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Thread: Poor Honing Job?

  1. #11
    Learning something all the time... unit's Avatar
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    I am pretty much a newb when it comes to razors and shaving, so discount my words if you like. However I have honed a few blades now (12, I think) and repaired a few along the way, and I have worked many other types of blades over the last few decades.

    It is truly exceptional to find a blade that is perfectly uniform such that it can achieve premium sharpness AND have beautifully symmetrical bevels that are uniform in appearance in macro photos.

    Compound this with the reality that we are discussing a blade that has an unknown history of perhaps 100 years of use (give or take) and perhaps honed by several different sets of hands with varying skill levels...and perhaps the razor came into some damage at some point during these (possibly) generations of use...

    I would suggest that if it shaves well, we should all be happy to enjoy it for what it is. What a remarkable piece you have there!!!
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  2. #12
    Senior Member Johnus's Avatar
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    Default Poor Honing Job?

    I use to think about sending out a razor or two to have done professionally. But the more I read and see, I'm thinking that I'm doing ok!(:-)

  3. #13
    Just a guy with free time.
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    Well considering you have three shave ready razors and tell us you only get an "ok" shave from any of them, I would suggest you just need some more practice shaving.

    The primary learning experience you should take from the thread, IMHO, is that shave readiness and aesthetics don't have much to do with each other. Or more specifically, that the look of the edge, is not a factor in deciding if a razor is shave ready. Unless you're a long time honer who's made it a habit to study your bevels under microscopes.

  4. #14
    This is not my actual head. HNSB's Avatar
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    What I meant about a chip - it may have been someone who owned the blade before you got it. Heck, it could have been someone in 1875...


    Quote Originally Posted by tri33 View Post
    Here is a pic after my restoration and before I sent it out:
    What did you do to restore it?
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    Senior Member blabbermouth
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    Like Unit I am a total newbie to honing so again disregard what I say at will. I have honed a few of my old razors and some have bevels that vary in width along the length and some don't. Those that do have a wavy bevel likely have uneven spine wear from previous honing s or the blade is warped a little. Regardless both the ones with an even width and wavy width bevels shave well.

    Bob
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  6. #16
    There is no charge for Awesomeness Jimbo's Avatar
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    The way I view honing is the process of making two sides of a bit of metal meet at a "narrow enough" distance from each other. And then of course smoothing those sides comes into play with razors.

    So what the bevels look like really is not indicative of how sharp an edge might be. What you could be (and most likely are) seeing is not a bad honing problem (per se), but rather a bad grinding or razor geometry problem.

    As many have said now, good edges can and do frequently coexist with wavy and uneven bevels, particularly on the wedgier grinds. In fact, it is reasonably rare to find even bevels in these cases, particularly on vintage razors.

    There are of course situations where the bad grind, hone wear, or messed up geometry effects the ability of the razor to take an edge, but you do not know that until and unless you test the edge. In those cases experienced restorative honers can sometimes fix the geometry on the hones, or perhaps regrind the blade. You can also do this for aesthetic reasons but to me that is a pointless exercise if it shaves well.

    James.
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  7. #17
    Senior Member ironsidegnr's Avatar
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    I agree with the bevel not really mattering in the 'grand scheme'. I have a 5/8 wedge that has a slight bend. On one side, the bevel is widest at the toe and heel, almost non-existant in the middle. On the other side of the blade the middle shows heavy wear, yet the toe and heel are almost untouched. It's not my best shaver, but it'll pass....the point is, blades don't need straight bevels...or blades...
    Through the mud and the blood, to the green fields beyond.

  8. #18
    At Last, my Arm is Complete Again!! tinkersd's Avatar
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    Default try a different tack

    I think if you are that new to STr8 razor shaviing there might be a better way to go, to help get the fewest variables working at the same time.
    Proposal: Buy yourself a Dovo Shavetter or similar type of DE blade razor.
    Learn to shave with a decent blade right from the pack and remember to keep your angle of shave ver close to the face, not high up.
    Then when you are more sure of yourself, start with freshly honed razors, I suggest one of the honer's from this site they have one heck of a lot of experience and should do a Bl*()dy great job for you then.

    Just my 'man in the street' opinion, YMMV!

    Thank you for reading my pratle, have a great shave on all of us!!!!

    tinkersd

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    tri33 (09-19-2012)

  10. #19
    Senior Member tri33's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by regularjoe View Post
    Well considering you have three shave ready razors and tell us you only get an "ok" shave from any of them, I would suggest you just need some more practice shaving.

    The primary learning experience you should take from the thread, IMHO, is that shave readiness and aesthetics don't have much to do with each other. Or more specifically, that the look of the edge, is not a factor in deciding if a razor is shave ready. Unless you're a long time honer who's made it a habit to study your bevels under microscopes.
    Your probably right. It is just that I have no clue what I am doing wrong!!!

    Quote Originally Posted by HNSB View Post
    What I meant about a chip - it may have been someone who owned the blade before you got it. Heck, it could have been someone in 1875...




    What did you do to restore it?
    I hand sanded 400-1500 and polished it.

  11. #20
    The Great & Powerful Oz onimaru55's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by tri33 View Post
    I hand sanded 400-1500 and polished it.
    That is the gentlest approach & recommended for new restorers but bear in mind that uneven sanding can also affect the geometry.
    Do you have any before pics ? You might find the razor was not so straight in the first place as is common with old Sheffields. Nonetheless their popularity shows a good shave can be coaxed from them.
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    cudarunner (09-19-2012)

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