Help with bezel setting.

**fifthmanstanding** · 09-03-2012, 02:42 AM

New to honing.

Using the following setup:

Norton stones 200/1k, 4k/8k. 325 coarse DMT lapping plate.

Dovo razor with a shoulder.

I figured it was time to try my hand after paying others to re-hone my razors for several years. Following lynn's videos on youtube and this : Honing help for newer straight shavers - Blogs - razorandstone

I started honing it with no tape on the spine. I think what initially ruined everything is dragging the shoulder on the stone and creating an irregular edge.

I'm right handed, with the razor in my right hand, on the downward stroke side the edge from heel to about 75% up to the toe is what I would call 'sufficiently wide and even' while the last 25% up to the toe is thin in terms of edge width and no number of circles or pressure variation seem to change this.

On the upstroke side with the razor in my right hand: if you were to divide the razor into fours from heel to toe, the toe quarter is well edged and even. the 2nd quarter (moving from toe to heel) is thinning to the center, the 3rd quarter is thinnest and the heel quarter is more even but not as thick as the edge on the toe quarter. I think the shoulder was what messed me up the most. I've taken it from 1k to 8k three times now following as much advise as I can in wikis and such and cannot get both edges even.

I'm assuming that I'm going to have to re-set the whole thing. And I'm assuming that means going below 1k stone or taking a really really long time on the 1k.

Any help would be useful as I'm down two razors currently and need a shave bad before work on tuesday. Otherwise I'm going to have to use a mach 3 ....ugh...

**HARRYWALLY** · 09-03-2012, 02:56 AM

Sounds like you might have a slight twist in the blade. lay it on something you know is flat like a piece of glass or a table saw top. If it rocks like a chair with one leg longer then it does. You need to make sure your doing the x patterns and really make sure that part of the blade, that is not receiving as much attention, is touching the hone when you come across the hone. Im sure one of the guys who have done this a thousand times will be by to shed some light.

**gssixgun** · 09-03-2012, 03:19 AM

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...on-2012-a.html

Lots of reading watching and learning in that thread..

**sharp** · 09-03-2012, 04:34 AM

+1 to the JANorton thread. You will read in this thread that setting a bevel is completely possible and even easy on a 4k stone. There should be no reason to go below a 1k stone for normal honing. Remember, steel can't be put back once it is removed.

**cpcohen1945** · 09-03-2012, 06:14 AM

If the only problem is that the bevel is wider in some places, than in others:

. . . Forget about it!

That can be caused by variations in the thickness of the edge, and there's _nothing_ (short of re-grinding the whole blade) you can do about it.

And it doesn't affect the quality of the shave.

If the problem is that some sections of the edge aren't _sharp_, that's something you can work on.

Charles

**HARRYWALLY** · 09-03-2012, 01:54 PM

This might help too. Lynns got new vids on youtube.

**fifthmanstanding** · 09-03-2012, 04:03 PM

As I understood it the razor should be able to "pop" hairs after having it set and finished on a 4k stone. I've done the pyramids on the 4k and no hairs pop. Im unable to find a definition of "pop" in this context or a detailed explanation of how to conduct the test ie blade angle,what type of hair, stroke ect.

**Proinsias** · 09-03-2012, 04:34 PM

Maybe try a magic marker on the bevel so you can see where you're hitting the edge or getting close to it.

**fifthmanstanding** · 09-03-2012, 09:18 PM

Have been doing the magic marker. It takes all the marker off on both sides in one x stroke on each side so I know the edge is touching the stone. I'm just concerned about it not cutting and the huge differences in edge width from one side to the other.

Also, is there anything available that shows close up motion and discusses pressure of doing circles. I feel like everything I can hits the high points of 'do this' & 'do that' but few things really go into detail about the action. It's difficult to learn something from afar without a lot of details.

**pinklather** · 09-03-2012, 09:46 PM

Hey, 5th.

This honing stuff doesn't come very quickly to alot of guys, including myself - and the bevel is probably the most critical step. I've read and used Jerry's method on R&S & I thinks its a really really good way to start. I especially like the way he incorporates backstrokes, magic marker, and a fresh layer of tape to finish up with. Another possibility to consider when wading into the rock pile - is to have someone set the bevel for you and for you to do the rest. If you'd like a hand w/ the bevel, pm me.
One aspect of your work not mentioned was the Dovo itself. Bought new? classifieds? fleabay? You could be fighting some warp (never fun) and it throws your frame of reference way off. To check for the warp, your trusty magic marker, one, single layer of tape - and take a couple no-pressure (at all) strokes on the 8k and see if the marker removal is consistent along the length of the edge. If not - we're looking at warp/wave - which is makes the learning MUCH harder. You mention the shoulder giving you trouble, which makes me wonder about the state of the blade. If the shoulder contacts the stone during a normal stroke - it may mean the shoulder needs to be ground up so there's more unmolested edge to ride the stone w/out interference.

The absolute best recommendation I could possibly give would be to attend one of the regional meets in your area. There will usually be one or more honemeister there. Get there early. When folks gather, make sure you're near the honemeister and can sit near. That way you get to see better, hear what he's saying, and get to ask some questions. If a meet up isn't possible, see if there are any members in your area that have done a few hundred blades. The 'in-person' time just can't be beat.

Hang in there.

Thread: Help with bezel setting.

LinkBack

Thread Tools

Display

Help with bezel setting.

The Following User Says Thank You to gssixgun For This Useful Post:

Posting Permissions