Thread: 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.

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.