Thread: Rolls Razor blade honing

Got lucky today and found a spare blade for my Rolls razor in it's chrome case at a local antiques store.That got me thinking about honing it. Has anyone here reset/honed a Rolls Razor blade? If so, how did you do it? Thanks

Bob

Barbers hone or coti or synthetic stone progression should be fine

I take off the guard first, then a layer of tape. Try not to push down on the blade durring the stroke. Keep your finger on the spine and good luck!

Originally Posted by alb1981

I take off the guard first, then a layer of tape. Try not to push down on the blade durring the stroke. Keep your finger on the spine and good luck!

OK. thanks, that is more like what I meant by how to do it. Yea, it looks like it could be a little fiddly to do.

Bob

I have a Rolls that I've tried to hone twice, and while it's sharp enough to shave with, I'm not particularly fond of using it. I don't know if it's Sheffield steel or if I'm just having trouble actually getting it sharp, but I've given up on the endeavor.

I don't know I have used mine once and did not mind it but everyone is different. As for Sheffield steel, the straights I have made in Sheffield seem to take an edge easy enough. I can see it being a PITA to hone a Rolls blade on regular hones and not the one that works with the razor's container.

Bob

Thanks for the reply. I kind of thought that but was more curious if you honed with the handle attached or blade only.

Bob

I've honed several of them. Just take the guard off and do pretty much what you'd do with a straight.
They're actually pretty easy to hone. I've never seen one with bad geometry that needs to be compensated for.

I have got a couple of Rolls razors; one dating to 1952 and the other with two blades dating back to 1939. The steel is very good, I just hone the blades and use a Naniwa progression setting the bevel at 1K and taking it next to the 5k,8K and 10K. I also tape the spine, it does help. HOG

For you guys that are using tape - be sure to check the blade geometry... It's possible that after honing with tape, the built-in rolls hone won't actually be touching the edge when you use it.
I don't know how many laps it will take on that barber hone before it comes back, but it's something to watch out for...