Thread: How to Hone a Flat side?

I have one of those strange Carl Melcher straights, where one side of the blade is completely flat(like a true old style wedge), and the other side is hollow ground.

Does anybody have any advice for honing this style blade? Is this similar to the Japanese blades I have seen?

Not touching this puppy until I have word from one of you pros!

IIRC, they are called micro-tomes. Jimmyhad had a thread about sharpening them, but I cant recall exactly where I saw it. You might be able to find it by looking through his posts, or I am sure if you wait he will be along to tell you about his experience with them.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...microtome.html

I've honed one up too. You have to build up the spine, one way or another. I used electrical tape to attach a toothpick just below the spine on the flat side. It wasn't ideal, because the toothpick was not as long as the blade, and the toothpick had the tapered ends, but I got the thing to shave.

Weren't these medical tools and not shaving tools?

Originally Posted by Disburden

Weren't these medical tools and not shaving tools?

Yes they were for slicing tissue samples. If I was to do it again I would use 4 layers on the flat side rather than the 3 that I used on the Puma in that thread .....but I'll never do another.

medical tool? goodness! Guess I'm a chump.

What might its purpose have been? and has anybody tried to shave with it honing the single side?

Now Im all curious!

Originally Posted by Magpie

medical tool? goodness! Guess I'm a chump.

What might its purpose have been? and has anybody tried to shave with it honing the single side?

Now Im all curious!

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

Yes they were for slicing tissue samples. If I was to do it again I would use 4 layers on the flat side rather than the 3 that I used on the Puma in that thread .....but I'll never do another.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I've honed one up too. You have to build up the spine, one way or another. I used electrical tape to attach a toothpick just below the spine on the flat side. It wasn't ideal, because the toothpick was not as long as the blade, and the toothpick had the tapered ends, but I got the thing to shave.

Makes more sense reading backwards.

Originally Posted by janivar123

http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...microtome.html

Good thread.....
Also see this PDF

http://webmight.com/~psneeley/downlo...e%20Use%20.pdf

About page ten is a section on the blade. There is
an interesting bit on sharpening on vibrating glass with Vienna
chalk and other 'classified' abrasives on glass. There is
also some interesting bits on inspection of the edge
with a microscope.

Early on in the paper are bits on correct angle....

Yeah, its a microtome.

I honed one up that I had from school, but because it was a cheap no name one the edge only lasted a couple of shaves and then I had to rehone it. You could see the edge collapsing under a loupe.

I followed Jimmys advice in the thread linked above and I got there in the end. But it was definately not an experience I want to repeat any time soon..! Definately very difficult to hone.