Thread: Can this razor be saved?

Well, it's got a lot of hone wear and look at the width of the bevel on the edge. With a bevel angle that low, you may have an edge that breaks down quickly. However, throw a few layers of tape on the spine to increase the angle and hone 'er up!

When I first looked at this I thought it was a wedge based on what looks like hone wear. If it is in fact a wedge, that wear is pretty normal for something that old. If it is not then ya, that is a lot of wear.

Ray

Originally Posted by radaddict

Well, it's got a lot of hone wear and look at the width of the bevel on the edge. With a bevel angle that low, you may have an edge that breaks down quickly. However, throw a few layers of tape on the spine to increase the angle and hone 'er up!

Very light sanding and polishing up should do it. If you don't like the scales, they could be replaced, but if you are looking for a good daily use razor it would just need honing. But, I've never restored a razor so I don't know about the sanding...use a very fine grit sand paper if you do decide to go for a shiny razor.

I hate it when some things are so darn obvious...

Ray

At first glance I think your gonna need a regrind.

If you look at the shoulder and the notch you can see that the angles do not match up. IE too much wear. You may need a regrind. In lieu of that 2 or 3 layers of tape but that may make the edge too thin and may chip.

Originally Posted by rayman

When I first looked at this I thought it was a wedge based on what looks like hone wear. If it is in fact a wedge, that wear is pretty normal for something that old. If it is not then ya, that is a lot of wear.

Ray

It says hollow ground on the razor. Correct me if I'm wrong, but a razor can't be a wedge and a hollow ground at the same time, right?

Originally Posted by radaddict

Well, it's got a lot of hone wear and look at the width of the bevel on the edge. With a bevel angle that low, you may have an edge that breaks down quickly. However, throw a few layers of tape on the spine to increase the angle and hone 'er up!

Bogus! If you put tape on the spine, (a recent trend the psycology of I have yet to understand), it will just thicken up the bevel on an already honed out razor. The only way to save that razor would be to sent it to Ross Cutlery in Los Angeles to be reground or to find someone with the equipment to do it for you. That razor is honed out. Sorry for being blunt but why would I blow smoke?

Originally Posted by John Crowley

Bogus! If you put tape on the spine, (a recent trend the psycology of I have yet to understand), it will just thicken up the bevel on an already honed out razor. The only way to save that razor would be to sent it to Ross Cutlery in Los Angeles to be reground or to find someone with the equipment to do it for you. That razor is honed out. Sorry for being blunt but why would I blow smoke?

Well, I agree that a regrind is a more elegant solution. I can see why taping would result in a thicker bevel, but it would also result in a narrower bevel and make it easier to hone to a keen edge. However, it depends on how thick the bevel is currently. If the razor was mine (I do own a couple that are hone out), I would tape it and see how it shaves. If it didn't deliver a comfortable shave, I'd probably trash it (or use it as a bread knife).

Originally Posted by radaddict

Well, I agree that a regrind is a more elegant solution, but please explain how taping the spine will result in a thicker bevel?

Yes Please do, as I understand it, tape=thicker spine, thicker spine=narrow bevel.

Originally Posted by radaddict

Well, I agree that a regrind is a more elegant solution, but please explain how taping the spine will result in a thicker bevel?

Originally Posted by tat2Ralfy

Yes Please do, as I understand it, tape=thicker spine, thicker spine=narrow bevel.

Well, you quoted my post before I modified it. lol. I think my revised post explains it a bit better.