Thread: full hollow TI giving me trouble

Originally Posted by randydance062449

If the advice you have just been given does not work then come back and let us know if the razor is new? size? stainless steel?
lead hardened? pic's?
My guess is that your razor needs more time on the 4000 to form the bevel. Once the bevel is created then the rest goes quickly. You probably are not using enough pressure on the 4000 initially. I use 1-2 lbs until the bevel is formed then lighten up to using just enough pressure to keep the razor on the hone.

Hope this helps,

Still working on it. It is (was) a new TI Evide 6/8, carbon steel. It didn't shave when I got it. I can tell from looking under a 10x that when I go to the 4K Norton, that the whole blade edge gets honed (dulled from an 8K shine), so I think the whole blade is at least contacting the hone. But I've never been able to get this particular razor to pass the HHT very well off the hones. It passes, but just barely. I can strop it and it passes great, but the shave is just not as good as my others... it's not as smooth or close.

I'm a little afraid of honing this thing to a nub. It's in a state now that may be OK. I'll shave with it again tomorrow and let you all know how it goes.

Thanks!
E

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I'd say the thing missing is your hone trueness. When was the last time you trued the hones?

I think that was part of the problem, my 8K wasn't flat enough. My first test of hone trueness was placing it on a glass plate, when wet, and seeing that the whole stone 'stuck' to the glass. This isn't the best test of trueness, though since the stone can look like it's stuck to the glass when there is a lot of excess water on the stone, even if the stone is quite warped. I drew lines on my Norton 8K with a pencil and sanded the stone on glass until the lines were gone. After that, I could get the razor to pass the HHT off the hones.

Even though my razors pass the HHT of the hones, they do much better with this test after stropping. I assume this is normal?

E

Well, I've tried everything at least twice. I simply can't get this one to hone well. I thought it might be the fact that it's a full-hollow. In an effort to convince myself that it's not my technique, I bought full-hollow 5/8 at the antique store and honed it up in about 20 minutes. It's nice and sharp. To be fair, it only needed a touch up with about 10 passes on the 8k norton and a few passes on the 15k shapton.

I notice that this razor that won't hone well feels like it's sliding on glass when I use the 4k norton. Unless I work up a slurry with some sandpaper, I can't feel any drag at all on the blade. It makes me think that I'm not removing any metal, and not honing. When I work up a slurry, it drags a little and I can see some metal left behind on the hone. I'm guessing this steel is just super hard. It is supposed to be a carbon steel blade. No matter though, this thing has essentially defeated me! I even went down to 1000 grit norton and worked my way back up. Still, can't get this one sharp for some reason.

Any other advice? I'm getting desperate!

Thanks,
E

Originally Posted by ericm

Well, I've tried everything at least twice. I simply can't get this one to hone well. I thought it might be the fact that it's a full-hollow. In an effort to convince myself that it's not my technique, I bought full-hollow 5/8 at the antique store and honed it up in about 20 minutes. It's nice and sharp. To be fair, it only needed a touch up with about 10 passes on the 8k norton and a few passes on the 15k shapton.

I notice that this razor that won't hone well feels like it's sliding on glass when I use the 4k norton. Unless I work up a slurry with some sandpaper, I can't feel any drag at all on the blade. It makes me think that I'm not removing any metal, and not honing. When I work up a slurry, it drags a little and I can see some metal left behind on the hone. I'm guessing this steel is just super hard. It is supposed to be a carbon steel blade. No matter though, this thing has essentially defeated me! I even went down to 1000 grit norton and worked my way back up. Still, can't get this one sharp for some reason.

Any other advice? I'm getting desperate!

Thanks,
E

PM Lynn for his address!

RT

I'm having trouble understanding at this point. You don't think the bevel is hitting the hone at 4k?

I don't own a TI in full hollow but I can imagine with that extra hard carbon steel on a full hollow grind it be a bear to hone.

I recommend a quick backhone of 8k and then lots of 8k passes with a light touch. Check to make sure the bevel looks right. Do you have any pastes?

If that fails a dab of pressure followed by none again might be in order. I think the complexity of full hollow razors becomes exponentially difficult to hone the wider the blade gets. I have a 6/8 full hollow that gives me fits too.

After all that I'd send it out too.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I'm having trouble understanding at this point. You don't think the bevel is hitting the hone at 4k?

It looks like it does, and if I'm dulling up an 8k shine on the 4k, it appears to be uniform.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I recommend a quick backhone of 8k and then lots of 8k passes with a light touch. Check to make sure the bevel looks right. Do you have any pastes?

If that fails a dab of pressure followed by none again might be in order. I think the complexity of full hollow razors becomes exponentially difficult to hone the wider the blade gets. I have a 6/8 full hollow that gives me fits too.

After all that I'd send it out too.

I'll try it and let you know what happens.

Thanks!
E

Ok, hang in there. Remember the pride of accomplishment is greatest when the challenge is the highest! LOL

Well, I got it sharp again. Kind of. I've honed this thing to sharpness about 4 times now, and every time I get to the same level of sharpness. It passes the HHT just barely off the hones. At least my results are consistent. I can't get this particular razor as sharp as my other razors.

Do you all have this experience, or can every razor be sharpened to highest level?

E

Originally Posted by adjustme69

And........don't feel bad, just keep trying different things. I have been working on a TI Evide lately that is dealing me fits. I continue to endeavor to purservere........lol. Lynn

Lynn when you finish that razor are you sure you dont just want to keep it lol. I would almost feel bad if I shaved with it after all your hard work! Its almost become an omen of bad luck, Im afraid to have it in my house again lol.

Originally Posted by rtaylor61

PM Lynn for his address!

RT

RT,

I dont know that Lynn ever wants to see a TI Evide again lol. If he charged by the hour, Im pretty sure that TI would be costing me WAY more than its worth.

Originally Posted by JLStorm

I dont know that Lynn ever wants to see a TI Evide again lol. If he charged by the hour, Im pretty sure that TI would be costing me WAY more than its worth.

If Lynn has trouble with TI Evides, then it's probably going to be much more difficult for a beginner like me to deal with them. Is there a consensus on this? Are TI Evides more difficult to sharpen?

Bad luck it was the second razor I bought. It makes me want to stay away from full hollows. My half hollows are fantastic though, and not too hard to keep sharp!

E