Thread: curved spines

I think I missed a lecture in Honing 101--- If a razor's spine is curved, but the edge is straight -- like this one



How does that affect my honing stroke? I've lucked into some decent bevels on these before, but I'm not even sure how I accomplished it.

I've seen that on a bunch of blades. I'm not sure if it's a function of regrinding or how they've been honed or if they were just made that way. I have found that they vary - some will need a rolling stroke while others will work with a flat stroke. Here, the magic marker test (or whatever test you use to make sure you're getting the whole bevel set) becomes your friend, because these razors are all unique and all need different strokes. Just be really patient on your 1k, go slow, and tweak your stroke as you go along.

I have a couple like that that make me scratch my head, too. If the opposite were true--straight spine and a smiling edge--I understand how improper honing (toe and heel-heavy) could have caused it, but it seems like it'd be a real trick to get an extremely straight edge and even bevel out of a blade that was meant to smile.

(Ones with curved spines *are* meant to smile, right?)

The trusty old 1961 barber manual excerpt on honing and stropping in the SRP Wiki help files was very useful for me in understanding how to approach that sort of blade. Here is is here.

Originally Posted by holli4pirating

I've seen that on a bunch of blades. I'm not sure if it's a function of regrinding or how they've been honed or if they were just made that way. I have found that they vary - some will need a rolling stroke while others will work with a flat stroke. Here, the magic marker test (or whatever test you use to make sure you're getting the whole bevel set) becomes your friend, because these razors are all unique and all need different strokes. Just be really patient on your 1k, go slow, and tweak your stroke as you go along.

Patience? I'll have none of that, sir!

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

The trusty old 1961 barber manual excerpt on honing and stropping in the SRP Wiki help files was very useful for me in understanding how to approach that sort of blade. Here is is here.

Honestly, you'd think that I could dig just a little on my own.

Blade which you are showing shouldn't give to you any trouble while you hone it. Just use straight strokes.
if your edge had smile then it will be different story. gl

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

Blade which you are showing shouldn't give to you any trouble while you hone it. Just use straight strokes.
if your edge had smile then it will be different story. gl

It more than likely had a smiling edge to match the curvature of the spine, but judging from the pictures that was a long time ago. Just hone it like normal unless you want to bring the smile back.

Originally Posted by nun2sharp

It more than likely had a smiling edge to match the curvature of the spine, but judging from the pictures that was a long time ago. Just hone it like normal unless you want to bring the smile back.

Dylan and I are thinking maybe this was an old regrind, I don't know, I bought it out a junk bin literally covered with mud.

Originally Posted by stimpy52

Dylan and I are thinking maybe this was an old regrind, I don't know, I bought it out a junk bin literally covered with mud.

It might be, no way to know for sure, but then again maybe someone without the skill to hone a smile or maybe someone who preferred a straight edge got it and made the alteration. Who knows?