Thread: weird bevel

So, just when I think I have it down, I don't. One of my razors that is my most popular shaver is giving me a bit of a problem. Usually, I never have any problems with this one, it holds an edge for about a month before needing refinished, but this past time, I noticed that the bevel looked a bit odd. I seem to be getting a bit of a frown in the bevel but only on one side. Now, I never use two hands when I hone, always light pressure, never lay my finger on the blade while honing, always grab the tang. I lap and clean my stones every time wiyh a dmt 325 so I know my stone is flat. The weird thing is that if I look at the bevel on the opposite side, it is extra wide in the middle as opposed to extra skinny on the other. I have tried different progressions with synthetics and naturals with varrying slurry and even a complete reset but it keeps coming out the same. I want to say that the bevel must not be straight but have a bit of offset in the middle, BUT, then this would be the second dovo that has the exact same problem. I have one other dovo that is so far off it almost looks bent in the middle. Looking for something that I can't see, any response is appreciated.

The blade is warped, probably. Looks like the middle #2?


read on here under "Troubleshooting":Bevel-setting in theory and practice - Straight Razor Place Wiki

Sounds like warpage. If it is minimal it should not be a problem, if you look really well you'll notice many bevels show a similar phenomenon.

I just finished up one of these twisted sisters last night. There are different ways to attack it, I'll just tell you what was easiest for me. I ended up using a 30mm x 125mm coticule. The narrowness of the hone allowed me to concentrate on individual sections of the bevel. Once I had everything evened up to my satisfaction, I did a full dilucot (staying on the small hone) It took a fine edge, and gives a great shave. To look at the bevel now you'd have a tough time seeing there was an issue. Good Luck.

Before I ever say a razor is warped, I lay it on a flat surface to see if it lays flat the entire length of the razor. If it does except for where there is hone wear, the problem usually is in the honing. For most problems like the one described normal honing at a 45 degree angle vs. 90 degrees or a rolling X will solve the problem.

Have fun,

Lynn

yea, Lynn beat me to it. Most of the time that issue is a honing problem more than a warp. I know folks are too quick to blame a warp and of course a warp can be tested real fast.

wow, great advice and thank you all, I really appreciate the help. I am kind of depressed that I didn't think of trying to check the bevel on a flat surface, what a simple but effective idea. Turns out that it definitely does look like it is not straight. I took some pictures just show you the bevel. I did try to take a picture of the gap that appears under the bevel when laid on a flat surface but it is too difficult to capture with the camera.

You do really need to be able to see it on a flat surface. It looks like uneven honing in these pictures. Sorry.

It is not uncommon to see an immense amount of difference in both sides of the spine and edge from new honers as keeping the blade flat and pressure even seems to be problematic in the beginning.

The key is that the razor needs to sit on the flat on the surface so you can evaluate if you are seeing a warp in the razor or wear from honing.

Lynn

I just honed a razor that seemed to be sitting up off the stone in the middle of the blade. There was a difference, as one might expect, in the bevel, a tall one on one side and almost non-existent on the other. I made a point of using two levels of tape to reset the bevel on an angle different from the prior honing, used rolling X strokes to reset and polish the edge, and that seems to have reclaimed the edge properly. The prior honing marks remain, however. As long as it shaves I can live with that.

Once again, thank you very much for helping me out with this. Obviously, I respect the knowledge of more practiced hands as to what I may be doing wrong. This being said, what do you now recommend trying in order to fix this problem that I have created? Should I try another reset? Change my stroke? Use my 3" norton combo instead of my coticule/bbw because it is wider? Currently, I am using x strokes at a heel leading 45 degree angle because I like how this angle feels on the stone. Any help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks again

Andy