Thread: Edge still stroppable after 4 layers of tape?

I won't answer your question as I prefer not to comment unless I actually know the answer, usually because I've done it. In this case I haven't. But I'll hazard a guess. First, some background theory. I do believe that outside of an extreme angle, honing quality should not be limited by bevel angles or the number of bevels created. Its the edge you shave off of and the edge that gets stropped, not the bevel angle. I think all this talk about number of bevels and bevel angles is overblown.

Back to your question, which I said I wouldn't answer, I'm convinced that you don't want to have to add tape everytime you strop. So I assume that your talking about just leaving the tape in place. I would start with either approach, leaving the tape on and the razor dry, or removing the tape completely and seeing how the stropping goes.

I'm going to guess, based on my philosophy that its the edge, not the bevel that is the issue, that your stropping will still be effective without the tape. That's my guess anyway.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I won't answer your question as I prefer not to comment unless I actually know the answer, usually because I've done it. In this case I haven't. But I'll hazard a guess. First, some background theory. I do believe that outside of an extreme angle, honing quality should not be limited by bevel angles or the number of bevels created. Its the edge you shave off of and the edge that gets stropped, not the bevel angle. I think all this talk about number of bevels and bevel angles is overblown.

Back to your question, which I said I wouldn't answer, I'm convinced that you don't want to have to add tape everytime you strop. So I assume that your talking about just leaving the tape in place. I would start with either approach, leaving the tape on and the razor dry, or removing the tape completely and seeing how the stropping goes.

I'm going to guess, based on my philosophy that its the edge, not the bevel that is the issue, that your stropping will still be effective without the tape. That's my guess anyway.

I'm not sure anymore. I'm sitting in my hotel room with my 5/8 Wostenholm wedge & travel paddle strop. It's hard to say, but I'm not entirely certian the edge makes proper contact without the tape.

I would think that with a hanging strop, there wouldn't be much issue with getting the edge since there is some give.

Dave

Your right about that. Paddle strops are a completely different animal. As much as I hate to say it, the best approach with a paddle is to apply a little pressure. The compression on the leather will fix the bevel/edge/strop geometry issue.

I was speaking only of hanging strops.

time for a new razor

I have had similar issues

I taped, honed, then removed the tape and used a more coarse hone to push the NO TAPE BEVEL very close to the cutting bevel

does that make sense?

two bevels

one for cutting, then build that wide bevel out to come real close

otherwise, I think it would be fine the way it is

I think I'm just going to put on a bit of tape next time I go to use it, then just leave the tape on. See how that goes! Just will have to be a bit careful drying the razor around the tape so no moisture is left behind.

I would say that the razor is still stropable in the normal sense with the tape removed. Maybe a slightly relaxed strop could effect better contact with the cutting edge. I will try it out and edit this post with the outcome.

PuFF

honed an old sheffield full hollow on a 1200 diamond hone followed by norton 4k then 8k, all this with 4 layers of insulation tape on the spine. Not shave sharp but pops hair easy. Blued the spine and the cutting edge and left to dry ready for stropping.
With the tape off and all contact faces blued, I put it over a stiff horse hide strop at normal strop tension and did 4 full laps. The spine and the cutting edge showed the blue being removed. Under 200x it showed the edge was being stropped right to the cutting edge and across the full bevel.
My strop tension may differ form others so this is by no means conclusive.

PuFF

Originally Posted by PuFFaH

I would say that the razor is still stropable in the normal sense with the tape removed. Maybe a slightly relaxed strop could effect better contact with the cutting edge. I will try it out and edit this post with the outcome.

PuFF

honed an old sheffield full hollow on a 1200 diamond hone followed by norton 4k then 8k, all this with 4 layers of insulation tape on the spine. Not shave sharp but pops hair easy. Blued the spine and the cutting edge and left to dry ready for stropping.
With the tape off and all contact faces blued, I put it over a stiff horse hide strop at normal strop tension and did 4 full laps. The spine and the cutting edge showed the blue being removed. Under 200x it showed the edge was being stropped right to the cutting edge and across the full bevel.
My strop tension may differ form others so this is by no means conclusive.

PuFF

I just did another worn razor that needed 3 layers of tape and had the same result. I didn't colour the edge to check contact, but I looked at the scratch pattern closely under magnification before and after stropping (with NO tape) and there was a notable difference along the entire bevel. Disclaimer: I am no scientist so this test was by no means definitive and conclusive.

So I think a hanging strop more than accounts for any differences honing with tape may pose, even with 3 or 4 layers it seems.

Originally Posted by StraightRazorDave

I think I'm just going to put on a bit of tape next time I go to use it, then just leave the tape on. See how that goes! Just will have to be a bit careful drying the razor around the tape so no moisture is left behind.

I wouldn't go this route. The tape is bound to trap some moisture.

Originally Posted by northpaw

I wouldn't go this route. The tape is bound to trap some moisture.

I agree, even if I was really careful a bit of water would bound to be left in/around the tape somewhere.