Thread: Correcting uneven spine wear??

So this shouldn't be a restoration question as it is regarding a brand new DOVO, but alas, it needs to be "restored" already. I have noticed that I have been unable to get this DOVO satisfactorally sharp since I recieved it, no matter how much honing I gave it. I also noticed that one side of the blade seemed to be sharper than the other side. The other day I finally figured out the problem... when I am honing away from me (which is why I didn't notice this sooner) the edge does not lay flat on the hone. Upon further inspection I noticed that there is uneven wear on the spine. The 1/4 inch or so of spine at the heel end of the blade it thicker than the rest of the spine causing the blade to be angled when it lies on the hone.

Last night in an attempt to correct this I used a coarse hone (800 grit Japanese water stone) to even out the spine on the uneven side. After correcting the uneven wear on the spine, I noticed that the edge now lays more flat on the hone than before, but it still doesn't lay totally flat. At this point I quit working on it so that I could seek the advice of experts on this forum.

I also noticed that when looking at the end of the razor (crosssection) the hollow grind appears to not be symmetrical. Could this be the problem? Am I looking at a defective blade where I should cash in on the warranty?

For the record, all my hones are lapped and perfectly flat.

Sounds like your blade was made on a Monday.

This might be an aesthetic problem, but it shouldn't be much of a technical issue. Use the Rolling Hone method. As you begin each stroke have the heel in good contact with the stone supported by the lower ahlf of the blade and as you progress along the honing stroke gently and gradually transfer that contact along the edge to the tip by the end of the stroke. Don't overshoot either end so that only the heel or tip is on the hone. That'll lead to overhoning and wearing away those areas.

The uneven grind shouldn't affect anything happening at the edge. I've seen a few blades like that and it doesn't hamper their shaving abilities.

X

FYI, I have the same problem with an almost-new Dovo (the plain "classic" version in Swedish steel). Which Dovo is giving you a hassle?

Doesn't lie quite flat (my hones are lapped as well) and the tip seems out of whack.

I went to a fine DMT diamond stone and that seems to have made a difference. I'm quite pissed about this as I've gotten 50 year old NOS razors that were better ground/finished and that honed up beautifully with no problems.

I'm actually considering sending this out so I don't grind this into a toothpick out of frustration.

I've sharpened one new Dovo, and I wasn't impressed with the factory's work. The bevel was set so steeply that when I honed it the edge wasn't even close to making contact with the stone--just the shoulder of the bevel. I had to take it to 1000-grit sandpaper and recut the bevel. It was more work than most vintage razors I've honed.

I'd say send it back.

Josh

suzuki,
My dovo is also the plain "classic" version.

xman,
I will have to give this technique a shot, although I am debating either sending the blade back to dovo (I will have to check out the warranty again as it has been used for quite a few months), or sending it off to a hone meister to let them have a wack at it. However, it probably would be good for my own edification and sharpening develoment to learn to sharpen the dovo as is.

If its a new razor, as long as it hasn't been honed yet I say send it back. They should take it. Its a factory defect.

So I thought I would give you an update on my problem. I went ahead and rehoned using the rolling hone method as suggested by Xman (thanks). In order to ensure that the entire bevel was properly set and honed at each step, I drew a line on the bevel with a permanent marker. I then honed away beginning at 800 grit until the mark disappeared along the entire edge. I had to pay special attention at the heel as this is the part that doesn't normally touch the hone. Using Xman's suggested technique I was able to sharpen the heel just as much as the rest of the blade. I used this technique with the marker and hone all the way to 6000 grit and then hit the pasted paddle. I did a few extra laps on just the heel to make sure it was getting sharpened and then proceeded to shave.

That was the sharpest this blade has ever been!!

Originally Posted by texan

... I went ahead and rehoned using the rolling hone method as suggested by Xman (thanks). ...
That was the sharpest this blade has ever been!!

TO THE RESCUE!!!

X

Hi guys,

I've had issues with my new dovo too. I had a patch near the point of my blade, about 5mm back to give you an idea. One side of the blade was honing real nice, and the other nice except for this slight dull patch, where the edge obviously wasn't touching. I worked on it for quite some time, and eventually hit a 1200 water KING stone, because it was the only way i could really see myself making any progress. I eventually got this patch to hit the stone, and then got onto the norton 4k8k.

Sounds like the quality control guy at dovo is on holiday or something?..