Thread: Taped or not?

How can you tell if a razor was honed using the tape method?

Well if you tape it you are safe. If it was honed without tape and you touch it up with tape you will create a micro bevel. A technique that many use to get the last little bit out of an edge. If it was honed with tape and you touch it up with tape you are again in the safe. If you look with a loupe after you start it will show the micro bevel starting. I always start with the loupe, best to look before you leap.

If you know where it came from, you could always ask. If I have to sell a blade and I hone it first, I always let the person know and what thickness it was as a courtesy.

You can ask the last honer, or you can use tape and be safe, as Shaun pointed out.

Awesome! Thanks for the heads up. This is my first time honing (down the rabbit hole i have gone) Ill let you all know how it goes!

It can be really hard to tell without asking, as those above have stated. Some hones can leave a trace on the spine that matches the edge (same finish...sometimes a flat line that is foggy, other times mirror polished depending on hones used)...if it matches precisely it is a clue...though even then, it can be traces left from previous honing, original grinding, etc.

So...long story short, either ask, or just start over at the 1k-ish level and do a whole bevel set from scratch.

No, you don't really need to drop down as far as a 1k bevel set. Even a bit of honing at the 4k level will correct the angle when transitioning from a taped to an untaped bevel angle. As stated above, if you are transitioning in the reverse order, from untaped to taped, then no angle correction is necessary.

Originally Posted by Utopian

No, you don't really need to drop down as far as a 1k bevel set. Even a bit of honing at the 4k level will correct the angle when transitioning from a taped to an untaped bevel angle. As stated above, if you are transitioning in the reverse order, from untaped to taped, then no angle correction is necessary.

Fair point.

Originally Posted by NarcanHammer

How can you tell if a razor was honed using the tape method?

By coloring your bevel with a permanent marker you can actually see where you're sharpening. So try color razor bevel and than make few strokes on finisher stone (razor without tape). You will see where color is removed.

1. color removed from whole bevel- razor sharpened without tape
2. removed only line closer spine - razor sharpened with tape

Color can be removed by alcohol after test.

Atercz - neat trick, thanks for sharing it.