Thread: the rolls

i got a rolls razor to well for when useing my straights is inconvienant.the shave a got this morning wasnt bad but its not all it could be either . dose anyone know how to get one of these things realy sharp? i have heard that you could stick a stick in the side hole and sharpen it like a straight razor, but wiuldnt that change the angle and make stroping and touch up honeing on the rolls system...not work?. any ideas?

Rols razors come with a hone in the metal box. Try that one. If the edge is really bad you may need to do pyramids on coarser hones.

I have a near mint set that serves me really well although I prefer a straight razor.

Hey Cutalot,

The rolls blade is unique in that the spine of the blade is very thick compared to other SE wedge blades. There are tools out there that allow you to hold these wedge blades like a str8t and hones and strop as you would a str8t. However I don't know how they would work with a rolls blade.


The hone that comes with a rolls is like a barber hone so it is possible to eventually get a blade sharp on it (as long as the bevel is good) however it will take along LONG time. On the plus side you will have popeye size forearms when you are done.

Another option is to find the cheapest rolls you can find and take a blade from that set.

I have put some of my Rolls blades on a Norton to tidy them up before hitting the built in hone when I got them. It will put a different angle on the edge as the spine of the blade doesn't touch the hone when it's on the built in hone. The Norton edge will be a shallower angle so the Rolls hone will just put a slightly larger angle on the edge so will work. A bit like the edge on a knife!

I simply run the blade on the Norton by hand, nothing special to hold it and it's easy enough. I remove the guard first to make it easier. Be careful putting the guard back on as it only fits one way.

I love the shave I get with my assorted Rolls, probably the best shave I get.

Gareth

Originally Posted by Galopede

I simply run the blade on the Norton by hand, nothing special to hold it and it's easy enough. I remove the guard first to make it easier. Be careful putting the guard back on as it only fits one way.


Gareth

Don't have hones yet(just swaty) so didn't know how it would handle with just fingers (especialey trying to to a double bevel) glad to hear it works fine that way Thank you

Originally Posted by mbwhoosh

Don't have hones yet(just swaty) so didn't know how it would handle with just fingers (especialey trying to to a double bevel) glad to hear it works fine that way Thank you

No need to try for a double bevel on a stand alone hone. The built in hone will do that automatically. You aren't trying for a double bevel but you will get one if you hone out of the box!

My first ever Rolls (not counting my father's which I used to play with when I was about 10!) I sharpened on the built in hone as I didn't have my Norton then. As mentioned above, the built in hone will sharpen the blade but it takes a lot of passes. Love the noise the built in hone makes!

I gave it many passes, shaved, then gave it more passes the next day. Took several days of exercise to get it really sharp but it's worth it.

so then my 500 or so passes are a good start. it will shave and not bady but its harsh and unpolished. i lapped the hone and treated the strop with just a bit od 1/4 mic. diamond paste and the stroped and stroped till my shirts dont fit anymore. should i just keep at it?