Thread: Looking at getting into SR with this blade

Tough steel. Bevel setting was a pain. After I got the spine flat I used two pieces of tape and nothing was working. I went to a medium grit oil stone then the DMT and finally on to a 1000 grit. The edge never chipped in the least. I checked constantly for wear and wore out one piece of tape. Luckily it is still a 6/8 razor. Hopefully I can get an edge yet this weekend... But I doubt it

Any more work done to it? I got one as well, edge keeps crumbling away on me? I am new to straight razors, not sure if it's something I am doing or not? I have been working on my uncles Gottlieb Hammesfahr (had to remove a nick in the edge) and I get a much better/cleaned edge on that than the CKTG razor? Spine was a little off, slight bend, so I reset the bevel completely with a 1K water stone and sharpened fully to a J nat finish and strop on bare leather. Edge crumbled away and rolled over into a burr when I shaved. Put 2 layers of elec. tape on the spine, fully rehoned, same issue. Wondering if the edge area got decarbed during heat treat and I need to grind back a bit into better metal? Steels feels a bit soft, but I am used to sharpening Japanese kitchen knives with Rockwells in the low to mid 60's, so even high 50's seems a bit soft to me. But I am totally new to SR's, so it may be something I am doing?

Mine is still at the 1k stage. Thanks for the update. I had a feeling I was going to run into the same issues. This is a kitchen knife shaped like a razor

Well, a soft kitchen knife! LOL. As a newbie, the grind thinness itself didn't seem bad at the edge, wonder if the spines bent during HT or machining? They all seem to have it from the few reviews I have read? Too bad the steel is somewhat soft.

Shaved with one of these tonight! I bought it back when this thread came up. I had only been shaving for a month or two at the time and had no hones.

I got a set of Nortons from Santa and decided to have a go at it with this razor. Ultimately, I ended up grinding the spine down a bunch to get it flat with a 600 grit diamond knife sharpener and then used tape on the spine to set the bevel on the 1000 Norton. Progressed up to the 8000, then a balsa CrOx strop and finally nylon web and leather. Seemed sharp, so I gave it a shot. Decent shave. Not as good as my pro-honed whipped dog razors, but certainly sharp enough to shave!.

Obviously this is really just an RSO as it came from the vendor, but ultimately. I was able to shave with it.

You did not have to remove any steel from the spine. They are very hard razors, a Diamond 1k will get a flat bevel then joint and switch to lapping film for a keen, super straight edge.

You could have taped the spine and honed it easily. Most vintage razors are way more out of true flat and hone just fine.

The biggest problem is they are very hard, leading many to use too much pressure or too aggressive a stone, which later cause chipping.

Once you get an edge on them, they are great shavers and hold an edge like the IRS to your money.

For $25.00 or less you can get a great vintage str8 Touch up on a barbers hone, strop & have a great shave. That is why I always buy in person so I know what I am buying.

This is a $10.00 purchase, a Hamilton Razor Co. #51 Hollow ground That I didn't even need to hone. Stropped on linen with green paste Then on a Koken horse butt leather strop to finish.
The only way I would have a new razor is if it was a gift.

Slawman