Thread: Is it time to hone?

I've got a dovo that is about a year old, not used everyday but I've recently noticed that the bevel near the toe/tip has barely anything left, there is just a sliver of shine there. Is it time to get it honed? Or could I bring it back to life with some paste.

How does it shave?

It's shaves ok, not great, not bad, it's a full hollow grind - appears to have about half a mm of bevel, I don't remember how much was there to begin with...

I generally recommend working backwards.

Start with a pasted strop and test shave. Pass?

If not go to an 8k then a finisher then shave.
Pass?

If not reset the bevel on a 4 k and hone it. Chances are it will pass one of the earlier steps.

Do you remember how it shaved to begin with?

The thing I'm getting at is that the thickness of the bevel has nil to no impact on whether or not it needs rehoned. It needs rehoned, when it no longer shaves acceptably. I can show you razors that don't appear to even have a bevel, that shave awesome. And I can show you razors with 1/16th inch wide mirror shiny bevels that shave like crap. The decision to hone is based on shaving comfort, not bevel appearance.

Originally Posted by regularjoe

Do you remember how it shaved to begin with?

The thing I'm getting at is that the thickness of the bevel has nil to no impact on whether or not it needs rehoned. It needs rehoned, when it no longer shaves acceptably. I can show you razors that don't appear to even have a bevel, that shave awesome. And I can show you razors with 1/16th inch wide mirror shiny bevels that shave like crap. The decision to hone is based on shaving comfort, not bevel appearance.

I don't have a hone but that pretty much answers my question. I wasn't sure if the bevel had anything to do with sharpness or not. Thanks!