.

All true but some people have very fine arm hair which will just bend without cutting if testing above skin. For them skin contact with the blade is ok. Still looking for 0 resistance tho.

Hi Bud & Onimaru

I will give it a arm test-
I have a el cheapo Selective that will not get a shaving edge but it will fine slice anything else- its my practice learning blade.
I remember putting electrical tape on it and flat making a black mess on the hone- cheap tape or I put too much pressure but I really try not to- go figure.
If I manage to do my part in da face prep I get BBS on the cheek plane real easy- By now I am only half a coward onthe chin-wink

I know I should take the "unseen" edge down onto the 1k and work just that side till its seen and then go from there but to tell the truth I just know I am going to screw up something-

Sending to a master while prudent is no guarantee I can maintain it given that I can not or have not created it- call me stubborn but I am patient -
Problem is this is my only razor-
I need another real good one- I think one different like a wedge blade

Ya know what I want- a real damascus blade-

Originally Posted by onimaru55

All true but some people have very fine arm hair which will just bend without cutting if testing above skin. For them skin contact with the blade is ok. Still looking for 0 resistance tho.

thank you for comments Onimaru55.
Fine hair i agree but in General i assume we (straight razor user)85% old guys above 30 years old.That is why i said that.
Resistance will be in there always but you shouldn't FEEL the resistance when you cut the hair.
Onimaru55 i appreciate your corrections.

Just another perspective Sham.. I'm so old I must be going thru my 2nd childhood My arm hair is very soft so testing close to or on the skin suits me best. Also the skin on the inside of the wrist is very sensitive & magnifies any pulling or tugging so unless that hair just falls over I know there's more work needed.

Oldfalguy : You sound like me, a stubborn, patient, DIY guy.
I had the pleasure of shaving with a Zowada damascus blade. Changed my perception of "sharp".
If you get one of the experienced SRP guys to hone your blade you will basically only need to strop it for maintenance, no different to if you do it yourself except you will have a reference point for "shaveready"
Yes it is a problem only having one razor. Don't worry the numbers are bound to increase

A damascus blade is not necessarily better than a hi carbon or a stainless blade of high quality. Some would say not as good but I won't go there. I would concur with Sham and onimaru that it would be a good idea to have a pro honed blade to shave with and to compare your own honing to on razors that you practice with. Until you have a pro honed blade you really won't know what sharp is.

I know I should send my Case blade to a honester to get the bevel set right and all so that I probably will have my inkling of what sharp REALLY is. Not sure who I should send it to, best work and turn around. Advise?

I have learned to Never try to use a str8 when hungover-

Why? shaky hands and blurred vision = 3 nicks

"Negative Ghostrider on the low pass" hahahaha

[QUOTE=Oldfalguy;560791]I know I should send my Case blade to a honester to get the bevel set right and all so that I probably will have my inkling of what sharp REALLY is. Not sure who I should send it to, best work and turn around. Advise?

QUOTE]

Check member services on classified.
It will be inappropriate to us to say to choose someone from the list. gl

HI Bud GL-

I understand not naming a pro honster- sorry should not have asked

I think ya'll are right - If I can't do it I will never know any better and that is just a little bit on the flat stupid side of things.-

So to split the baby sort of Solomon style I think I will buy another blade
off this forum, shave ready and all and go from there-
Still work on mine till I get the bevels right but at least then I will know what I am missing.

Would anyone care to name a blade worth buying in the $ 150 range-

Yes, I dream of a Damascus ivory scaled razor for my third but I can hold out for another little bit- not long though... have not found one yet-