Quote Originally Posted by shuka View Post
Doesn't adding an extra piece of tape make the second bevel you mention (i.e. a micro bevel) a wider bevel at the edge of the blade? Then there is no need to hone beyond the existing bevel - in fact, this is why I don't understand why people set the bevel with tape, and then removed the tape. In that case I see why they would have to hone through the original, until the stone begins to "work" on the edge.
IMO if you have a lot of heavy work to do on an ebay special or a flea market find adding tape to set the bevel will save undue spine wear. Once the bevel is corrected if your preference is to hone sans tape then it won't take a significant amount of honing to get to a corrected bevel with the no tape geometry. So that is my take on why to do it that way.

Some people prefer a double bevel, notably Tim Zowada and Bart has recommended that in his coticule only honing thread. It is a matter of what each individual feels works best for them. There is some evidence that a double bevel may be stronger than a single and may actually require less work than a single bevel.

Right now I prefer a single but I haven't experimented with the double concept to come to a firm conclusion for myself. The one Zowada I have is an awesome shaver with the double but I haven't done any on the razors I've honed. Down the road a ways I will experiment with it. More fun & games.