Thread: Uneven spine wear - How do you fix it?

Hi All,
I have a few blades that have uneven hone wear on the spine.
The last one I honed was a Wade & Butcher full hollow and noticed that the tape wore through in one particular spot.
I got a killer edge on the razor so it really didn't affect the honing process as such, however, it looks unsightly and triggers my OCD.
Would you suggest that I treat this the same way as an uneven bevel - ie. use pressure at various points on the spine to even it up - obviously without the tape - and then hone as normal.
I don't really want to continue the tape debate - I use tape to hone.
TIA
Geoff

You might give this tread a look. gssixgun's reply I think answers your question, I know it answered it for me as I have several razors that came with uneven hone wear and present a challenge. Hope this helps. Howard
http://sharprazorpalace.com/honing/7...ovo-blade.html

If you are seriously OCD about this you can make a small sanding block and use some wet and dry paper and sand the spine down to where it is far more even.

you need to fix the spine on the hones.
But the question is if you get good edges as is, why would you need to fix the spines? Old sheffiled razors more often than not have uneven honewear.

Originally Posted by mainaman

you need to fix the spine on the hones.
But the question is if you get good edges as is, why would you need to fix the spines? Old sheffiled razors more often than not have uneven honewear.

I've wondered that as well. I have a JM Schmid & Son that was made in England (I have no idea if it's Sheffield or not), and I can put and keep an edge on it, but the bevel is hard to set because the spine has been worn down unevenly (especially on one side). I don't like the way it looks, but it shaves well so I try not to let it bother me. Were I to try to restore the blade to a mirror finish I might want to fix the spine (which I don't know to do), but until then I'm not going to worry about it.

Out of the 12 razors currently in my rotation, only 4 of them have even spine wear. They all shave spectacularly though and that's all that matters.

Originally Posted by mainaman

you need to fix the spine on the hones.
But the question is if you get good edges as is, why would you need to fix the spines? Old sheffiled razors more often than not have uneven honewear.

Point taken - I might just take more OCD medication and enjoy the shaves....
Thanks to all who have replied.
I really appreciate it - sometimes I just get too a&^l about the little things, I think.
Geoff

Great idea , but I don’t think I would try that myself

Originally Posted by SirStropalot

You might give this tread a look. gssixgun's reply I think answers your question, I know it answered it for me as I have several razors that came with uneven hone wear and present a challenge. Hope this helps. Howard
http://sharprazorpalace.com/honing/7...ovo-blade.html

Mod Note: Fixed the link so it works again

Most of the time the spine, after many years or decades of honing and use, pretty much lines up with the edge. If simply honing what you got gives you a good edge, you are done, IMHO. When you start resculpting the spine you have to consider what that will do to your bevel when you hone. Just sayin. So consider carefully before you start going medieval on the spine just because honing wear has left an inconsistent or asymmetrical bevel facet on the spine.

I am in the other camp, not using tape unless it is needed, but same applies, I think. if the edge is coming out great, then the spine is great, even if it doesn't look so hot. I do understand the desire to have a perfect looking razor, but most vintage razors are beyond that, unless you go to impractical lengths to make them so.