Honing Heljestrand safety razor blades

**Kees** · 04-17-2008, 01:46 PM

Does anyone know how to hone these blades? I just fancy using one of these someday.

**Haiku** · 04-18-2008, 10:54 AM

I understand that one of the gizmos pictured is a blade holder for honing. I believe you can see the way if fits the handle from the second to last picture in the right column.

I believe that you insert the blade and hone it, or at least strop it, using the handle provided and that handle actually sets the angle of the blade for you.

If I'm incorrect about this, I would love to hear the right answer, but one thing I am sure of, and that is that the handle permits stropping of the blades even if it doesn't permit honing.

The gizmo that is in the box in the bottom right corner is a gizmo that will hold a leather belt and a blade. You insert the blade into the holder with the belt threaded through, and just run the belt through the entire gizmo. That's an automatic stropping gizmo.

Now I may be wrong about all of this, but I believe that's the explanation.

**Limey** · 04-18-2008, 11:43 AM

I think it would help to see a picture of them from the side. If they are wedges you might be able to put some electrical tape over the spine and hone them like little straight razors.

**Haiku** · 04-18-2008, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by Limey

I think it would help to see a picture of them from the side. If they are wedges you might be able to put some electrical tape over the spine and hone them like little straight razors.

That's what the holder does. It's essentially a tube with a slot for the blade. That's what creates the angle.

**JMan** · 04-19-2008, 02:14 PM

I once saw my grandfather ``sharpen'' a razor blade by honing it inside of a round drinking glass. He turned the glass on its side and placed the blade inside. With his index finger he depressed the blade so the edges were on the glass, similar to how you would take a straight razor to a strop. He then moved the razor back and forth inside the glass. I believe he used Gillette Blue Blades before the stainless steel and Gillette platinum plus blades were made. My father may have told me that the Blue Blades could be honed, but it wasn't possible to hone stainless and Platinum Plus blades. It must have something to do with the coating. A friend of mine who is a ham radio operator can make a shortwave receiver from a Blue Blade, but not from the other blades.

**ADRSPACH** · 05-13-2009, 04:09 AM

To Kees. Sorry could not open the picture of blades. Are they hollow grinds?

**D.Irving79** · 05-13-2009, 08:06 AM

you need an early allegro razor sharpening set. i recommend a model E.

**Kees** · 05-13-2009, 02:13 PM

Originally Posted by ADRSPACH

To Kees. Sorry could not open the picture of blades. Are they hollow grinds?

Look here: http://www.badgerandblade.com/vb/sho...39#post1193439

**ADRSPACH** · 05-13-2009, 02:27 PM

To Kees,
Thank you at pointing at my razor.

**Kees** · 05-14-2009, 02:21 PM

Originally Posted by ADRSPACH

To Kees,
Thank you at pointing at my razor.

Your set actually contains a thingy to hone the blades I believe. So all you need is a strop which should not be too difficult to make.

Marcus2 · 03-01-2010, 04:51 AM

sounds good to me

mazeem1234 · 06-29-2011, 01:45 AM

geat pictures of blades

**Wil Dorenbos** · 06-29-2011, 04:00 AM

I also have a Heljestrand, mine came with a "Magnus" strop set. But I use modern SE-blades in it, as I have plenty of them, thanks to the group buy. So I have not yet stropped a wedge blade. I did strop other blades in the 'Magnus".