Thread: SUPER thin razor.. Safe to hone?

So a few weeks ago, I bought a Bigelow & Dowse Co. razor. I'd guess somewhere in the 6/8 range, and boy is it ever thin. It had a nice mean patch of active rust on it, which I hit with some P80, then smoothed out to 3000 before buffing, and it left a deep scratch on the surface.

At first I thought it was a crack, but it's only visible on one side, and there are other much smaller marks of the same size nearby it.

Back to the main point..

Out of curiosity, I micrometered the edge, and it measured at .00625...

Certainly my thinnest razor. In fact, after butterknifing it, (a practice I ALWAYS do before buffing) the little bastard still cut me!

So.. Should I:

A. Put the razor in a safe place, and stick to the thicker stuff until I'm better at honing?

B. Give it a shot.. I've done about 10 or so straights, a little variety won't hurt..

or

C. Let the razor alone because it's too damn thin.

Thanks guys, I hope you understand my concern. Pressing a piece of .006" brittle steel against hard stones just sounds bad for someone as relatively inexperienced as I am.

It sounds lovely. I'd put it to one side, ten razors aren't that many to have practised on, wait a while. Any chance of some pictures please.

Absolutely! I roughed up the finish to try and mask the scratch/crack. So not a mirror anymore, but it's more satin-y.

Pictured with digital calipers, which are slightly less precise than my regular old mic. Easier to take a picture of a DRO than a mic reading though..

Am not understanding this post,where on the blade are you getting the measurment? 0.0060 is not much thicker than a D.E blade.

Right at the bevel.

I just saw it as being excessively thin in comparison to my other razors.

As a knife guy, .006 seems.. Risky in the event of any twisting.

Originally Posted by Cornicus

Right at the bevel.

I just saw it as being excessively thin in comparison to my other razors.

As a knife guy, .006 seems.. Risky in the event of any twisting.

Thats a normal measument,my full hollow palmeras are .004,they hone just fine.

Oh, no kidding!

Guess you learn something new every day.

Thank you

That's within the range of a normal measurement for a full hollow. Definitely start with a light touch when you first shave with it.
You might have to add an extra layer to tape to hone it, but otherwise, I say hone it up.

Use a layer of tape on the spine and hone it. As Pixil mentioned above, you have a normal looking half hollow razor, I've seen much more hollow razors. It should hone up just fine...remember, if you flex the blade honing, you aren't doing your edge any good.

Originally Posted by criswilson10

That's within the range of a normal measurement for a full hollow. Definitely start with a light touch when you first shave with it.
You might have to add an extra layer to tape to hone it, but otherwise, I say hone it up.

Originally Posted by shooter74743

Use a layer of tape on the spine and hone it. As Pixil mentioned above, you have a normal looking half hollow razor, I've seen much more hollow razors. It should hone up just fine...remember, if you flex the blade honing, you aren't doing your edge any good.

Got it! I'll hone her up after work tomorrow. Tonight's shave however will be with my trusty old Torrey Celebrated Hollow. Trying to break off from the 7-day Torrey regiment, but I'll tell you what, they shave like nobody's business. Curious how a thinner razor will do for me..

Also, any comments on the tip? I just took it off the grinder before I posted this. I like barbers notches for getting under my nose and chin, so I grind one into every razor I use. Not too sure if I like or hate this one.. Some notches look nice, others not so much..