Thread: first time hone

I'm about to hone my Dovo straight razor for the first time. My question is to tape the spine or not to tape. This is the first hone that will be done outside of Dovo, as I bought it new.

Yes use one layer of electrical tape. I used tape when I began honing until I felt confident in my honing. I no longer use it unless there is a special reason for it. If this is a 'good' razor and your main or perhaps your only shaver you might be better off sending it out for pro honing and practicing on razors that you can pick up cheaper. If it is pro honed you will have one to shave with and to use as a benchmark for your own honing as you progress. Just a thought.

Thats probably a good idea, as this blade is my only shaver. Another related question... lets say a razor had been honed with tape and a person then tried to hone it without tape, or progressed as you mentioned and felt comfortable without the tape. Would there be a double bevel because of this? or would a person just have to set an entirely new bevel? I'm also curious what would be the outcome if this situation was reversed...a razor was honed without tape and then with it (accidentally). What might this outcome be? Your responses are greatly appreciated by the way

If you remove tape when it has been used before you will need to make a whole new bevel
If you add tape you will make a double bevel with only the edge of the bevel to worry about

Originally Posted by tdaugh

Thats probably a good idea, as this blade is my only shaver. Another related question... lets say a razor had been honed with tape and a person then tried to hone it without tape, or progressed as you mentioned and felt comfortable without the tape. Would there be a double bevel because of this? or would a person just have to set an entirely new bevel? I'm also curious what would be the outcome if this situation was reversed...a razor was honed without tape and then with it (accidentally). What might this outcome be? Your responses are greatly appreciated by the way

Go with Jimmy's recommendation for sure...he's been at this for "a month of Sunday's"!

The double-bevel can be removed when resetting the bevel, so don't worry about it. It WILL require more time at the 1K level of stone to remove all of that metal though. If you are sending it off to have it honed, you should let the honer know if tape was used or not as well as how you would like to have it honed. This will save them some frustrations... I have heard that some like razors with double bevels on them. That's the cool thing about our "sport", there are so many ways to arrive at a good shave!

One thing for you to know, most razors from the factory aren't shave ready. This is usually done at the distributor/store level of sales. You might consider sending that razor out for the first honing, because there are sometimes little intricacy's" that arise with brand new blades & it takes the first honing to straighten them out.

Here's a diagram (think I got it off here a long time ago) that I found on my desktop. It's of a double bevel. The inside V is the bevel formed when you use NO tape, so it's a smaller interior angle. When you add tape you increase the interior angle, and create another smaller bevel where the angle of the original angle and the new angle created with tape intersect. That's what happens when you add tape to a razor that was honed with no tape.

In the opposite situation (i.e. it was originally honed with tape then you try to hone it without), you will first only be touching the bevel right at the spot where the double bevel forms, NOT below towards the edge. You would need to hone until that line formed by the double bevel shrinks and eventually is honed towards the edge, essentially only creating one single bevel.

I really hope that made sense...

That picture says much more than words, this should help tdaugh out...

Originally Posted by tdaugh

Thats probably a good idea, as this blade is my only shaver. Another related question... lets say a razor had been honed with tape and a person then tried to hone it without tape, or progressed as you mentioned and felt comfortable without the tape. Would there be a double bevel because of this? or would a person just have to set an entirely new bevel? I'm also curious what would be the outcome if this situation was reversed...a razor was honed without tape and then with it (accidentally). What might this outcome be? Your responses are greatly appreciated by the way

If this is your only razor, and you have never honed before, then send it out for honing.

Taping is recommended for beginners because you will flatten the spine while learning.

Taping gives a slightly larger angle to the bevel. If you tape where it has not been used before, it is easier to create a fresh bevel than if you don't tape one that has been taped. Also some will add tape for finishing to make a polished edge double bevel.

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I tape all the time, mainly to protect against spine wear. I think spine wear looks horrible so I tape to avoid it!

I've shaved with razors that have been taped and others that havent and I notice no difference in the shave quality, so its really personal preference.

I agree with the others though, if this is your main razor I'd send it out and get a second to practice honing on.

I've went from taping, to not taping, back to taping...for exactly the reason Stu is talking about...besides, if Sham recommends for me to tape, I'm going to tape..