Thread: Wonky Bevel?

Hi. I have been working on this razor and it was all going fine untill I came to hone it. I hadn't noticed previously but the edge is twisted resulting in an uneven bevel. So my question is, can anything be done about it, and as long as it takes a good edge, does it matter? Also, is this common with old razors?





Thanks

Michael

Michael, I can see the uneven bevel in the second photo. I can't make out what is going on in the first. Some will say that you should do circles on a coarse stone to even out the spine/bevel relationship. I prefer to use the magic marker on the bevel. Observe what stroke removes the marker and sharpen the razor. If it shaves well I don't really care whether the bevels are even and symmetrical or not. Here is a Joseph Rodgers that was one of my early honing efforts. I had to remove a large chip and deal with a warped spine. The bevels are not even but the razor shaves very well and has without retouching for many shaves over the past couple of years. One side has a very narrow bevel from the center to the heel while it is wide from center to point. Great shave though as I said.

Thanks. The bevel in the first photo is fairly even and much thinner. I have been staring at this razor on and off all day and just realised it is hollow ground on one side and flat on the other. Is this common?

Hi Michael - What you have is an instrument called a microtome which is used to make very thin slices of tissue for observation under a microscope. The flat side is held against the specimen and then "shaved" to obtain a sample.
If you do a search in the forum you will find where some members have honed them and shaved with them.

Regards - Walt

Hi Walt. I guess I'll put this one down to experience.

Been there and done that. Here is a thread on my honing one of those things.