Thread: baffled

I have a Rennack (sp) german made 5/8 straight that has been one of my "go to" razors. It was one of the first razors i was able to sharpen well and it always gave a good shave. now i can not seem to get the thing sharp! I have tried everything i can think of. I have even successfully honed a few other razors between my attempts to rehone this one. Has anyone ever experianced this?

I find that any razor can be honed its just that some take more time or finesse than others. Maybe because of the hardness or the type of grind or the type of razor. I would say that if you have been successful with others it just takes more time maybe or maybe an adjustment in your approach in the way your holding the razor. maybe a slight rocking motion as you hone or heel leading. Just a suggestion

I know one of my problems is that my honing skills keep getting better, so the latest and greatest razors pass up the old favorites. If you have a microscope take a look at the edge and make sure its not over-honed or other problems like oxidation.

Glen

i am sure i have taken off any oxidation that may have occured, though i doebt any has.

the baffling thing abou this is that this particular razor has been my easiest to hone in the past, i have already succesfully honed it several times in the past. ITs jus this time i have had 3-4 sessions that have been completely fruitless.

With that many sessions on the hone you are probably overhoned. Use the back honing technique I mentioned in your other post. Also make sure your hone is flat.

even though i have not seen any evidence of a wire edge, i have backhoned and have even run the razor through a match stick to remove any wire edge
I have re-flattened the hones and was able to succesfully hone a few other razors in the mean time.
I am suspecting the problem is in my honing in that i am varing something so that i am wrecking the edge before it is trully sharp.

You may have a razor with very soft steel and it is getting overhoned very fast.

Are you using a consistent stroke pattern? All X pattern or all straight pattern or are you mixing the patterns?

I honed a Wolstenhom that I finished thet pyramid with 1/1, 1/1, 1/1 and it was the only thing I could find to make it shave. 5 strokes on the 8k was just too much for it as a finish.

X

Originally Posted by xman

I honed a Wolstenhom that I finished thet pyramid with 1/1, 1/1, 1/1 and it was the only thing I could find to make it shave. 5 strokes on the 8k was just too much for it as a finish.

X

Isn't it interesting how what works on one razor won't work on another...