Should I breadknife?

[Zamonium]

I'm working on bringing a Gold Dollar out of the valley of the shadow of death and into handsome shaveability.

I've been following posts on this forum as well as other websites, and have noticed some folks say you should breadknife the razor to straighten out the edge before honing.

I thought I'd give honing a try without doing that. The result is that the bevel is happening only at the heel and toe of the blade.

Should I breadknife?

Also... How is that done?

Thanks!

David

[Doc226]

Pics?

Depends on what the blade profile looks like, smiles are OK, frowns not. From your description sounds like you have a frown

To breadknife you hold the razor and try to cut the hone like a loaf of bread. I would do this on the side of the stone as to not mess up the actual honing surface.

It takes a bit of work to bring back the edge.

[goatee]

+1

[squirrelmaster]

Is it happening on the heel and toe on both sides?

[LarryAndro]

Mark both sides of the razor bevel with a dark magic marker, and hone the razor two or three passes. Then, examine the bevel to determine where the hone contacted and missed. Then, hone one more time concentrating on your motions. Ask yourself whether the honing pattern where some portions of the blade don't seem to contact as much is due to motion and/or blade shape.

It might be your fault... motion.
It might be the blade's fault... shape.

Be analytical, and you will figure it out.

[ladykate]

I'm working on bringing a Gold Dollar out of the valley of the shadow of death and into handsome shaveability.

I've been following posts on this forum as well as other websites, and have noticed some folks say you should breadknife the razor to straighten out the edge before honing.

I thought I'd give honing a try without doing that. The result is that the bevel is happening only at the heel and toe of the blade.

Should I breadknife?

Also... How is that done?

Thanks!

David

A pic would be great (with the witness marks from the laundry pen). I had one a few weeks back that only had wear on the heel and toe on one side - of the spine AND the blade. Pretty weird. I used a coarse stone and took the spine down enough to make even contact. It took a while but it worked a charm. The GDs can have some inconsistencies that give you a bit of a challenge - part of the fun.

In any case, send a pic if you can. If that is hard for you, then just evaluate the stone, the straightness of the blade and the wear marks as already recommended. Breadknifing is just dulling the razor to get the blade straight. If it is already straight then look elsewhere. You can dull it as Larry and others have said. You can figure it out.

If you get frustrated, PM me and for the cost of postage both ways, I will look at it, fix it if you want, explain what was done and send it back.

[Zamonium]

Here's an update:

I did go ahead and straighten out the blade by breadknifing it. I put it up next to one of my rulers and it did have a sad little frown, so I went ahead with it (all this after using the permanent marker trick). Now it comes out with nice coverage on both sides:



(Hard to see because of the light, but it took off right to the toe on this side).

Missing a bit of heel and toe on one side, but nothing serious.


I'm using a 12um lapping film to set the bevel (I don't have stones). I already wore the spine down to get a better bevel angle (17 degrees instead of 18.5).

So the frown is pretty much gone... now let's see if I can make it sharp!

I'll also post some pictures in the SR restoration forum regarding my progress so far in rescaling, etc.

Thanks for all the help! Any more advice is welcome.

[ladykate]

Excellent. You are well on your way. This should come together nicely. Congrats.

[Nova316]

Nicely done!
I honed out a chip on a 1k Norton/DMT card and it took quite a while
Not sure which is better haha but I did eventually get it out with a lot of patentiences

[HLS]

Good work. I was a little worried about you in your first postbut you came through. Good for you. Keep us posted with your progress. Pics too!!

[Seraphim]

Gold Dollars are suitable only as butter knives, not bread knives.

[paco664]

Gold Dollars are suitable only as butter knives, not bread knives.

blasphemy!!!!!

-19 mojo!!

[zirrow]

blasphemy!!!!!

-19 mojo!!

wouldn't that be like trying to get blood from a turnip?

[Seraphim]

wouldn't that be like trying to get blood from a turnip?

Exactly. I've been using lapping film so long I'm a mojo zombie!

[SliceOfLife]

Oh Seraphim, always talking smack about Gold Dollars. I hear that's why he was banned over there. They're all GD fanboys!

[Doc226]

Exactly. I've been using lapping film so long I'm a mojo zombie!

The good news, mojo is there of you eve want it again.

[Seraphim]

The good news, mojo is there of you eve want it again.

Mojo is overrated.

[jred]

Mojo is overrated.

Hey now! Don't be talking smack about Mojo!