Best way to hone this blade

[Montgomery]

Hello members,

I have a question which I hope someone can help with. I have this blade, and I am not sure how to hone it:







It the curve in the blade intentional? It is some sort of smile, and as you can see from the third picture, the toe is wider than the heel. It is 6/8 at the toe, 5/8 at the heel. It is a heavy blade (1/2 hollow? 1/4 hollow?), and the narrowing of the blade towards the heel appears to follow the profile of the grind.

I have a hunch it could be a good one, and I am not an experienced honer, so I would like to proceed cautiously.

Many thanks!

[BobH]

If it were mine , I'd use heel leading X stokes to hone it.

Bob

[Montgomery]

If it were mine , I'd use heel leading X stokes to hone it.

Thanks Bob. So, implicit in your comment is that the blade is intended to have this profile, right? It isn't the result of bad honing etc, it is meant to be this way?

[JP5]

Not sure if the slight taper towards heel is original, but the overall shape looks good. Looks like a near wedge or maybe a quarter hollow to my eye. A lot of blades were made with a slight smile. Looks like a nice razor!
Where did you get it?

[RezDog]

I expect that it is near the original shape. As far as a honing strokes goes, it’s going to vary a bit from person to person. There are many roads to the perfect edge, and they are all correct. You may want to employ a magic marker to figure your stroke out. I would also go with two layers of tape. Those old wedges can take a considerable amount of time to get the bevel set when doing restoration honing. With that style of razor I start with a heel leading stroke and as I pass the middle of the hone the toe starts to sweep forward. You should watch Glen’s videos on honing a smiling wedge.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wEtb9k3APYM

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DStkiyHB9PU

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x2dqBluDteQ

That should get you started on the right foot.

[Gasman]

I was thinking the exact same as Rez. Heal leading with a swoop of the tip. 2 layers of tape for bevel set. Then check to see if with one layer of tape if the bevel gets wide or still stays thin. Thin is better and easier to hone. Extra wide make a lot more work. Also do the math and see what the angle of the bevel will be at 1 or 2 layers of tape. Most guys dont worry too much about this measurment but im just picky and want 17 to 18 degrees if possible. But its not always possible with near wedge razors.

So put 2 layers on it, mark the edge with a sharpie and give it two strokes. See what it looks like. The sharpie can really help to see what WILL happen before you spend the time and steal honing to compleation.

[Montgomery]

I expect that it is near the original shape.

Good, that was the main thing I wanted to know!

With that style of razor I start with a heel leading stroke and as I pass the middle of the hone the toe starts to sweep forward.
...
You should watch Glen’s videos on honing a smiling wedge. ... That should get you started on the right foot.

Having got the message that the profile can be kept, and that the blade should be honed as a smile, I went ahead last night. My internet was down, so I hadn't seen this post, I set the bevel with one layer of tape on the spine, and it is a nice fairly even bevel, not too wide. I'll watch the videos before I carry on to get me up to date. Actually the edge was pretty good for most of the length of the blade, but those rust spots near the toe which can be seen in the picture had eaten into the edge a little and needed to be honed out. I have honed one smiling blade before, and have to say it was the easiest hone I have ever done. Same with this blade, it WANTS to be honed!

[Montgomery]

Looks like a nice razor!
Where did you get it?

I bought a mixed lot which was apparently from an old barber shop. 28 razors, seven combs and 3 strops. There were just over 10 5/8 full hollow Solingen blades, a similar number of 'Wiener Schaber' type blades, and the balance was made up of various oddments, of which this blade was one. This was the only non-German blade in the lot, and I think it could be the best one.

[BobH]

I bought a mixed lot which was apparently from an old barber shop. 28 razors, seven combs and 3 strops. There were just over 10 5/8 full hollow Solingen blades, a similar number of 'Wiener Schaber' type blades, and the balance was made up of various oddments, of which this blade was one. This was the only non-German blade in the lot, and I think it could be the best one.

Some more evidence that all you really need is a 5/8 sized razor to get the job of shaving done well. Contrary to today's user fascination with larger blade sizes. The basic difference between a business and a hobby.

Bob

[BobH]

Thanks Bob. So, implicit in your comment is that the blade is intended to have this profile, right? It isn't the result of bad honing etc, it is meant to be this way?

Not sure if that is the blade's original profile or not. I do have at least one blade with that profile though. My honing recommendation was based on maintaining it's present profile as altering it would be a lot of work for, imo, no gain.

Bob