Thread: New Damascus blade warped?

Hi, I bought a Damascus straight razor, and when I started honing it, the bevel started to become wide in the middle and narrow on the sides. On the other side of the blade, the bevel became narrow in the center and wide on the sides. I used a lapped Norton 4000/8000 stone. Is this a common problem, as I'm trying to decide whether to return the razor. Thanks!

Originally Posted by polyted

Hi, I bought a Damascus straight razor, and when I started honing it, the bevel started to become wide in the middle and narrow on the sides. On the other side of the blade, the bevel became narrow in the center and wide on the sides. I used a lapped Norton 4000/8000 stone. Is this a common problem, as I'm trying to decide whether to return the razor. Thanks!

It depends on how extreme it is. It even out with more honing. It might not. Is this a quality razor or one of the eBay ones?

Originally Posted by Utopian

It depends on how extreme it is. It even out with more honing. It might not. Is this a quality razor or one of the eBay ones?

Right, this is an ebay one! I honed for quite a while. The thing is, this razor seems not to be able to lie flat on the stone and kind of swings on its spine, as though there was a bump in the metal. I confirmed this when honing the razor flat on the stone and seeing that only a piece at the center of the blade near the spine started to show abrasion. And the other side a piece near the edge showed abrasion. So it looks like the blade is concave on one side and convex on the other. I attached the pics.

Is that one of the $40 or so ones? If so, I bought one to test out. Mine had an uneven grind and a frown, and it took a lot of work to get it to where I could try to actually put an edge on it.

And once I got there, I found it would not take and hold an edge. Off the 1k, it would shave arm hairs.... once, and then the bevel crumbled away.

I posted a thread with lots of photos - I think somewhere in the ebay section.

EDIT - Oh, I actually didn't buy it. I contacted the maker and he sent me one to review at no charge.

Might be in the 'razors to avoid' list in the beginner's guide in the SRP Wiki here ?

You really should have taped the spine. Unfortunately the seller now probably will not take it back. However, you could make the argument that you could not know that it was warped until you tried to hone it.

Originally Posted by Utopian

You really should have taped the spine. Unfortunately the seller now probably will not take it back. However, you could make the argument that you could not know that it was warped until you tried to hone it.

I did tape it, but later removed the tape since I decided to try to remove the hump. Anyway, should have avoided this razor. Life is short and experience difficult.

Makes a nice letter opener, though . . .

Good luck with the refund, and I hope your next razor works out better.