Thread: Taping the EDGE

I think the width and the angle are both important factors in getting a comfortable shave. Especially from a full hollow ground razor.

You should look at the shape of the blade, the curvature by looking from the front rather than the sides of the razor. Its thickest at the spine and then it tapers to the edge. As you remove the thinnest part of the blade, the flex of the blade reduces and for me this reduces the comfort of the shave. Its common sense.

The ratio of thin versus thick seems to stay in proportion for whatever size the original blade is.

So if you take a 6/8" razor and reduce the edge by 1/6" you physically will get a blade that measures 5/8".

But don't be fooled that it will feel or shave the same as a an original 5/8" razor. It won't.

As for the angle, ofcourse it matters. The initial angle is set by holding the blade flat down on a spinning hone. The hone looks like a potters spinning wheel. The hone lays a flat bevel on the spine that is vertically in line with the bevel made on the edge at the same time. I believe you get the best shaves from a razor just so long as you keep this geometry intact. Breadknifing the edge, or taping the blade or the spine distorts the realtionship between the spine bevel and the edge bevel. There are reasons to do this if you are repairing a badly worn or damaged razor. Some argue that with razors with fancy spines or gold embossed spines, that tape protects the ornamentation . Some use tape to hone a secondary bevel to gain some extra smoothness and sharpness out of the edge. But changing the original geometry is in my opinion not a good idea and for me at least, once you have honed a 1/16" off the blade, the comfort and the feel of the razor is changed significantly from the original state.

Some forum members argue that just so long as the blade gives a good comfortable shave, there is no problem. I don't disagree with them. I also don't care if people use tape. I just think you should know that such a blade will feel different to a new blade with all the angles and width and tapers correctly in place.

I like to know what I am buying when I purchase a second hand razor. I like to know the history so I can determine how it might feel and in this respect, width and geometry matters.