Useful Newbie tip

Just a quick thing I picked up when honing my ebay cheapo tonight.

Although the razor I am honing is dirt cheap and I don't really care about ruining the spine long term, I put tape on the spine this time as I was concerned the spine wear with all my practice honing would effect the bevel angle and thus the ability to get a good edge. Not only did the tape protect the spine, it also slowed down my honing stroke giving me more control as the razor didn't skid across the hone. The tape provides more friction thus giving more control.

I know taping the spine is an old tip, but how many people do it as a way of gaining control?

The razor now easily pops arm hairs in a few places.

Maybe all newbies should tape the spine as a matter of course, if not to protect the blade but to control the honing stroke?:hmmm:

There are several people on this forum, that recommend taping the spine, I do on razors that I get from ebay that need to bevel rebuilding. But for keeping the edge I don't bother. I am glad you got your razor to a point where it would pop arm hairs.

You should get some diamond paste, it will revolutionise your honing, it did mine.

Peter

You put diamond paste on a hone? or strop?

Generally on a paddle strop. I wouldn't put it on a hanging one until you get the hang of it and get another hanging strop for that purpose. However, paddle strops are more practical for that purpose.

If I'm ready to move over to a hanging strop do I keep the same paste on the hanging strop for months at a time, or do I have to clean it each time? every 4 times?

I'd treat it the same as I would a pasted paddle strop, but ask Tony first. In any case, you'd need to have a pasted paddle (plenty of practice on it) and an unpasted hanging before you decided to get more hanging strops for pastes.

The pastes on a paddles strop do not need to be reapplied frequently, in fact, very infrequently. When they begin to discolor from usage just apply a little oil to them, work it around a bit and then let dry. Your good again!
After doing that several time then you may want to remove the old paste by using GOOP(nonabrasive type) and then reapply with some new abrasive paste.

The real test is when you find that the paste is no longer sharpening your edge at a rate that you want.

Hope this helps,:)