Thread: Warped blades?

I have on occasion honed a blade that I feel is warped. On one stroke only the center of the blade touches the hone and on the other stroke only the toe and the heel touch the hone, the center is untouched. I doubt that it is my technique as other razors that I hone are fine. If the blade is indeed warped what would cause this? I suspect that it may be from overheating from some overzealous cleaning/buffing from the previous owner. I doubt that there is any hope in salvaging such a razor.

Spin, I think there's no flaw in your analysis as to what's happening. Now as to salvage - it seems a question of severity. I have a couple costly hand-built hollows - both of which have some degree of warp or wave. Yes, it bugs me. For what I paid, it bugs me alot. But one is pretty easy to compensate for. The other is a pita, but will still take an edge that got rave reviews from another experienced shaver. So how bad it is matters alot. One member's blade was so warped you could see it easily just by sighting down the cutting edge. That one I could make shave, but it would never be an excellent shaver.

As to techniques to deal with it. The honorable sixgunner once suggested lapping the SIDE of a norton 4/8 (yes - so both grits contact the edge). Some suggest a narrow stone, but some waves are closely spaced - requiring a stone about the width of a large pencil. On the lower grits, I'll paint the edge w/ magic marker and do some backstrokes to get a feel for how much pressure it takes to get the high spots to make contact. If its not much pressure, I'll do normal edg-leading strokes that take care of most of the blade, and some edge-trailing strokes with just enough pressure (that removed the marker) to contact the high spot. Two of my finishers have a gentle radius on one side. Using extreme care and supporting some of the weight of the blade, I draw the blade over this radiused edge - and it seems to work. If close, but not all the way there, a little CBN on felt will usually get it close.

Any way you slice it - warp/wave is no fun. I hope we get some honemeisters weighing in on this.

I have recently been plauged by more than my share of warped blades. I know i can make them function ok like Pinklather mentioned, but sometimes I get caught up and straighten the warp. How? Lots of honing on course diamond hones.I guess it is rewarding, but you end up with a nasty looking bevel.