Thread: I need help with this razor

Thanks for the input guys,

I'm gonna keep whittlin at it. I'm either going to get it right or end up with a nice shinny black handled toothpick.

Ray

PS. I saw GSsixgun's videos referred to on another thread so I wen and watched those. I think I am going to just blunt the edge on this and start all over from square one. It may be an unnecessary overkill but I figure it won't hurt anything to just start fresh.

Originally Posted by RayCover

Nun2sharp,

I don't know what the deal is that I can get some razors sharp and others not. I thought I saw your name on the list for the KC meet on Sat. I really hope you show up and can help me get this straightened out. I will bring all my stones, my razors, strop, etc. in the hopes that you guys can figure out what I'm doing wrong on this razor.

Ray

See ya there!

Edges look good to me but looks ain't everything. How about breadknifing it gently on a cork, then take it to an 8K or finer hone, give it 5-10 roundtrips and strop and see what happens. If it improves the edge it was overhoned, if not you may need to go back to a lower grit hone and work your way up the grit ladder.

Also, take a Sharpie marker and run it down the bevel, let it dry a few seconds, and do a pass or 2 on your hone. That will show you if you're making full contact with the edge. Maybe take a picture of it and post it.

I took this razor with me to the KC meet today and showed it to Nun2sharp and and he inspected it under the scope and we talked about it for a while and his conclusion is what I have suspected.

As it turns out Kelly and I beleive Ace is right, the steel is failing at the edge. Its either too brittle or has some kind of inclusions in it that are letting small pieces fall away from the edge. That is where the mystery grit on my 8K stone was coming from. I beleive it was little particles of steel crumbling off the edge and laying on the stone. I would feel the grit as these particles built up.

So back to the stones. Hopefully, it won't take a lot to get past this area and into good steel on this blade.

Thanks to everyone for your input.

Ray