I have a situation with one of my razors. When I shave with Side A facing my skin, the edge is perfect. It cuts hair effortlessly. When I shave with Side B facing my skin, the blade tugs. Here's my question: Which side should be laying on the hone to get Side B sharper? Should Side B be on the hone to sharpen Side B or is it the reverse where Side A needs to be on the hone to sharpen Side A? Thanks.
One Side is Sharper Than the Other
- Thread starter TstebinsB
- Start date
Try the marker test. Whichever side still has marker on the edge is the one that needs more time on the hones.
- Thread starter
- #3
i thought you have bevel on 1 side in Japanese razors? Similar to chisels? there will be bevel on other side but it is unnoticeable? Any clarifications please?
- Thread starter
- #5
http://www2u.biglobe.ne.jp/~bjb52646/e/honing/razhoning.htm
The traditional way to shave with Japanese razors is to have the concave side facing your skin at all times. In this case, you will hone the razor to have one prominent bevel. Nowadays people shave with both sides. In that case, you hone both sides enough to have both bevels be prominent.
The traditional way to shave with Japanese razors is to have the concave side facing your skin at all times. In this case, you will hone the razor to have one prominent bevel. Nowadays people shave with both sides. In that case, you hone both sides enough to have both bevels be prominent.
Riiiight. Now i get it.
I was gonna say, dont you usually use one side to shave with those razors.
Didnt know you could hone both sides and then shave with both sides.
I like to shave with both hands so this might be a good trick to have when i come to one of these razors.
Cheers
+Buckler
I was gonna say, dont you usually use one side to shave with those razors.
Didnt know you could hone both sides and then shave with both sides.
I like to shave with both hands so this might be a good trick to have when i come to one of these razors.
Cheers
+Buckler
I think in this case the straight had a symmetric grind when it was made, but the owner only used one side of the razor, causing uneven wear. All the honing on only one side of the blade eventually made it into a pseudo-symmetric grind after all
. If you were to find a Japanese straight with an asymmetric grind, I don't recommend you try making it shave the same on both sides. It would almost certainly devalue it, and it would be using it in a manner other than the maker intended.
If you mess with the bevels on a traditional japanese razor all your going to do is create a frankenrazor. If you really mess with them you can through the entire symmetry off requiring a regrind and I know no one this side of japan who has the skill and ability to regrind one of those.
- Thread starter
- #9
If I were going to shave with one side only, then the razor would be fine. Since the person for whom I'm honing the razor wants both sides shave ready, I'm honing in a 7:3 ratio but I'm using a finishing stone for the concave side and a normal progression for the convex side. That way I'm able to maintain the integrity of the razor but still get both sides shave ready. It's time consuming this way but it works.
As for doing a regrind, I know a guy in Hawaii who can do it.
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