Thread: Bevel Missing a Spot

So I've got this TIPTLE that I got on the 'bay. It was a very impulsive purchase and I got caught up in the bidding....

Anyhow, It had some pitting which I cleaned up then I took it to the hones. Luckily there was nary a pit on the bevel.

However, while setting the bevel I noticed that there was a spot that wasn't getting honed on one side. There is a nice even bevel up to this point, then it stops for a couple millimeters and then the bevel is back. This is only happening on one side of the razor, the other side is fine.

I've tried every honing stroke I can think of, and have even used a bit more pressure than I'm comfortable with. Yet, there is still this little stretch along the edge, which isn't making contact with the hone...

Any idea as to what would be causing this?

My TIPTLE is a bit warped and I have to use a rolling x on it. I also use some narrow hones I have. Take a marker and apply it to the bevel. See what the stroke you're using is doing. If it is effective the marker will be removed. If the marker is not removed at the trouble spot you can try some alternative strokes to catch that spot. You'll know what works if and when you take the marker off with the hone. In a very extreme case I had to use the very edge of the hone on a razor that had a concave warp on one side. Worse comes to worse send it to Lynn or one of the other honemeisters.

EDIT; Are you doing circles to set the bevel ? Circles can be effective on some razors to correct the relationship between the spine and bevel. OTOH, if the razor has a warp I wouldn't recommend that much correction.

Jimmy,

I have been using the marker test for a while now and using a rolling x, rolling 45 degree, and straight X patterns, yet nothing has caught that spot in the edge.

As for the circles, I have also been using them as well. They are pretty standard in my bevel setting routine.

After examining the edge some more, I've discovered that the area is slightly raised, almost like a mini frown, in that section of the blade. Being that this razor is second hand, I'm sure if it was originally there or not.

The spot where I'm having trouble isn't at the toe or heel like I've had with smiling/warped blades before, it is about a half inch from the toe.

As for sending it out for honing, I'm determined to get this blade right, as it would be a bit of a confidence booster as I've yet to have this much trouble getting a blade honed.

That is tough. Maybe the former owner got too heavy handed with the hones or OTOH, maybe TI's grinder had a bad hand day. If I'm interpreting your description correctly it sounds like you might have to reshape that end a bit. Get that 'mini frown' out of it. Then again with a valuable razor such as that you might want to send it to Lynn. Better safe than sorry.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

That is tough. Maybe the former owner got too heavy handed with the hones or OTOH, maybe TI's grinder had a bad hand day. If I'm interpreting your description correctly it sounds like you might have to reshape that end a bit. Get that 'mini frown' out of it. Then again with a valuable razor such as that you might want to send it to Lynn. Better safe than sorry.

Jimmy, I was hoping that wouldn't be the case, but the more I think about it and look at the edge, the more I think it will probably be the case.

What confuses me, is that on the other side of the blade, the bevel is nice and uniform

That is indeed confusing. Sounds like a bit of concavity of the grind at that spot on the bevel to me. Or a slight warp in the spine allowing the one side to make contact while the other side misses the hone at that spot. If you can't figure it out with the marker I don't know what to tell you.