Thread: 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:







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!

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

Bob

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?

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?

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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!