Thread: 'frown' in new razors?

Hi all, i'm brand new to this wonderful world of straight razors and got a bit ahead of myself - ordered a new razor (5/8 timor 'Hamburg ring') & strop from classicshaving... then discovered this forum and realized that it would have probably been a better idea to purchase a pre-honed razor...

However, upon receiving the razor, I noticed that the edge has a slight (very slight) sag towards the middle, a trait that i've read is undesireable.

Would the instructions in the barbering textbook (regarding 'maintaining the correct curve/"smile" on a blade') work equally well to straighten out the edge? I expect to have a norton 4/8k later on this week.

Also... how much honing is typical on a new blade to get it shaving sharp? Just a light honing? I realize that it probably varies widely, but any general guidelines?

Thanks!!

Jeff

If you can still send that blade back I'd do it. It can be fixed but it's a lot of elbow grease. Essentially you have to draw little circles on a coarse stone of about 1000 grit with the blade on honing position (ei. flat) until it evens out. Make sure you have the spine taped the while while. Trying to do the regular Rolling Hone motion will take years to reduce the dip.

Typically new blades only require a little work, say a small pyramid, but in your case, unless the dip is VERY minor you're going to end up creating a new edge from scratch. Sorry to break the bad news to you.

X

Yes, I believe that the dip is very minor, but i'm far from being an expert!!
It's only just barely visible if I look down the end of the blade and hold it right up to my face. Thanks for the info, i'll try a pyramid as soon as I get the stone and see if it's shaveable at least.

Jeff

A sag toward the middle? The middle portion of the blade is wider than the heel and toe? If so then that is a "smile" not a "frown".


Just asking,

Yes, I could have made that clearer.... the distance from spine to edge is shortest in the middle

It's just because you are a new member and some noobs have mistaken a smile for a frown. You identified it correctly though.

If it's a new razor, send it back. I had the same problem with a Filarmonica I bought from Ross cutlery. They replaced it. Some razors are a bit off on the spine and that's what causes the frown in a new razor...at least that's what caused mine. Lay it flat on a glass plate or something similar, and see if the entire edge makes contact. If not, you probably have a warped or unevenly ground spine.