Best way to hone this blade

Printable View

07-23-2018, 02:20 PM
Montgomery

3 Attachment(s)

Best way to hone this blade

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:

Attachment 292728

Attachment 292729

Attachment 292730

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!
07-23-2018, 02:25 PM
BobH

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

Bob
07-23-2018, 02:51 PM
Montgomery

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobH

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?
07-23-2018, 04:34 PM
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?
07-23-2018, 04:51 PM
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.
07-23-2018, 08:25 PM
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.
07-23-2018, 08:27 PM
Johntoad57

That is a very nice blade. I wish you well in getting it honed. You'll figure it out and it will probably be one of your best shavers!

Good Luck!
07-23-2018, 09:29 PM
BobH

Quote:

Originally Posted by Montgomery

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
07-24-2018, 08:51 AM
Montgomery

Quote:

Originally Posted by JP5

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.
07-24-2018, 08:53 AM
Montgomery

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobH

My honing recommendation was based on maintaining it's present profile as altering it would be a lot of work for, imo, no gain.

That is exactly what I wanted to know, thank you!
07-24-2018, 09:04 AM
BobH

Quote:

Originally Posted by Montgomery

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
07-24-2018, 09:05 AM
Montgomery

Quote:

Originally Posted by RezDog

I expect that it is near the original shape.

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

Quote:

Originally Posted by RezDog

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!
07-24-2018, 09:11 AM
Montgomery

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobH

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.

Yes! And seven of the 5/8 Solingen blades were of the same model. The old boy who owned these probably just bought a box of them and got on with it. There were also four other pairs of identical models in the lot, so I guess he stuck with the blades he liked.

Having said that, I find a slightly weightier blade helps in certain circumstances, especially as I don't shave every day, and the light blades judder a bit in heavy growth. But I am no expert.
07-24-2018, 10:29 AM
Montgomery

Out of interest, what date would we put on this blade?
07-25-2018, 08:41 AM
Montgomery

So, following the instructions, I honed the razor, and it was very straightforward. Not tested it yet but looking forward to it!

Thanks everyone.
07-25-2018, 09:08 AM
BobH

Be sure and let us know how it shaves for you.

Bob
07-25-2018, 09:38 AM
Montgomery

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobH

Be sure and let us know how it shaves for you.

Bob

Will do Bob!
07-25-2018, 12:20 PM
Montgomery

Quote:

Originally Posted by BobH

Be sure and let us know how it shaves for you.

Very happy with it. Pretty smooth, the weighty blade is good for longer growth, and the curve towards the toe means I can go against the grain under the corner of my jaw, which I have never been able to do before. And I'm sure it will only get better as my honing improves.
07-25-2018, 12:57 PM
MrZ

It’s easy. Wrap it in bubble wrap and put it in a box. Then you mail it off to one of the honemeisters that are here and you are done. Less than fifty bucks and it is absolutely perfect. Outback put an edge on my Joe Elliot that is amazing. GSSxguns is pretty well known for his edges. Leave to the pros!
07-25-2018, 01:08 PM
Montgomery

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrZ

It’s easy. Wrap it in bubble wrap and put it in a box. Then you mail it off to one of the honemeisters that are here and you are done. Less than fifty bucks and it is absolutely perfect. Outback put an edge on my Joe Elliot that is amazing. GSSxguns is pretty well known for his edges. Leave to the pros!

Hmmm... I may send a blade off one of these days, to compare edges, when I think I have gone as far as I can go without further input. But sending every blade off to be honed? Where would the fun be in that? I have 34 blades here waiting to be honed, which by my calculations should keep me out of trouble for about a year. And by then, I should have improved enough for it to be worthwhile to go back to the beginning and do them all again. I appreciate that some people like to send their blades off, but for me, that would pretty much make the whole thing pointless.

Edit: By the way, my other smiling blade is a Joseph Elliot, and it is also a great razor which is a pleasure to hone and to use.
07-25-2018, 01:13 PM
Speedster

That's the best way to improve your honing skills -- take on challenging new razor profiles and work on more advanced strokes like the swooping X-stroke. I had to learn to master this stroke for a similarly profiled custom blade and really enjoyed the learning process...and after a short time, the resulting smooth, sharp edge. :)
07-25-2018, 01:20 PM
Montgomery

Quote:

Originally Posted by Speedster

That's the best way to improve your honing skills -- take on challenging new razor profiles and work on more advanced strokes like the swooping X-stroke. I had to learn to master this stroke for a similarly profiled custom blade and really enjoyed the learning process...and after a short time, the resulting smooth, sharp edge. :)

Exactly! And SRP is a fantastic resource which makes it all possible. I have some much more challenging blades than this one, watch this space!
07-25-2018, 01:31 PM
Speedster

Ditto here. Still one challenge remains in my razor stable. Going to try 2 layers of tape this next round...and that honery 52100 steel better be prepared to yield to my authori-tay! ;)