Thread: New Razor Bevel Setting & Honing

I been reading about honing and wanted to try my hand at it. I purchased the Norton 220/1000, 4000/8000 and lapping stone and have a Coti yellow/bbw.
What I wanted to know is when you buy a brand new blade, does the bevel have to be set? What grit do you start at with a new blade?


Thanks!!

On a new blade, use no grit at all. Try stropping and shaving with it first, to see if any honing is even needed.

Cheers,
Jeff

FYI it is a Red Imp 133.

That's too nice a razor to be using as your first honing experiment

Oh man now I'm envious! Beautiful razor!

I got a similar Case Temperite from holli4pirating. It was nice, and shave-ready.

if you do need to hone it, I'd recommend starting with the finest hone you can, judging by your shave test.

Enjoy!

Jeff

Originally Posted by onimaru55

That's too nice a razor to be using as your first honing experiment

I agree, please practice on something else! Find a cheap no name vintage brand in reasonable condition, if something should go wrong, no harm, no foul!

I have found that on most NOS German and American blades, starting on a 5k works. The same seems to be true of new Dovo's. But if you're not sure, just a few (maybe 5) X strokes on the 1k will let you know and hardly remove any steel.

Everything I have read indicates that the setting of the bevel is critica. I also have learned that it takes a lot of practice to learn to do it well. I will never hone razors for anyone else therefore I don't think I'll ever have enough practice to be able to do it well.
So, if I can learn to hone from the 4000/8000 level, on the occasion when the bevels need to be set, I can send them out to someone who has the ability to ensure proper angles and sharpness.

I was hoping the Imp would have a factory set bevel therefore I could just learn the 4000/8000 finishing. Another question I now have is: Can the razor be ruined by me screwing up the bevel to the point where it is non-repairable?

I doubt if you will screw it up beyond repair, that would take quite a bit of work! Why dont you have someone else set the bevel and you pick up from there?

Originally Posted by Mvcrash

I was hoping the Imp would have a factory set bevel therefore I could just learn the 4000/8000 finishing. Another question I now have is: Can the razor be ruined by me screwing up the bevel to the point where it is non-repairable?

In my limited experience with NOS razors and new razors, the factory set bevel is rarely a fully set bevel. If it is done on a wheel, without the spine making contact, the bevel angle is not quite right.