Thread: Micortome Question

I have a microtome blade and I wish to use it's one sided uniqueness.

It has a slight and I mean slight smile so I am not worried about removing it, I believe it will come out in the honing.

The question is that when I have honing the blade I notice that the edge is missing the stone on a few spots that are no where near the smile.

The blade looks straight and I can reach the spots with either heel or toe first strokes, but sharpening in a Japanese fashion is easier when I do not have to resort to this.

Any thoughts or just keep at it and beat it into submission.

I haven't tried to use one leaving the blade as a microtome but I did hone one and put a bevel on the wedge side. I have shaved with mine a few times and it is real good. Here is a post reviewing it. I don't know about shaving with one if your bevel is on one side only. If I was to reset the bevel I would use 4 rather then 3 pieces of tape on the wedge side.

IME when I have a blade that isn't making full contact with the hone through the stroke I use the marker test to figure out what stroke will work. If you are already doing that and cannot find a stroke that works then wait for the honemiesters and they will undoubtedly give you something to go with.

I'll give the tape a go tonight and see if I can get the bevel to meet.

I have a Japanese Sashimi knife that is ground on one side and flat on the other and the strokes for keeping that sharp are 7 on the ground and 3 on the flat. Watch that the edge doesn't roll.

I have been doing sets of 7 and 3 in multiples. 21 and 9, check, repeat.

It is taking a bevel its just uneven.

Originally Posted by singlewedge

It is taking a bevel its just uneven.

IME an even bevel is something to shoot for but if the grind of the spine/edge is not spot on then it ain't gonna happen. One way or the other the blade can be made shave ready.

I have been tinkering with the idea of simply grinding down the spine on the hollow side to make it a true razor. Theoretically this will work, but I am afraid of creating a too steep angle.

Originally Posted by Leighton

I have been tinkering with the idea of simply grinding down the spine on the hollow side to make it a true razor. Theoretically this will work, but I am afraid of creating a too steep angle.

It may not work given that the blade is ground to the back creating a one sided blade, I do not think that regrinding it will work. Let us know though if it does.

IF the blade has a smile then use a heel leading, 30 degree slant, X pattern stroke. Try that with the magic marker test to see where your not making contact. If necessary increase the heel leading angle to 45 degrees and/or use a rolling X stroke.

Hope this helps,

Thanks for all the advice and oddly enough I made it work and skipped a few steps in between.

I was using my Global Ceramic 1k (a great stone BTW) and worked up a heck of a slurry. Did I mention it cuts fast with a black slurry. Anyway, I finally got a shiny bevel just like I was instructed to get and I did find out that the blade is slightly warped in the middle. 2mm - 3mm to the flat side, but I got the bevel. Here is the queer part though.

After doing probably 10 sets of 21 and 9, 21 on the angle and 9 on the flat. I said man this wont cut hair. Screw it take out the big gun. Grabbed the ChromOx balsa paddle. 2 sets of the above and the thing was popping hair like popcorn in a skillet.

Stropped 20 on bottom weight canvas and 40 on Mr. Ugly. Test shave this morning, great shave. I used my chin cause that is the hairiest part of me. No irritation or nothing.

Is this normal on single sided blades? I am kinda scared to shave with it. I am going to tomorrow cause its the weekend and if I screw up I have the weekend to heal.

Originally Posted by singlewedge

Thanks for all the advice and oddly enough I made it work and skipped a few steps in between.

I was using my Global Ceramic 1k (a great stone BTW) and worked up a heck of a slurry. Did I mention it cuts fast with a black slurry. Anyway, I finally got a shiny bevel just like I was instructed to get and I did find out that the blade is slightly warped in the middle. 2mm - 3mm to the flat side, but I got the bevel. Here is the queer part though.

After doing probably 10 sets of 21 and 9, 21 on the angle and 9 on the flat. I said man this wont cut hair. Screw it take out the big gun. Grabbed the ChromOx balsa paddle. 2 sets of the above and the thing was popping hair like popcorn in a skillet.

Stropped 20 on bottom weight canvas and 40 on Mr. Ugly. Test shave this morning, great shave. I used my chin cause that is the hairiest part of me. No irritation or nothing.

Is this normal on single sided blades? I am kinda scared to shave with it. I am going to tomorrow cause its the weekend and if I screw up I have the weekend to heal.

When I got done with mine it was no longer single sided. You have a wedge with a bevel on one side and a full hollow with bevel on the other. I have shaved with mine 3 or 4 times with no need to refresh the edge yet. That tough Puma Inox steel. Not easy to get an edge but when you get one it stays. I was a bit apprehensive about shaving with it when I did my first passes but it is no different then shaving with any straight once you get going. At least mine isn't.

I guess you could describe the razor as that but it only shaves on the hollow side.

Which is going to make for some interesting shaving and facial gymnastics.