Honing a Zowada (double bevel)

Hi,

I'm looking for advice on refreshing a Zowada blade with a double bevel.

I've had the razor for around 2 months now and I'm thinking the edge needs a wee refresh. The fact that I know it has a double bevel is putting me off steaming ahead. I'm planning on following the "Zowada honing method" with this razor as it had a stunning edge on it when it arrived.

I know I don't need to go back to a 4k or 8k. I think a simple touch up on a 12k would do it. I'm more thinking of the number of tape layers.

Should I touch up the main bevel and then the micro bevel as seperate components?

Any ideas or suggestions?

I have the following at my disposal:

Norton 4k/8k
Naniwa 12k
Modular paddle with basla wood (CrOx'd), leather, scrub leather and hard wool felt.
TI Paddle with both sides in "fuzzy" leather. - Planning to CrOx or diamond paste this.
Plain Leather loom strop.

Here is an illustrated and detailed tutorial by the man himself. :tu

Personally, if it's not Damascus, I'd reset the bevel with no tape and work up from there. If it is Damascus, I'd reset with 1 layer of tape and do the same. If it came out shaving poorly, then I'd recreate the double bevel as TZ did to see how that changed things.

Tim made a post last year here saying he doesn't actually do a double bevel. Said he would update the website to explain but apparently never got around to it.

I have a Zowada from classic that I haven't needed to touch up yet and one from the bay that needed honing when I got it. I set a standard bevel and have used it that way since. When I do have to work on the one I bought new I will do likewise.

TZ has posted several times about his double bevel method. I recall that the original idea was to replicate the configuration on a Feather blade and that the resulting double bevel is extremely small. So small that a simple refresh would quickly remove it. That being the case, if you try to refresh just the double bevel with the stones you have the result will probably be a steeper angle on a single bevel, not a touched up double bevel. For that reason I would go along with the advice Dylan gave you.

One cautionary note, your 12K may not be a fine enough polisher to replicate what TZ is doing in his shop. In his tutorial he outlines a range of stones but I believe that what he uses is towards the finer grit end of that range.

On my own Zowadas I just do normal touch up when they need it and don't go for the double bevel. I do use one layer of tape because they are all Damascus blades. Works for me.

Thanks gents. I'll simply ignore the double bevel and go for a standard refresh of the edge.

Someday I'll update the web page to show just what I'm doing. In short, I don't really create a double bevel. I use extra tape, and an Escher, to very carefully knock of the teeth/serrations off the edge. I actually strive to avoid a double bevel.

This is verified when stropping. On a tight strop, no tape, no down pressure, the very edge of the blade is still effected by the strop.

To touch-up the edge, do whatever you usually do. I would use one piece of tape to protect the Damascus finish on the spine. Or, you can send it to me. I'm happy to re-hone my razors.

I hope this helps,

Tim Z.