Thread: Rating razor quality poll

gssixgun, You mention multiple layers of tape to achieve sixteen degrees. First what do you use to evaluate the angle from spine to blade? Then how do you determine the number of layers of tape (and what kind of tape).
I have a few blades wherein the spine is ground flat from muscle man hands or honed on a grinder. I have used electrician tape and it smears onto the blade and gets on my Arkansas stones. The oil dis-engages the adhesive and makes a mess--maybe that is simply unavoidable. I have hesitated to use it on my water stones for fear of the adhesive fouling them. How about a tip or two. This is also open to anyone else who may have a unique method of determining all these factors.

The only, only way I know to evaluate a piece of steel is to put it to a grinder and not the spark tail. The tail tells the tale! Am I going to put my razors to a grinder to look at the tail? Ha!

Wolfpack34. Boy! Do I ever agree with that statement! How do you know when to stop honing?

tcidershd. What does it say about a SR if you can't get a dozen shaves from the blade. Pre shave I will use my Franz Swaty hone for a few strokes, up to ten, or I will strop it linen then leather (30x30). Even then I can sense the blade is beginning to dull down after about the 5th shave.

Hirlau. Wade Butcher. I have one, actually just the blade, a wide sucker. Sharpened it and thought I had it sharp. Shaved last night, but the shave was a B***h. Had to finish up with a dollar razor. Since I only have the blade and not the scales, how would you go about sharpening it?

Utopian, But how do you tell from razor to razor. I have three grades of Arkansas translucent very hard, black hard and a soft. Then I have the Norton water stones four grades up to 8000.

Personally I judge a blade by the steel composition.

All, or mainly nearly most can be honed to an excellent state. Although some blades can only reach a state of excellence some times.

If I am aware of the type of steel then I know what is possible, to a degree.

I think legally I've covered all my bases within this statement

Originally Posted by Glock27

Hirlau. Wade Butcher. I have one, actually just the blade, a wide sucker. Sharpened it and thought I had it sharp. Shaved last night, but the shave was a B***h. Had to finish up with a dollar razor. Since I only have the blade and not the scales, how would you go about sharpening it?

One cannot properly hone a straight razor and strop it without scales on it.