Curvature of a razor's edge

When stropping the razor below I have trouble getting the toe portion as sharp as the middle and heel. I can correct this issue by raising the handle a tiny bit at the end of each stroke. Do you think there is too much curve at the toe end of the blade? If there is the only way to fix it (as I see it) is to use a coarse stone and "hone" some steel from the middle. This doesn't hinder the razor's ability to shave well at all. Except maybe for my sideburns right in front of my ears where the end of the razor will cut my ear if I'm not careful. I can lift the middle of the edge off my cheek so the curved portion at the toe is touching my skin. Needing to do this is what made me aware the toe portion around the curve wasn't quite as sharp as the rest of the edge. I checked the sharpness with a hanging hair test and the middle and heel cut the hair MUCH better than the toe section.

Does the edge look about normal and I just need to raise the handle a bit to get to that portion of the edge? I also would need to raise the handle on stones or some other change to reach the very end of the edge.

Should I remove steel from the middle of the edge by using a coarse stone (320 or 1k) to create a straighter line between heel and toe? Then progress through the grits to re-hone the edge.

I appreciate any advice.

Attachment 176120

That is one way to do the honing of that smiling razor. And it should become a favored shaver. There are quite a few honing videos in the Wiki.
Each razor and its own honing history presents a new problem.
~Richard

Here are a few honing videos by Randydancer who is my mentor and Utopian also. Members in good standing here:
A few good honing videos by Randy And Ron

Don't do anything hasty! Myself I would not hone out the smile. Someone with more experience than me should be along shortly to give you some advice and answer your questions.

Your edge looks fine to me,,, many old razors & new customs have a "Smile' to them,,,, yours has a slight one & that's fine. I would not raise the razor when stropping, as you might cut your strop.

In this section on "Purchasing Straight Razors' ,, scroll down to the part on "smiling razors" to get a look at razors similiar to yours.

Purchasing straight razors - Straight Razor Place Library

Look into the honing section of the library & watch some of the videos related to honing this type of an edge.




Category:Honing - Straight Razor Place Library

See? Someone who is a much quicker typer than i am already did.

There is absolutely nothing wrong with that blade. In fact, smiling blades are preferred by some of us.
Simply adjust your strokes to make contact with the edge as you suggested.

To make proper contact,use an X stroke on the strop

that only a slight grin nothing wrong with that blade at all
Now this is a smile possibly even a full laugh going on here LOL


http://straightrazorpalace.com/custo...red-devil.html

I'm left wondering if you don't need it touched up and how good the edge on it is now. Where did you have it honed? If the edge really isn't sharp evenly along and you are new it is probably best to have it professionally sharpened. If you have your location in your profile then you may find people local to you that can show you a thing or two.

Thanks for the comments guys. I guess for now I'll leave it as is. When it needs re-honing I may try to get the edge a bit straighter but not much. I could use Lynn's "circle" method keeping the curvature at the toe off the stones. Then again I'll probably get used to it and just leave it. I feel like that based on the comments that this "smile" isn't that bad.

Rezdog, I've been learning to hone my own razors for almost a year and I want to be able to maintian my own razors. The edge came shave ready when I bought it and now I'm getting better at honing and stropping. My edges will cut hair with the haning hair test and cut arm hair above the skin. I may have created a more dramatic curve at the toe but I'm not sure. I didn't take a picture of it when new to compare it. This is the type of condition I believe it would be easy to create by a newby (me) at honing. It was inexpensive at under $45.

I was wondering the same thing as Rezdog. Sounds more like you need some hands on help ?

There is no need to straighten the edge and this may cause more problems than you have now.

Nice L Herder from Philly! Lynn's circles are great for straight edges. A smiling edge can be somewhat adapted with technique. Still, a smile must be swooped upon the stones and strop. A smiling razor is a GOOD thing. " A straight edge is the closest thing to a frown".
I always hone toward a smile. Heavier by a bit on heel and toe, lighter thru the middle.
How I roll! :)

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Originally Posted by 10Pups

I was wondering the same thing as Rezdog. Sounds more like you need some hands on help ?

There is no need to straighten the edge and this may cause more problems than you have now.

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There's no doubt I could use some hands on help. However I don't know a single person personally that shaves with or hones straight razors. Not that I know of. But I'd love as much help as I can get. I love to learn from "other people's" mistakes instead of learning from my own. Making my own mistakes just takes more time. The next best thing is having these forums and videos at easy access.

Causing more problems when doing something I'm just beginning to learn is standard procedure for me. That's where others help out. They made a mistake and learned from it and now they can tell me not to do something before I make that same mistake. Making the situation worse is one reason I won't dive in trying to "fix" this. The other reason not to "fix" it is others seem to think it's not something that needs fixing. Unless I make things worse over time. I don't think I'll make it worse now because I'm aware of it and I don't want to add to the curve. I'll be making sure not to remove more steel from the toe than I do the middle.

Something just dawned on me. Since I started learning to hone I've felt like I was always putting more pressure on the heel during every stroke. I may have overcompensated for this by while trying to keep the blade flat on the stones I raised it too much. This thought makes sense to me.

there is the potential that others may not be that far away from you. The only issue is that nobody knows where you are.

Would eveyone agree (or disagree) that if I caused any additional smile it would have been done on stones rather than when using a strop? I'm thinking a strop would never remove enough steel to change the shape of an edge.

It is on the lower grit strop that you remove material in enough of a volume that you can change the shape of the blade. 1 or 4K will do it. The higher grit hones remove such a small amount of material it would take a very long time to change a blade shape.

The smile is designed into the razor, very much desired IMO.

If you want to practice honing, grab a few Gold Dollar straights razor's, they are cheap, have challenging geometry, and it doesn't matter if you destroy them. I have two that I've been beating the crap out of...I'm still on the 8k stage...but getting better.

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Originally Posted by Jack0458

There's no doubt I could use some hands on help. However I don't know a single person personally that shaves with or hones straight razors. Not that I know of. But I'd love as much help as I can get. I love to learn from "other people's" mistakes instead of learning from my own. Making my own mistakes just takes more time. The next best thing is having these forums and videos at easy access.

Causing more problems when doing something I'm just beginning to learn is standard procedure for me. That's where others help out. They made a mistake and learned from it and now they can tell me not to do something before I make that same mistake. Making the situation worse is one reason I won't dive in trying to "fix" this. The other reason not to "fix" it is others seem to think it's not something that needs fixing. Unless I make things worse over time. I don't think I'll make it worse now because I'm aware of it and I don't want to add to the curve. I'll be making sure not to remove more steel from the toe than I do the middle.

Something just dawned on me. Since I started learning to hone I've felt like I was always putting more pressure on the heel during every stroke. I may have overcompensated for this by while trying to keep the blade flat on the stones I raised it too much. This thought makes sense to me.

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You will never know if there is someone close to you if WE don't know where you are. Rezdog has already stated this several times, PUT YOUR LOCATION IN YOUR PROFILE. A razor with a smile is preferable in my opinion as it is easier to maneuver around the face and get into tight quarters.

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Originally Posted by Jack0458

Thanks for the comments guys. I guess for now I'll leave it as is. When it needs re-honing I may try to get the edge a bit straighter but not much. I could use Lynn's "circle" method keeping the curvature at the toe off the stones. Then again I'll probably get used to it and just leave it. I feel like that based on the comments that this "smile" isn't that bad.

I may have created a more dramatic curve at the toe but I'm not sure. I didn't take a picture of it when new to compare it. This is the type of condition I believe it would be easy to create by a newby (me) at honing.

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I'm not sure you understand what we're trying to say. There is no such thing as a bad smile & western razors should be honed over time to a smiling profile to prevent the opposite ie a 'frown'

Read post #12 again. It is not just a preference but what was taught in barbering texts. You hone to a smile or you risk a frown.

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Originally Posted by onimaru55

I'm not sure you understand what we're trying to say. There is no such thing as a bad smile & western razors should be honed over time to a smiling profile to prevent the opposite ie a 'frown'

Read post #12 again. It is not just a preference but what was taught in barbering texts. You hone to a smile or you risk a frown.

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I think I'm getting it. I appreciate all the input about this. Especially how BAD a frown would be. My concern was for the last 1/4" or less where the curve is more drastic than the gradual curve of the rest of the blade. I wanted to ask about it now before it got any worse. Since you guys don't think it's bad I'm happy with that. No more worries.

I can't picture how you could "hone" a frown into your razor. The only way I can figure it is if you had narrow stones. 1" or 2" wide or so. Even then it would have to be almost intentional.

straight strokes would do it. There are a couple of really good videos by gssixgun on honing a smiling edge. A lopsided smile is not a big deal. It is likely that by placing more pressure on the toe while honing that you have gotten more wear on the toe.

Here is a listing of the folks who like to help other folks:
SRP Staff - Straight Razor Place Forum
Check for one within a fair driving distance.
Have Fun!
~Richard

Just tell everybody that Fort Walton Fla. is between Pensacola and Panama City Florida USA. Now that you say that the community can reach out to our people if you will accept help. A hands on session beats a video 10 ways to Sunday. There are small details that a video doesn't convey. I spent a evening with Brad Maggard drove 60 miles to learn. Properly honing my own blades ,being self sufficient. PRICELESS. Question how far do you want to elevate your skill set? If you are happy with your results and videos only . Good deal may your shaves always be BBS.

If you can't find someone close enough to drive to then some one on one guidance through e-mail or PMs Skype ,,,is your next best bet. The open forum is fine for getting ideas and discussing problems ,sharing, yada yada , but you need somebody to help you focus on a solution. Once you both have the same picture in your mind you can proceed to a solution. :<0)

Look in the members section for locations near you, look for a honing service in Craig's list near you. I bet you will be surprised to find, help is not that far away. Good luck and let us know how it is going.

Here is a razor that I have restored but someone else did the blade for me & as you can see it has a beautiful smile to it. I wouldn't mess with the one you have, it looks just fine to me. Especially the middle of your razor, please don't alter that in any way, it is a beautiful blade & a blade with a curve to it should always have a smile to it. A blade with a flat spine to it should be flat but even if it has a smile to it, it is ok. Always consider a smile a good thing. Even if you have an old razor that has a smile to it, you would probably remove a lot of metal bringing it back to normal so don't worry about it & let it be.