1st attempt @ a bevel :(

I wouldn't call this the ideal razor to set your first bevel on but beggers can't be choosers.


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This razor is small! I put a Dovo 5/8" next to it so you can get an idea about it's size. If you look closely, you can see the toe is wider than the heel (I didn't do that ;)). I don't know if you can tell by the crappy photo but I think it's a 1/4 hollow or near wedge? When I got it, it was completely dull and I mean completely dull.

I did 8 sets of lynn's circles followed by 30 laps each time on a Naniwa 1k. I might not have used enough pressure but I'm still learning. I did a thumb pad test and it was ok or so I thought but I was getting frustrated. I did 20 laps on the Naniwa 3k and then 20 laps on the Naniwa 5k. I felt the edge and didn't like it so I went back to the 3k for 20 more laps then back to the 5k again for 20 more laps.

When I was looking at the water displacement I noticed the heel wasn't moving as much water as the toe. I tried my best to make the water move evenly. I then did 20 laps each on a Naniwa 8k, 10k, and 12k. Then 20 laps on Chromium Oxide, 50 laps on linen and 100 on leather.

The toe and the very end of the heel is super sharp but the middle won't pass the HHT :( I was using heel forward strokes and using a jewelers loupe while I was setting the bevel but when I looked at it after I finished I didn't like what I saw. The bevel on the face side of the razor was even until the very end of the toe. That's where it became wider. On the other side was the opposite, the bevel became smaller.

What did I do wrong? Any help would be appreciated :D

Honing is more difficult than I expected. I think it is one of those things that really does just take the kind of experience that comes from practice practice practice. That and tempered expectations for a while.

Could be just me, but it looks like that razor has a frown. That could cause the middle to not hit the stones completely or there could be a warp. If it is a frown I would try to straighten the edge.

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Originally Posted by JSmith1983

Could be just me, but it looks like that razor has a frown. That could cause the middle to not hit the stones completely or there could be a warp. If it is a frown I would try to straighten the edge.

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I laid the razor on it's edge and shined a light behind it. You can see light under the toe for about 1/2".

I have a lot of trouble with any sized Wedge. Tape... No tape... I find that getting them shave ready from dull is beyond my ability. Good luck.

I really would suggest finding something else or waiting to start honing. I generally find that narrower razors are more difficult to hone; ditto for heavier grinds. At the very least, see if there is anyone nearby that can set the bevel for you, and then you could take her the rest of the way.

Or, if you're set on doing it, take it slow and be patient. Walk away as soon as you start to feel frustrated in the least. There is nothing different about honing a narrow or heavy grind blade, you just usually have to be more careful (for the narrow) and do more of it (for the heavy grind).

I did more research and watched some videos (gssixgun's honing a smiling wedge). I used a 45 degree heel forward stroke on the Naniwa 1k until the razor was popping arm hair (that took a long time). After that was done I did 20 laps each on a Naniwa 3k, 5k, 8k, 10k, and 12k. Then 10 laps on Chromium Oxide, 50 on linen and 100 on leather.

Good News: The razor is cutting leg hair at med length and passing the HHT up and down the edge :rock:

Bad News: The bevel is uneven. On the face side the bevel is widest at the toe. On the other side it's widest at the heel. :( There's also a lot of spine wear :(

Hopefully I'll hone a bigger razor next time and maybe it will be easier. I know if it wasn't for this forum, I couldn't have done it. So thanks to everybody :)

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Originally Posted by rcavazos1922

I did more research and watched some videos (gssixgun's honing a smiling wedge). I used a 45 degree heel forward stroke on the Naniwa 1k until the razor was popping arm hair (that took a long time). After that was done I did 20 laps each on a Naniwa 3k, 5k, 8k, 10k, and 12k. Then 10 laps on Chromium Oxide, 50 on linen and 100 on leather.

Good News: The razor is cutting leg hair at med length and passing the HHT up and down the edge :rock:

Bad News: The bevel is uneven. On the face side the bevel is widest at the toe. On the other side it's widest at the heel. :( There's also a lot of spine wear :(

Hopefully I'll hone a bigger razor next time and maybe it will be easier. I know if it wasn't for this forum, I couldn't have done it. So thanks to everybody :)

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Congratulations! It's not as eassy as it seems. Don't worry to much about the uneven bevel, that's typical for old razors, specialy the ones hone by us beginners! eBay specials will always teach you something. Wait till you hone a new one or NOS with a straight spine, it's going to be a "breeze"! At least it will be easier for you to achive a more even bevel, it was for me. Double O

Nice job! :)

It took me a while to figure out how to set the bevel on my W+B wedge. As it turns out I was not using enough pressure so it was taking me forever. I figured out that using a little elbow grease during the initial bevel-setting os ok, then I lighten up on the pressure as I progress...

"I did 8 sets of lynn's circles followed by 30 laps each time on a Naniwa 1k. I might not have used enough pressure but I'm still learning."

When honing really dull razors I have done circle strokes on 1K, even 220, in the hundreds, then hundreds of x-strokes or straight strokes. I don't add pressure, for reasons that have been discussed before, and just let the
stones do their work. Work on dull razors is what it takes, not 8 circle strokes or 30 laps of anything. A lot of material is being removed in establishing a bevel, and even more on a wedgy blade. It isn't difficult to do, it just takes time.

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Originally Posted by ace

It isn't difficult to do, it just takes time.

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Yes, yes. Honing is very zen, you just have to be patient and let the edge come to you.