Thread: uneven bevel

I'm getting pretty good shaves, very close, not bad at all. So, I didn't leave well enough alone and I checked the edge undera 60x scope.

I have a beautiful bevel on one side of the razor and the other side doesn't seem to have a well defined bevel at all. It's there but it doesn't look as classic as the other side.

I imagine this is effecting my shaves, which I'm pretty happy with. So I just wanted to know if it makes that much a difference that I should redo the bevel and if so, how?

Steve - I'm no expert (at all, not by a long shot) but I'd think if the shaves are good and comfortable, don't worry. For me, the shave is all that matters. (As is probably obvious, I subscribe to the "Ignorance is Bliss" school of honing!)

James.

Originally Posted by Jimbo

Steve - I'm no expert (at all, not by a long shot) but I'd think if the shaves are good and comfortable, don't worry. For me, the shave is all that matters. (As is probably obvious, I subscribe to the "Ignorance is Bliss" school of honing!)

James.

I thinkg I agree, James. I just told my wife that I was about ready to throw the the microscope out. I have an edge test that I do, followed by the shave test and I can say I get good shaves. Of course, I'm looking for improvement which I'm sure is a combination of edge and technique but the microscope tells me I should be ripping my face off when I actually get pretty good shaves.

I think I'm going to stick with the edge test as illustrated in the barber's manual followed by the shave test.

I think that if you look at most razors out there both vintge and new you will find variations in the bevel on the same razor. Remember razors are handmade products and you will not get perfection of that type in a truly handmade product.

Getting the bevel perfectly uniform is for those that are really anal about that kind of thing. It makes no difference as far as the shaving goes. Now I'm talking about small variations not huge ones.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

I think that if you look at most razors out there both vintge and new you will find variations in the bevel on the same razor. Remember razors are handmade products and you will not get perfection of that type in a truly handmade product.

Getting the bevel perfectly uniform is for those that are really anal about that kind of thing. It makes no difference as far as the shaving goes. Now I'm talking about small variations not huge ones.

I understand what you're saying. I can't describe very well what I see.

Let's draw a half inch tall, long box. Top and bottom lines are solid and straight. Inside is a dark grey color. Very neat apperance

Now, look at the back of the box. Top and Bottom lines are not as solid or straight. Insided color is a light grey. Sloppy apperance.

I think I'm not going to worry about it because, in essence, you're absolutely right about natural variances in a handmade product. Plus, the shaves are good.

Thanks for the input.

I agree that the microscope can make you too concerned about the edge, to the point where you ruin a perfectly good edge.

I find it most useful when you have a razor that just won't get sharp, and you can't figure out why. The 'scope will most times make it very clear what flaws are preventing the razor from taking an edge.

That said, I have a couple of blades right now that look decent under the microscope but just won't get sharp... :

Josh

Originally Posted by JoshEarl

I agree that the microscope can make you too concerned about the edge, to the point where you ruin a perfectly good edge.

I find it most useful when you have a razor that just won't get sharp, and you can't figure out why. The 'scope will most times make it very clear what flaws are preventing the razor from taking an edge.

That said, I have a couple of blades right now that look decent under the microscope but just won't get sharp... :

Josh

I just spent about 8 hours honing a cattaraguas razor I got off Eboy. The razor looks almost brand new and needed little cleanup though the edge was on the rough side. After about 20 minutes on the 4K I had a beautiful edge and bevel even under the scope it was a thing of beauty. About an hour with the 8K and and hour on the coticule and it wouldn't shave worth a damn. So back to the 4K for some heavy duty honing then to the blue belgian then the 8K again and then the 12K Kitayama and it still wouldn't shave worth a damn. According to everthing I could see it should have shaved like a dream. So back to the coticule this time for 1.5 hours of constant honing and then it began to improve but still not shave ready. Back to the coticule for another 1.5 hours. Now its starting to shave pretty good but not comfortable so back to the coticule again-another half hour. Well now its so wicked sharp I don't even have to touch it to my skin the wiskers flee in panic but its still too easy to impart razor burn with it. So now I'm thinking, this must be some tough steel, I had the exact issue with the TI damascus and I find with that the more I use it the better the shaves become so I'm thinking this one will be the same. We'll see.

So the moral of the story is no matter what they say about how many passes to do or what to use each razor is an individual and you have to sometimes make your own rules in this thing.

BigSpendur:


Did you tape the spine to prevent excess honing wear? I ask because as I'm learning to do the honing thing, I've had to go on the hone more frequently than I guess is normal for most razors. I've always been a little concerned about flattening out the spine with excess honing.

That frequency is slowing down now but I still get a little concerned.