Thread: What's your honing "failure" rate?

I've honed about 200 razors. I currently own about 100, the majority ebay and flea market finds.

Not counting those I've come across with obvious defects (cracks, corrosion in the bevel) that render them unusable, two of my hundred seem impervious to any strategy or stone in my arsenal. That is, I can set the bevel and sharpen them, and they will shave, but are clearly inferior to my other blades, leaving minor stubble. visual inspection reveals no obvious faults. I've tried multiple natural finishers as well as a Nani 12k.

So I calculate my failure rate on older, well used blades with no obvious visual defects at 2%. Actually, one of them appears to have been reground, and then steel near the bevel has a distinct bluish hue, and I wonder if the temper was altered on that one. The other is a Lion Brand Yankee Cutlery made in Germany with no visual anomalies. It will not take a good edge.

So, is a 1-2% failure rate in the ballpark? Should I just bin these? Or am I the one failing, even after multiple attempts?

You looked for clues, that bluish tint is a huge clue..

The trick is, only you really know if you tried "Everything" possible to pop the edge... Unfortunately now there are quite a few E-bay "experts" that are cashing in on shiny blades and will hide a burned temper... There is no way of knowing the temper is burned until the honing fails...

The only other way "to be sure" is to have another person who you trust on the hones to try the blade and see if they can pop the edge, if after two experienced people fail I would say that is enough to call the edge dead

(PM me if you need help)

I don't believe in failure, but more in that some blades just take more patience and creativity.

Well, if you get it to the point it shaves but doesn't last that's a clue there is an issue with the metal.

Now there is a chance it was only marginally sharpened too but if you know what you are doing that's probably not the case. In the end assuming a good condition quality blade I agree with AF.

Oh, the original question about failure rate. I've eventually managed to hone every razor I have (and that's well over 100). Some are easy, some hard, some task us. You just have to let it know you will hone it and not the other way around-Har har.

I've always thought of it as my "batting average." I've got a couple that I've been to the well with for awhile, gotten sick of messing with them, and put them away for later. One , a Torrey, I've never come back to but will one day. So many easier tasks to take on. Overall, with the couple of exceptions I've also been able to come up to speed with all I've gotten and that is well over 100 too. Not always the first time at bat and sometimes going back to the hones with it after a hiatus but eventually.

I wouldn't think of it that way. You will lose track anyway, eventually. And, when you do try to estimate it through the foggy rose-coloured glasses of hindsight, have no doubt that the rate will exponentially decay with time, at least in your mind! :P

I haven't honed every razor Man put on this earth, but I've done a few and one thing I've noticed is that unless the razor is a real POS (bad steel, poor quality razor etc), there is always something that can be done to put an edge on it. This has been my experience so far.

James.

I got a 98% on a test once, and I thought I'd done pretty well.

I've honed ... two razors and both seem to shave pretty well I think ... at least I don't have any major complaints with them. I'm sure I'll foul something up sooner or later though. Bound to.

Originally Posted by pcb01

So, is a 1-2% failure rate in the ballpark? Should I just bin these? Or am I the one failing, even after multiple attempts?

There is something that I am running into more and more often...bad or destroyed heat treatment. Buffers can and DO destroy the HT of a razor and with the popularity increasing, we are bound to get more and more into the mix. To date, I have run into this 4x. First time was the most frustrating bevel setting endeavor that I have ever encountered. I sent my first to someone else to see if it was me (he was a pro honer) and he told me what I had run into. There is another fact you should look at as well: All blades are not created equal.

I remember the stage you are in and best thing I can recommend is to take your time with the blades. I was getting into a hurry from time to time and I had also developed a heavy hand. You are almost there...the blades will talk to you.

Hi I am very new to all of this stuff. Im loving every bit of it, however I wonder if we all suffer from OCD. ( no offence meant. ) So far I have approx 20 razors, bought from Ebay/ French brocantes/ and some given to me. I have bought several different hones and a few strips of leather, and now I am creating my own league tables as to which one I can make the sharpest. this is all because, like above, some sharpen really well, and some are absolute sods to get an edge on.