Fixing a smile?

**cyrene** · 11-18-2011, 05:20 PM

Hi everyone, hope you could help a newbie out. I recently bought a pipe razor off ebay to try my hand at restoring for the first time. The blade has a smile to it and the spine also appears to be curved as well. I have read quite a bit about honing and some mention using the breadknife technique to get rid of a smile. With this blade (which already has quite a bit of metal removed from wear over the years), do you feel it would be better to try straighten out the smile a bit with "breadknifing"? Or would it be better to use a rolling X stroke and just try sharpen up what I already have?
I have a 1200k wetstone and a 4k/8k Norton. I also have a dremel and picked up some Maas Polish yesterday. Any ideas on what you guys think the restoration could involve would also be welcome. Thanks for your opinions and any advice you can give. Hope the pics show up.

**gssixgun** · 11-18-2011, 05:40 PM

1st You don't need to post multiple threads one is really enough

2nd You do not need to do anything but Hone the razor
3rd Use the magic marker test to determine the correct stroke you need to use
4th If you are honing for more than one hour on the same stone you are doing something wrong
5th Have fun and take your time...

**stimpy52** · 11-18-2011, 05:51 PM

Smiles are nice!! Don't get me wrong, I almost never smile. But there's nothing wrong with a smiling blade. Hone and enjoy. Frowning blades are a different story. Bad.

**JimmyHAD** · 11-18-2011, 06:00 PM

Check out this 1961 barber manual excerpt on honing here . It is from the SRP Wiki 'guides'. Has an explanation on how to get a smile and keep it ..... on your razor. Also how to avoid a frown. Has illustrations too.

**Catrentshaving** · 11-18-2011, 08:41 PM

Fairly even hone wear all along that blade...keep it the way it was meant to be

**baldy** · 11-18-2011, 10:21 PM

I would avoid taking a Dremmel to it at this point in time. A little polishing with the Maas wouldn't hurt though if you what to shine it up a little, I would do that before honing too if its not too late.
Grant

**cyrene** · 11-19-2011, 02:08 AM

Thanks so much for all the advice. As a newbie you have a lot of ideas but often are not sure what is really needed and where to start. Having some suggestions from ones with a lot more experience really helps. Will try what was suggested and hopefully have some pics to post in the future. Anymore suggestions and advice is more than welcome.

**jerrybyers** · 11-19-2011, 02:11 AM

A smiling razor is good; it promotes a good slicing motion with your stroke. I have several and love 'em.

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