Thread: Regrinding a razor

Originally Posted by Philadelph

Edge is ALWAYS up for me. Right about FULL hollows. I think that distinction should be made. Even most wedges have (technically) a HOLLOW grind to them. I think we often get tooooo technical in terms of labeling grinds, myself included! I'd add that it is rarely worth it (IMO again) to even bother trying to regrind a full hollow straight razor.

Thanks Alex,

That's what I thought but couldn't tell from the pic.......that is the other thing that new guys doing this should know. You have to practice with the edge up for a while to get used to it as well as not going into the spine too when you are evening it up.

Lynn

LOL lesson #1 on blade #1

can someone talk about "foiling" a blade please?

Originally Posted by gratewhitehuntr

can someone talk about "foiling" a blade please?

Kind of self explanatory I think- tin foil... grinding the blade to the point where it is too thin and/or uneven like tin foil (like the thickness and ridges in foil when crinkled). That's how I took it.

Most hollow ground razors especially full hollows have a thicker ridge just behind the edge for stiffness (the Hamburg Grind) you can see it in the reflection, and you can feel it. From the edge, the blade gets thicker and then thinner, then thicker again up the concave as you go towards the spine (sort of like an hour glass).
If the ridge gets too thin (such as when sanding to remove tarnish or otherwise) the edge will become too flexible and may not shave well.

I believe full hollow ground blades (beyond half hollow) should never need regrinding... but then, grinding to remove (or reduce) hone were at the spine.... is another "can of worms".