Thread: I need help getting an edge

Happy New Year Everyone!

I've had an old Torrey blade for a number of years but struggle time and again to get an edge on it. I use the Norton 1000, 4000, and 8000 stones and get absolutely nowhere. I use the same stones on my Genco's and never have a problem.

Any advice?

Thanks.

Hi bouvier i have heard that the torrey's have harder steel than a lot of other razors and are meant to be a very good razor my first torrey should be arriving in a couple weeks if you can hone your other razors properly it shouldn't be your technique try starting on the 1000 until it passes the thumb nail test then move on to the 4000 until it's sharper again test against the thumb pad or like i do the side of the thumb alongside the nail testing as you go you should be able to feel the sharpness increase i would go until it shaves arm hair then use the 8000 to refine the edge i finish until the razor will cut a hair close to where you hold it then 20 or so laps on the strop should have you popping hairs if the steel is harder than others it will take a lot more laps than the others someone else might be able to explain better i don't go by the certain amount of stokes on each stone i go by the sharpness of the blade and progress when i think it's sharp enough to go the next step especially with quite blunt blades i use arkansas stones and i would put thousand of strokes into a quite blunt razor most on the surgical black see how you go and post back with any problems

I know the feeling I have a F. Reynolds like that. I've been working with it off and on for about 3 months it gets a little better but just can't get it over the hump. But thats the great thing about honing its a learning curve

Do a search on "marker test" and try what you learn from that.

Originally Posted by bouvier18

Happy New Year Everyone!

I've had an old Torrey blade for a number of years but struggle time and again to get an edge on it. I use the Norton 1000, 4000, and 8000 stones and get absolutely nowhere. I use the same stones on my Genco's and never have a problem.

Any advice?

Thanks.

Torrey's are unique blades. 1 from 500 will come out which you will be never able to put shaving edge to it.
i hope you don't have one of those.
So far i have seen only 2.
i am not sure why? may be temper is wrong or something else .

I won a beautiful Torrey on Ebay with a very nice toe on it, comes to like a diamond point. it's say's "The Celebrated" hollow grind...This thing hones like a wedge, and it's hard as hell. I got it shave so so, but it's really not good enough, so i work on it from time to time...

I have no trouble honing, except on that Torrey....Now, funny thing is, I have another Torrey that's just a fantastic shaver.

Thank you one and all.

It is said that shared grief is halved while shared joy is doubled. I am glad to hear that others share my Torrey angst.

Again, have a happy new year everyone!

I have a Torrey also says celebrated on it. I had gotten it the same time as a Genco. It's been a while but as I recall they both honed up about the same. Typical American Steel meaning hard and takes a little more time. Both are fantastic shavers.

Have you reached any progress yet, I am just curious?

Like Sham said the temper could be all messed up for what ever reason. If you get the razor to shave on the 1K and then it's dull again 10 passes into the 4K then it could be a temper problem if your strokes are even and flat.

For the bevel: go to your 1k, do a total 40 circles/side w/ a bit of pressure, then do 15 x-strokes, also w/ just a bit of pressure--you can taper off to no pressure too if you want. Try to shave arm hair--not pop, SHAVE. The whole length of the blade should shave--there will be a bit of resistance, but it shouldn't be ripping the hair out. If it doesn't do this, keep going until you can. Don't worry about overhoning @ this stage--you're not going to w/o a proper bevel set anyway.

Once it passes this test, you could go to the pyramid method (maybe starting @ 20 strokesif the steel really is hard--otherwise 15 should do it--maybe w/ additional polishing strokes @ the end, like in the wiki).

Or you can hone progressively on the 4k, then move to the 8K for 10-15 laps to start, then test. On the 4k, you can again do 40 circles/side, 1st w/ light pressure & then again w/ no pressure, then 10-15 x-strokes w/ no added pressure. Arm hair shaving should be better & TPT should be feeling smoother. If it's not quite there, try going to the 40 circles w/ no pressure, followed by the x-strokes again. Then do those 10-15 or so x-strokes on the 8k. Arm hair should now fall off in a clump. Strop & test!