Thread: spine variance causing honing problems?

Anyone ever run across this before? I have a $7 flea market geneva cuttlery that I've polished and was trying to get the nicks out before honing it up. After 6000 (yes that's 6k) circular motions per side on the 4000 grit I still didn't have the nicks on the tip dented. So I miked it to find a variance in the spine thickness. the spine at the top was thicker than the spine at the base and this appears to have caused the tip to miss the stone.

I very carefully applied thumb pressure to the spine at the top as I continued with the circular motions, miking as I went until it was close to even all the way down.

The end result was the tip is slightly shorter than the base (from spine to cutting edge), you can't really tell with out a micrometer but it's got an even hone on the cutting edge while you can see the extra hone wear on the spine at the tip versus the base.

After getting the nicks out I've honed it up and I'm getting ready to take a shower with it now and test it.

Is this a common thing or did I screw up?

Glen F

This exact same issue came up last night, while I was talking with a very well-known honemeister on a brand new test razor...but I'll let him fill you in with his detailed review.

I just finished the 3s. I'd give the shave a 6 out of 10. I'm going to guess that I didn't hone it as well as I could have after sitting there for so long trying to get the nicks out. I'm going to re-hone it in the morning and try it again the day after.

Hopefully I didn't screw it up.

Doesn't sound like such a big deal to me. I like to hone a blade so it smiles a little and the spine will reflect that. Sounds to me like yours is getting into the noticeable territory. Use the rolling honing method and it shold work out fine.

X

Thats definitely not unheard of. Its a miserable thing to deal with. Were you using an X pattern? Sometimes that works.

Originally I was using the circular motion that Lynn showed me for getting nicks out. Once that was done and I finally had the nicks out as described, I used the pyramid with the x pattern that Lynn showed me for sharpening, 5,5,3,3,1,3,1,3.

I'm giong to hone it again this afternoon and shave with it again tomorrow to see if it gives a better shave. I was just surprised to see that the tip of the edge wasn't hitting the stone while the tip of the spine was. This was equal on both sides. The really odd thing was that the entire spine was showing signs of honing as I was removing the nicks and yet the edge tip wasn't touching.

I didn't get around to rehoning the geneva yesterday. So this morning I woke up early, spent some loving care time on it and took it for another spin. Much better this time. I'd give this shave a 9 out of 10. Very smooth effortless strokes with no irritation. I restropped between passes as usual. So from now on when I have to spend a lot of time getting nicks out I'll take a good break before honing it up.

I guess I didn't ruin it, though it's disheartening to see the extra hone wear on the top part of the spine .

Glen F

Glen, for razors that have variances, like bows, poorly ground and wedges, try a 45 degree angle with the X pattern vs. 90 degrees and you should find that you get the edge shavable quicker. Lynn

Great, thanks Lynn.

Originally Posted by adjustme69

Glen, for razors that have variances, like bows, poorly ground and wedges, try a 45 degree angle with the X pattern vs. 90 degrees and you should find that you get the edge shavable quicker. Lynn

That's the way I hone all my razors...

Nenad