Thread: Razor will not get sharp

Originally Posted by bulldog

I have a microscope but really am not sure what I should look for.

in this case can you post a pic of the razor?

You don't require a microscope here, but a 10X loupe or magnifying glass will help you find out where you are. You have to know what shape your edge and bevel are in in order to make progress, to know what next steps to take. Like I've said elsewhere, sharpening without a loupe is like driving without being able to look through the windshield. Get a loupe, tell us what you are seeing, and we'll tell you what you ought to see and where to go from there.

I've been having the same problem. Check out my thread. I got a lot of responses:

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...get-sharp.html

Honing doesn't have any recipes. You honestly have to learn how to evaluate blade edges in a way that makes general knife honing look like kindergarten. Don't be so rough on yourself.

Originally Posted by ace

Get a loupe, tell us what you are seeing, and we'll tell you what you ought to see and where to go from there.

I have a 10x-20x combo loupe on the way right now. Should be here Saturday, Monday at the latest. I know I should be looking for a uniform bevel (in terms of size) and looking to see if the edge is rolled at all but other than that I'm not quite sure. Keep in mind I'm not going up as far as grit progression, I'm just trying to get it to cut hair from my bevel setter. I know that once I start using higher grit hones I should be looking for the scratches from the previous stone to "polish" out. What other factors have I left out of here?

Originally Posted by bulldog

I have a 10x-20x combo loupe on the way right now. Should be here Saturday, Monday at the latest. I know I should be looking for a uniform bevel (in terms of size) and looking to see if the edge is rolled at all but other than that I'm not quite sure. Keep in mind I'm not going up as far as grit progression, I'm just trying to get it to cut hair from my bevel setter. I know that once I start using higher grit hones I should be looking for the scratches from the previous stone to "polish" out. What other factors have I left out of here?

The front and back side of the bevel must meet in a line -- the cutting edge -- all along the length of the blade. That's all you have to accomplish. No chips, and no "rounding" of that cutting edge.

The width of the bevel (when you look at the blade from the side, anywhere along the blade) is determined by the honing angle (which is determined by the width of the blade and the thickness of the spine) and the thickness of the blade.

If the blade is thicker in some spots (due to irregularities in factory grinding), the bevel will be wider in those spots. There's nothing you can do about it, and it's nothing to worry about. Lots of razors vary in thickness from toe to heel.


. . Charles

PS -- if the blade is warped, that's a different story.

Originally Posted by cpcohen1945

if the blade is warped, that's a different story.

I hadn't even thought to check for that. That will be the next thing I look for.