Thread: Stumped

I have two razors that will become sharp at the heel end till about the middle. They will not, however, take an edge from the middle to the toe. I am assuming I am using good even pressure throughout the stroke. I am using a sharpie to verify that. Or could you get a 'false positive' from the marker test?

Sure you can, as soon as the toe part touch the hone the marker is gone.
It doesn't tell you anything about pressure.
Try change directions and see how fast you will remove the old hone marks.
If you do that faster on the heel you know what you are doing wrong!

Well, the marker is removed slower on the heel side.

I would look really hard under a loupe and make sure I'm getting all the way to the very edge. The bevels might not be meeting yet in that spot.

Michael

+1 on the above and if you're using slurry, that will also eat your marker.

Originally Posted by mjsorkin

I would look really hard under a loupe and make sure I'm getting all the way to the very edge. The bevels might not be meeting yet in that spot.

Michael

This is really a good point, particularly if the spine is heavily flattened and the flattening is not the same on both sides.

Have fun.

Yup, the spine is flattened on both sides. The previous owner appeared to have used the razor regularly.

So basically, I just need to continue doing circles and x-strokes till the ends meet at the toe side? Or am I kicking a dead horse?

I'd go for circles and then x-strokes when the offending area was nearly there. I don't think it's a dead horse, just a challenge (there are a few on my own bench).

I would suggest finding a stroke that removes the marker completely on the bevel and keep going with that stroke until the razor shaves arm hairs easily. Then only you can go on to the next stone.