Thread: Rolled edge? Time to send to honemiester?

Hi guys, no response to in my other thread so thought I'd open a new one. Received a new "shave ready" TI and did not strop, was hit and miss with HHT, didn't think anything of it maybe I was doing it wrong, went ahead and shaved,felt harsh not smooth at all compared to my feather DX, I got a shave out of it but wasn't that close. New modular paddle arrived, completed 20 laps on scrub leather and 50 on the premium, tested the HHT and was cutting at 100%, shave felt mildly better than the first, 3rd shave felt about the same, so did the 4th. After the 4th, I stropped her up and did the HHT and she was cutting misrebly, I took it to my arm hair and one way it was cutting but when I turned it face down instead or face up she wasn't cutting even with some pressure.

I stropped up again 20/50, no difference, did 20/50 again, nothing. So I sprayed my .5 micron on a wool felt and did 8 laps followed by 50/100, no noticble difference, so I repeated but did 8 then 20/50, nothing.

Time to send out for honing??

I sprayed the wool felt 30 times around 6-8 inches away.

I ordered a loupe but don't know what to look for.

HELP PLEASE.

It certainly sounds like you might need some assistance, i cant help much personally, I only have a very few razors so my experience here is limited, i am sure some of the other fellers will be along soon with something a bit more useful.

You can check for a rolled edge by using a pin. See post #6 for a vid of how to do that http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...-one-link.html .

Bob

I'm not sure where you bought it. I am always hesitant to believe Shave Ready.

If it was from someone on this site. I'd contact them. If it was ebay or the like, then yes it needs to be honed.

If I was having the problems you were describing I would take it to my hones without hesitation.

Invisibleedge, I emailed them before ordering and they said they honed it. This being my first razor I don't know what shave ready feels like but if it's meant to feel like a feather artisan blade then it wasn't.

Originally Posted by KindestCutOfAll

I'm not sure where you bought it. I am always hesitant to believe Shave Ready.

If it was from someone on this site. I'd contact them. If it was ebay or the like, then yes it needs to be honed.

If I was having the problems you were describing I would take it to my hones without hesitation.

Originally Posted by BobH

You can check for a rolled edge by using a pin. See post #6 for a vid of how to do that http://straightrazorpalace.com/strop...-one-link.html .

Bob

It won't even shave my arms hairs. Any suggestions on how to proceed? More stropping with the diamond treated wool felt? I don't have any hones.

There are quite a few members in the UK. I would suggest to try to arrange a meet with one of the more senior members close to you. Failing that you should send it out to get it honed, perhaps even while trying to arrange a meet. It is often best to see and do with someone in the know.

Originally Posted by RedGladiator

It won't even shave my arms hairs. Any suggestions on how to proceed? More stropping with the diamond treated wool felt? I don't have any hones.

Before I'd proceed with anything I would check and see if you indeed have a rolled edge or not. If it turns out to be rolled and badly enough I'd guess it would be time to have it honed as plain stropping, I don't believe, will bring back a badly rolled edge. I do not think the diamond on felt will do anything.

Bob

First question I'd ask myself "shave ready" by whose definition - factory or honemaster?

Before we continue theorizing about rolled edges (a much overblown problem in my view) we should go back one step and ask ourselves whether this razor ever had the bevel properly set.

For a rolled edge or a poorly set bevel, repeated stropping will not do you much good.

But if you should have at least one hone to maintain the edge (e.g. Naniwa 12,000) you could try to remove a potentially rolled edge and see whether it makes any difference. But if the bevel was poorly set in first place it would be best to start a full honing progression, commencing with one of the coarser hones (e.g 1000 grit).
While some shavers have set a bevel out of necessity only with a typical 4000/8000 starter set, this is certainly not ideal - even less so for a beginner.

In that case a trip to a honemaster might be the obvious solution.

Lastly, as someone who is more used to the Feather AC you may expect too much in sharpness from a straight razor, although with a properly honed straight you should always be able to pop hairs off your arm.

As far as the famous HHT is concerned, I never paid much attention to it and consider it not much more than a party trick.
I'm more of the "the proof of the pudding lies in the eating" and "the proof of the honing lies in the shave school".
But then again, this is strictly my personal opinion.




B.

Look straight down on the edge and angle the blade back and forth looking at the edge.

Any shiny reflections are chips or rolled.

Depending on what you see, will determine what needs to be done, but sounds like at least a touch up with a finish stone.

Too much pressure, while stropping will easily roll or chip an edge.

Diamond are notorious for harsh edges, they will cut hair, but shave like a hacksaw if used with too much pressure.

Here is what you are looking for, the shiny spots are micro chips or rolled edge.