Thread: The Razor from Hell.

According to TI the blade is supposed to be true Wootz Steel. One of the few Damascus type razors to be made that way. Remember that through time Damascus steel did not have the pattern on it. That was polished off. They use an acid or chemical bath to bring out the pattern that is built into the steel. If you ever saw the Levi video of him making a razor you see him putting the razor in the tank.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

According to TI the blade is supposed to be true Wootz Steel. One of the few Damascus type razors to be made that way. Remember that through time Damascus steel did not have the pattern on it. That was polished off. They use an acid or chemical bath to bring out the pattern that is built into the steel. If you ever saw the Levi video of him making a razor you see him putting the razor in the tank.

1. it's not wootz. The pattern is consistent with a laminated pattern welded steel.
2. Not knowing the parent materials, it's really difficult to comment on estimated hardness, but given your comment on how hard it's been to hone, it is probably of good enough quality steel. It has the look of laminates of similar steels, not the "modern" way where one of the metals would contain a little nickel to make it stand out.
3. To bring out the pattern usually requires some sort of contrast development using an acid or acid salt. This razor has the typical gray look of an acid etch.

Editorial: it's a little sad that TI assumed they would not be first a tool and prepare it as such.

TBS have you tried a barbers hone? BTW, I love that bevel.

Just my $.02 here......

Since it was shaving well before then the grind is good and the bevel is good. There is no need for reshaping of anything. Thanks to JimmyHad I understand why it looks to be two bevels but is not. The top appearing bevel is simply an unetched portion of the blade.
I have honed a razor with really tough steel. It took many hours ( 7-8), by 2 different people for a total of over 14 hours. Looking back on that effort I would say to start with a lower grit, like 8000 DMT, and work up the grit ladder. I would expect it to take at least 15 times the normal # of laps.
I hope I am wrong.

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Just my $.02 here......

Since it was shaving well before then the grind is good and the bevel is good. There is no need for reshaping of anything. Thanks to JimmyHad I understand why it looks to be two bevels but is not. The top appearing bevel is simply an unetched portion of the blade.
I have honed a razor with really tough steel. It took many hours ( 7-8), by 2 different people for a total of over 14 hours. Looking back on that effort I would say to start with a lower grit, like 8000 DMT, and work up the grit ladder. I would expect it to take at least 15 times the normal # of laps.
I hope I am wrong.

No you are totally correct. Just think, take a typical say Dovo razor and do about 1000 trips on a .5 diamond bench strop and what would you have? Do it on this baby and you first see a slight improvement. Originally when I first got the razor I found the diamond really did the best job and now is no different. It's coming around just that it takes the time and patience. Right now I'm at the point where it shaves like an outstanding shaver which is good just that it is really an exceptional shaver so it will take the additional trips on the hone to get it back to that point.

I think if a situation arose where I had to rework the bevel on this thing I would find a honemeister I didn't like and send it out to him-har har.

Just a late thought. Could even try the diamond spray on a hard medium like the Spyderco UF. That turned the tide for me on a 66HRC Iwasaki that was pretty challenging.

Yea, it's back up to snuff now. It just took more trips.

I know a few guys here have that razor.

I don't know what kind of steel they used for it but honing it is very different than any other razor I have. It really laughs at most hones.