Thread: To hone or rescale 1st?

I've bought a vintage razor to learn to hone on -- a good condition $13 ebay purchase. I've removed the scales and got it polished up. It is not sharpened. I broke the wodden scales in the process.

I also got to visit Texas Knifemakers Supply and hand pick honey horn scale blanks. I may have someone finish and attach the scales.

Is it better to rescale before I start honing it?

Originally Posted by MrHouston

I've bought a vintage razor to learn to hone on -- a good condition $13 ebay purchase. I've removed the scales and got it polished up. It is not sharpened. I broke the wodden scales in the process.

I also got to visit Texas Knifemakers Supply and hand pick honey horn scale blanks. I may have someone finish and attach the scales.

Is it better to rescale before I start honing it?

I would scale then hone, much easier to hold on. Plus then there is less risk of injury while assembling. On the flip, you can tape a popsicle stick to the tang and hone if you like.
I'd wait though til the end.

I'm not sure what condition the blade is in, but it might be worth hitting your bevel setter just to confirm it will take an edge before going through the work of rescaling.

When i get a blade that is in poor shape, as in rust close to the edge, i will take it to the 1k stone first before spending time making scales. If i can get the edge all clean and bevel set then i will kill the edge and start of scales. Then when complete ill do some real honing. Ive got a couple razors that look nice but have damage on the edge from rust that just cant be corrected without taking a lot of steal away so i learned to do it in this way the hard way.

Originally Posted by Gasman

When i get a blade that is in poor shape, as in rust close to the edge, i will take it to the 1k stone first before spending time making scales. If i can get the edge all clean and bevel set then i will kill the edge and start of scales. Then when complete ill do some real honing. Ive got a couple razors that look nice but have damage on the edge from rust that just cant be corrected without taking a lot of steal away so i learned to do it in this way the hard way.

that sound a lot like a wise process

Cant take credit for it. Learned from the best, Guys on this forum! It might take a touch longer to do in this manor but can save time in the end.