Thread: Dang, I thought I had a new question

I really don't think it would. You wouldn't be able to check the sharpness after practicing on it & it'd be impossible to mimic the geometry without a proper grind. I don't think it would help at all besides maybe helping you learn even heel-toe pressure. Like you said I'd be afraid of inadvertently developing or at least laying the foundation for a bad habit.

You may ask. I would take a blank of fairly low carbon steel cut it into the outline of a blade, probably french style. I would flat grind a blade area leaving a spine (based on a common spine to blade width ratio). I would hollow grind the blade with two hollow grinds along its length to give an appropriate edge angle of say 14° and dummy up a grip from a piece of wood. pin the two bits together. So it would look like (have dimensions similar to) a razor but be a lot lot softer metal. The idea being that a soft metal on a coarse stone would mimic a high carbon steel on a fine stone. It would never hold an edge a such and you wouldn't want to shave a tennis ball with it, let alone your face. But it would let me assess how to put pressure on a blade and the resulting grind patterns, see how spine and edge wear in relation to one another and my movements. That sort of thing. After I've used it ... dunno. Turn it into a whittling knife and carve dragons with it. That's what I usually do with scraps of metal when I'm bored.

I know it's a crazy scheme but I've got the bits and that way I only destroy my own work

Originally Posted by KenWeir

I really don't think it would. You wouldn't be able to check the sharpness after practicing on it & it'd be impossible to mimic the geometry without a proper grind. I don't think it would help at all besides maybe helping you learn even heel-toe pressure. Like you said I'd be afraid of inadvertently developing or at least laying the foundation for a bad habit.

Thanks. That's what I thought. I'm going to have to kill some chinese razors

The mockup you described could possibly work for basic technique, but I think the better approach is to start on a proper razor. Put some electrical tape on the spine to help prevent unnecessary or uneven wear & take your time till it goes your way. Tape or no tape later on is your choice, as far as the razor is concerned it won't get enough wear from normal using & touch up honing over your lifetime to detrimentally affect the bevel angle.

Yep All Sounds Like All Good !!!! I Was Just Wondering Back In The 60,s Were You At Woodstock?????????????But I Had A Similiar Theory I Went To Florida On Spring Break Walked Up And Down The Beach And Asked EveryBody Passin By If They Wanted To Go ICE FISHING??????Just Kidden????????????Ty

Lol, drink much tonight?

Addison. I'm grateful for your input, have I made clear what I do for a living?
Ken. In the long run (I'm starting to think in years now) it will be my customer's choice and razor, rather than mine. Personally, I'd choose based on whether there was artwork on the spine to protect but it seems like a side issue compared to the difficulty of learning correct honing technique.

No I Just Couldnt Help Myself!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then I Seen You Chime In Thought All Good Now ,,,Your Better At Explaining Things Than I Am !!!!!!!!!!!!!!Ty

Originally Posted by mitnageek

Addison. I'm grateful for your input, have I made clear what I do for a living?
Ken. In the long run (I'm starting to think in years now) it will be my customer's choice and razor, rather than mine. Personally, I'd choose based on whether there was artwork on the spine to protect but it seems like a side issue compared to the difficulty of learning correct honing technique.

Yeah that's absolutely correct. I just meant using tape while you're beginning will help protect you from causing uneven wear. After the technique is down that becomes optional.

I feel that tape, when learning to hone, is just good sense. For kicks 'n chronology, I put all the spent tape from honing sessions (mostly from a single razor) on the lid for the Tupperware that I keep my honing kit in. After work tonight, I'll snap a pic of it. It's a nice example of spine wear PREVENTED.

It is also an interesting case study of how the geometry of the blade will affect hone wear. That is, compensating for a razor that isn't laser-straight will cause the spine to have uneven wear, just trying to ensure the bevels meet. I like that I can see, looking at the tape, where I needed more pressure on the blade for a good edge. Thinking about it... I should start a nerdy journal, with tape from a given razor each getting its own page. Imagery sometimes explains things better to my brain than words can .