Thread: Need some help with honing a Wade and Butcher 7/8 Wedge French Point

Hey guys,
I really need some help. I'm relatively new to honing (under 100 razors), but am struggling with this razor. I received the razor and it shaved pretty well, all except the last 1/8 of an inch of the toe. That part of the razor would not cut anything. After looking at it under magnification (20x jeweler's loop), the razor had at least a double bevel. Being this is a shoulderless razor I used one layer of electrical tape and went to work re-setting the bevels using a 1K Naniwaa. By the end, I could remove the magic marker on the blade's edge in one pass, both sides of the razor. Moving up to the 2K, I used a rolling X stroke and once again removed the magic marker in one pass. After 20 strokes, I moved up to the 5Kand 8K Pyramid honing technique. Once again removing the magic marker on the first pass (I used the magic marker every time i switched stones) using a rolling X stroke. I moved up to the 12K and once again removed the magic marker on the first pass.

Now here is the frustrating part. I CANNOT get this razor to shave. Nothing, nada, zip.

So I went back and started from setting the bevels again. Followed the same process (each time I changed stones I used the magic marker) and got the same result. (I know, doing the same exact thing and expecting a different result is the definition of insanity.)

I've attached some pictures of the blade below, but do not have the opportunity to take pictures under magnification.

Any advice? I don't mind sending the razor out to honed, but I want to learn and am a bit stubborn.

Have you checked the sharpness of the bevel before moving up the progression? The blade should pop arm hairs with no problem. Once you're there, then try moving up the progression.

Sound to me like you don't have a properly set bevel. You can remove magic marker in one stroke, but if the bevel doesn't meet in the middle, it won't get sharp. Try adding two or three layers of tape. Once you can pop arm hair, remove a layer of tape and do some more strokes on your bevel setter to get it to a single bevel. Then just move on through your progression.

I have 2 razors like that, I call them the dirty sob's.....I wont give up either! lol every two weeks I pull them out and start again

Originally Posted by alb1981

I have 2 razors like that, I call them the dirty sob's.....I wont give up either! lol every two weeks I pull them out and start again

I call mine the "Bit%H". Damn it, I'm on my way out to buy a digital microscope to help with this situation. I AM DETERMINED!!!!!

Ok, went out and bought a digital microscope (really useful) and I had two and in some places three different bevels. Three pieces of electric tape, about 400 circles and now I have one, arm hair popping bevel. Thank you for the advice.