Thread: What's wrong with this blade?

I just got done doing some work on a razor, Frederick Reynolds hollow ground. I started setting the bevel with a 1k, and noticed that even though this is a straight edge (non smiling) it is wearing as though the blade has a wave in it. The bevel is not the same size by any means, at any point on the razor. On one side the heel and tip are getting more hone wear, and the other side of the blade is getting more wear in the middle. Almost like the blade has a little wave right in the middle.


Is the blade junk if I can't get an even bevel? Or just keep honing away?

And with the pictures, the first pic looks like it has even hone wear, but please take my word for it regardless what you think you see, most all the hone wear is on the tip and the heel. The second pic is wear you can see that all the hone wear is only in the middle of the blade

blade is not junk, it has uneven grind IMO.
That can be corrected but fixing the spine, but I'd just go till the bevel is set and stop, you do not need even bevel to get a shaving edge.

Ok so if I just keep setting the bevel on my 1k or DMT until I have a bevel, I should be good to go?

And what is entailed in fixing the spine? That sounds like a lot of work!

Thanks for the help

Typically, the pattern you're describing:

. . On one side, bevel wider in the middle;

. . On the other side, bevel wider at the toe and heel

means that the blade is warped.

Accept that the bevel width will be uneven !

There are several threads here on honing warped blades. There are some tricks to know.

The final result should be a sharp edge. The warp shouldn't affect the shaving quality.

. . Charles

PS -- if you were going to pick a blade to send out for honing, this would be a good candidate!

Looks like someone, at some point, thought that honing with their fingers on the spine doesn't create problems. Unfortunately, the person that creates a problem through ignorance is usually not the same person that suffers the consequences.

Originally Posted by bwatte

Ok so if I just keep setting the bevel on my 1k or DMT until I have a bevel, I should be good to go?

And what is entailed in fixing the spine? That sounds like a lot of work!

Thanks for the help

I personally keeping any diamond plates away from razors, use your 1K to set the bevel, a pre-polisher (3-6K), and a polisher (8K on up) on it.

You can't do anything with the spine & really there is nothing wrong with it. It's just an en-even spine grind. Grinding a razor's hollow and getting it perfect is amazingly difficult. When you are working with such polished a finish, it shows every imperfection. After making a few razors I have a gained a lot of respect for the old razor makers.

You have a nice old razor of one of the razor makers I really like in English steel, enjoy her.

Here's a thread from a year ago. Very similar situation, and gssixgun, Glen, gave some direction on one remedy. I've used it successfully a number of times since. Good Luck!!!

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...ovo-blade.html

Regards,
Howard

Try a layer or 2 of tape on the spine...tape wears much quicker than metal so it'll help even out the bevel. It'll probably never be perfect without alot of work but it'll sure help you make a fine shaver out of it. Hope this helps

Originally Posted by Catrentshaving

Try a layer or 2 of tape on the spine...tape wears much quicker than metal so it'll help even out the bevel. It'll probably never be perfect without alot of work but it'll sure help you make a fine shaver out of it. Hope this helps

This helped for my dovo, some warping of the blade, one layer of tape evens things out. I set a bevel then change tape, does a couple of laps on my bevel setter to let the new tape "settle" to the blade shape then move on to finishers with the same tape that way my finishers work on the bevel correctly. It works so I don't fix it.

I put a couple layers of tape on it and took it to the 1k, I worked on it about an hour and it still needs more work. But I can see that I am making progress. Thanks for the tips and I hope I can eventually make this a good shaver with time and patience