full hollow TI giving me trouble

I was never satisfied with the edge I've been putting on my full-hollow TI. It is a little less comfortable than my half-hollow TI and Dovo. I tried again last night to put a better edge on it, and went back to the 4K Norton and checked under the microscope (10x) that the whole length of the blade looked like it was getting roughened at 4K and then back to the 8K Norton and finishing on a 15K Shapton. The edge looks very nice under the 10x microscope, but I could never get it to pass the HHT. Of course, it passes after stropping. I was careful to be very gentle and only use the weight of the blade when honing.

Any advice?

E

It sounds like you're doing everything right, but I'm pretty sure there's something missing. Without being able to examine the blade, howver, it's virtually impossible to tell what might be going wrong. I know that a TI properly honed will shave very well, indeed.

Most blades have a gentle smile on them. At a very low pressure you will not get the whole blade on the hone. Are you using the gentle rolling method where you move the contact with the hone from heel to tip? Even and gently, this should get the whole edge done up nicely, but don't overshoot the tip.

X

I'm afraid to do any honing, where I move the blade off the stone. I use a heel leading stroke down the length of the hone. How else can I deal with the 'smile'?

E

Just random thoughts OK? After all if its broke don't sweat trying to fix it.

I'd say the thing missing is your hone trueness. When was the last time you trued the hones? This is assuming your using equal pressure on both sides of the blade . . . is that true for every stroke you've made? At some point, probably around 15K the very edge is getting misaligned and the strop is realigning it, IMO. An inaccurate turn, an untrued hone, or perhaps a slight variance in your technique running in only one direction from the other.

After you diagnose those possibilities, I'd add more 15K passes at the end of whatever cycle your using now. Like double the number of strokes.

Just between you and me I would also consider back honing on the 15K very, very lightly to realign the blade edge and see if it passes the hanging hair test. Don't tell anyone else I said that though, they'll all freak out! OK, our little secret. Psssssst, mums the word ok?

If its still not passing the HHT its probably just in need of Mr. 4K again from the start.

And if I get a bunch of hate mail PMs about backhoning I'll know who spilled the beans . . . got it!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by ericm

I'm afraid to do any honing, where I move the blade off the stone. I use a heel leading stroke down the length of the hone. How else can I deal with the 'smile'?

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That's just how I do it. As you begin each stroke, make sure the heel and not the tip is in good contact with the hone and as you progress along the stone, gradually move that point of contact through the belly of the edge toward the tip for the finish of the stroke.

Even pressure all the way and the same in both directions. I found that since your wrist should remain in exactly the same position for both directions, a lot of the difference for me lay in the position of my thumb and forefinger initially. I learned I was underhoning on the left to right pass. I'm now careful to place my thumb on the edge side of the shank on top and the forefinger on the spine side of the shank underneath. This creates a very mild torque which keeps the blade on the hone the same in both directions without even trying.

X

Good advice guys. I'll give it a shot!
E

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,:)

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

Quote:

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Originally Posted by adjustme69

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

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You just made all us wanna-be honemeisters feel a little better Lynn.