Thread: 6/8 bone handle bismark

I have a brand new dovo 6/8 bismark bone handle silver plate and ever since i've had it it has shaved but always seemed tinny an a little gritty i have honed it up and tryed every thing from nortons resetting the bevel right through to my belgiums and even chr.5 which normaly all my razor end up feeling like velvet so this one is baffling me.I'm just wondering if they are normally this way any one who has one could you give your veiw please.

I've only had two Bismark's, both of which I purchased new from Jim at Vintage Blades, and both of which I had honed by Lynn before they were ever shipped to me. Can't recall anyone having mentioned this before...perhaps sending it off to Lynn or one of the other resident experts would be the best idea....not that you are doing anything wrong. I hone my own as well, but just can't seem to get some of my blades to that same level of sharpness and smoothness as others.

Have you got a microscope ? Under magnification you might be able to see if there is a noticeable difference between those that are shaving well for you and the Bismark. I second Crichton's suggestion about sending it to Lynn. Assuming you don't have one that has been professionally honed. It gave me an idea of what to shoot for.

+1 with jimmy, get a scope and look at the edge, it will tell you a lot!

I hav'nt got a microscope but i have got a 30 k loop and yes i have 7/8 flami from cs and i think it was honed by lynn and it shaves bril and also have purchased qiute athew razors from a chap of ebay who restores and sells shave ready he go's by the altima55 on ebay i have just got my double duck which is like brsand new and shaves exallant. that is probably my problem now i no what to shoot for i am always comparing. Even though i have rest quite a thew bevels on old razors and got them shave ready with exallant shaves i did a wapi last week for amate who picked it up of a flee market and i could'nt believe how good it shaved. I have compared with my loop against the good shavers and it is hard to tell as i am not 100 percent sure what i am looking for i persume scratch pattern and a nice smooth looking bevel. I'll give it a couple more trys after that i will send it out.

Some are just tougher to get up to speed then others. Keep at it and you will probably get it. What I have been taught is that if the razor isn't sharp enough go back to the 4/8 and do pyramids. That is assuming the bevel is set correctly.

Gary,

When you are looking through the loop, rotate the edge back and forth as you are looking under a light. You should not be able to see the VERY edge, very well, on a properly honed razor. If the edge is visibly like a saw edge (small teeth) or, if you can see a shiney edge then it needs to be honed. That shine-edge is light refraction off of an uneven surface that is not always continuous along the edge. Some claim this to be an overhoned edge (feathered?) and some feel it is just a dull edge, either way, it's not what you want to shave with. If you are not quite sure what this shiney edge is, many razors (even ones that shave great) tend to have this on the very tip or on the heel of the edge, since these are the areas that do not see much use and therefore, do not greatly effect the performance of the razor/shave. So, check out your other blades (especially one's you know do not shave well) and you'll find it.... Sometimes, with practice, you will be able to see this with out the loop. But, that is with practice, great vision, the right light source, and knowing what to look for.

Good luck!

C utz

I've looked under light at the one honed by lynn and i have only used this once i brought this to compare to my others i figured it would help me along. And to be onest it is hard to tell i am usig 50 watt light from my sealing and standing on a cheer. I can defanatley not see a saw or toothy edge the bevels when they catch the light are both shiney with a very light serations along the bevels. i can see start to finish of bevel the edge is not shinybearing in mind the bismark as slight wider bevel it is easier to look at there is not anything that i can actuly say ah that is alot differant for me to pin point the problem. I originaly reset bevel with 1k then 4k 8k bbw light slurry and then coticule water i have had amazing results with other razors this one just did'nt feel smooth and hurt i repeated several times i do think i over honed at some point.So i rest bevel coti slurry and then blue coti water and big improve mant much smoother buit lacked a bit of keenes so i tryed chr.5 i've tryed double bevel that was terrable so i have now tryed blue slurry yel slury and yel water if this is not good enough i will go back to the 4k 8k i do like the nortons.

In my opinion you are doing too much.

You should be able to get a great shave just using the Norton hones. Do not worry about the other steps after, since that is just ultra-fine tuning, and right now is adding too many variables to your technique. Once you get the nortons down, take on each additional tuning one at a time. Another thing you need to be aware of is stropping technique. If this is slightly off (an few people want to admit this is where the problem lies) it will off set a great edge and have you chasing your tail with honing steps. Also, do not underestimate your prep for the shave. Any variations in this and you can not compare shavers.

Go slow and do not hit the hone too much. If you can not fix it with the prep, go to the strop, then the 8K, and so on.

One thing you can do, is hone up the edge on the 8k till you get a very clean mirror edge. Under magnification, see where this mirrored bevel falls with regards to the edge. If it's RIGHT on the edge, then there is a good chance it is not the hone where the issue is.

Good luck, and ask many questions....

C utz

P.S. Make sure the blade/edge is straight too. Sometimes (even on new razors) the edge is offset from the spine so that when the blade is resting on its side (as if you were honing) the tip, heel, or center of the blade will not be touching. This could also be the cause.....Not death for the razor, but means you'll have to hone/strop with regards to the edge issue (a whole other topic!)

cutz thanxs for help i used black marker and i had to use slight rocking motion on the hone which which took the marker of along the whole blade as the heal and toe is quite curved and was'nt hitting the hole hone. good point you made so basicly i'd be better to drop back to say 8k and if i get a good shave of the 8k then fine tune on coticule ? I got all these hones and i just try to get the use out of them all as you do but yes i am using them all but then i don't no what hone as actualy solved the problem but untill recently i have read you can get a very good shave of the 8k and i have noticed how it does polish and give a real shiny edge. thanxs gary