Thread: Wavy bevel

I was looking at an old straight razor today and noticed that the bevel was wavy and looked quite big. The bevel was widest in the middle. Is that caused by uneven spine wear or a warped blade? The edge had a slight smile. I wonder if they were using a rolling x-stroke and messed it up?

Uneven bevels are a result generally of uneven blade geometry. Uneven geometry is the result of manufacturing or of honing, or of someone having a go at regrinding, or some combination(s) of these.

James.

If the bevel was widest in the middle and it is a smiling blade, it's possible that it was not rolled enough while honing (the center got honed more than the edges of the smile).

It is an exercise in geometry.

1. Is the bevel the same width in the same places on the front and back of the blade? If not, you have warps in the blade resulting in at least part of what you are seeing.

2. Is the hone wear consistent, or does it look like someone used inconsistent pressure and altered the geometry?

If everything is consistent, and the bevel is wider in the middle, and the spine thickness is consistent...does the smile of the blade match the smile of the spine?

Hypothetically, if you remove a bunch of steel at the heel and toe via a chip, clip, or bread-knifing (gasp), and then hone it *just right*...you will end up with a smiling blade that has a different bevel angle at the heel and toe than in the middle of the blade (you will also probably have a 5/8 at the heel and toe and a 6/8 in the middle)....and a fatter looking bevel in the middle and a thinner bevel at the heel and toe.

Sounds like a lot of stuff is going on with that edge. I'm glad I didn't buy it.

Originally Posted by rcavazos1922

Sounds like a lot of stuff is going on with that edge. I'm glad I didn't buy it.

Possibly, but I have a few vintage blades with goofy looking bevels and slight smiles...and they shave WONDERFULLY. That said, there are probably more than a few that have odd looking bevels that do not shave as well as they should. Probably a wise choice to steer clear unless you really understand what you are looking at and can properly gauge the concern. I have gotten lucky a time or two...and bought a couple that I have not been able to repair to my satisfaction.

Luckily, I have gotten good enough prices on everything so far that I have only paid minimally for my education

What's going on is that you've got a full wedge or near-wedge smiler, that has been worn down by honing. There's more meat in the middle of those razors when the middle is honed more than the toe and heel, and so the bevel is widest in the middle.

In my limited experience, as long as I can get a straight line on the cutting edge it's okay if the bevel looks a bit wide in some spots.

One can always add a layer of tape if needed.

Michael

If I can't look at the pic and see enough to know what I will possibly be dealing with, and have an idea of how to correct it, it makes me hesitant. However, even pics don't tell the whole story, and you get burned. It's the nature of the "bay" beast. I am really getting to where I am shying away from fleabay, and doing more foot work to find blades, at least then you can do a good inspection to see what you are getting into; that and here lately the prices people want for some blades that are rusted over, and need a lot of work is just getting ridiculous. Just how I feel about it YMMV