Thread: The Tool vs. The Technique

Bought them new about three years ago.

you reset the bevel same as you would before, but with tape, and finished honing with tape?
i would guess that it was in the bevel setting work that the improvement came, but not sure that it was the taped angle that made the difference.

There is a theory, if you look way back in the honing forum about "Torque on the Edge" You will find Randydance and I discussing it

Basically the short version is when you hone, you should be applying a tiny bit of torque toward the edge rather than the spine...
The more you hone the better you get, the better you get, the more all this becomes automatic... You should sit next to Lynn sometime at a meet up and watch him hone, he is a Machine... Anyway the one layer of tape accomplished the torque for you, hence you tweaked in the edge perfectly... Bravo

There are many theories of this from Double Bevels, to creating a slightly rounded bevel just on the finishing laps, you will find tons of these references called different things.. they all concentrate the last bit of sharpening to the very edge...

Abiank - you asked if anyone else had a dramatic increase in sharpness from tape. I gladly defer to the honemeisters, and covet their skills. Glen's post about the tape serving a torque function sounds well aimed. I similarly have messed w/ the double bevel, and in general, it gave me better edges. Hi_bud_gl is not a fan of the method, and I don't doubt his assessment, but I will use what works - even if it isn't considered a 'blessed' technique. I've stropped using a 45deg. heel-leading stroke, and it brought in a cranky toe. Whether to tape or not to tape - I don't care, and don't care who does care. If it works - enjoy it. I have had my finest edges from a c12k where I used 1 layer of tape for the whole process, then added a layer and did 7-20 strokes on the c12k after it dried completely. I have no doubt that as my skills get better, I will have several other options to get a satisfying edge. In the mean time, I'll let others argue with what works.

This is my method, and it works for me.

I don't use tape because I found it leaves marks
on the stone i.e. clogs. I know it is the tape
and not 'slurry' because I looked through a microscope.
When I stopped using the tape, the marking stopped.
I know it's probably too much pressure, and that it is my fault.

I cheat when honing by using a magnifying glass.
I buy an old razor e.g. Joseph Rodgers and, if necessary,
rub the edge on wet & dry to remove any nicks/damage etc.

Then I use 1,000 grit waterstone, and look at the edge through
the mag' glass, to see where the bevel is going,
and adjust the pressure on the cutting edge accordingly
i.e. I might be honing the heel more than the middle.

When the bevel is even along the blade, I move to 4,000 grit waterstone.
This, through the mag' glass, leaves a polished and slightly mirror edge.

When the bevel is evenly polished by the 4K stone,
I move to the 8K stone, which really does polish the bevel
to a mirror finish, again looking through the mag' glass.

This method is quicker than using say 50/80/100/500 etc passes
on each stone, because you can see when it is OK.
I use 20 passes between looking, and just hone until the bevel
is what I want it to be.

I haven't been doing this long enough to go without using
the magnifying glass, and by using it, I know the condition
actually is polished and sharp. The more experienced guys
obviously know by experience of doing lots more razors than I have.

I have restored - because I found that old razors seem to hold
and edge better than 'cheap' new razors - nearly 20 razors,
and have shaved with each one satisfactorily.
I did buy a new Dovo, shave ready, and was very pleased with it,
but at 10 times the price I pay for a vintage razor, I think
it'll be Xmas before I buy another (with money from the kids -hint!!).

What I did learn from the new razor is that my bevel is wider than the
pro' sharpeners - probably because I use more pressure, BUT
my edge is just as sharp, as experienced on the face when shaving.
So, as I said before, I cheat, and it works for me, so I offer it here
to help.

I cheat when honing by using a magnifying glass.

That's not cheating -- it's process control. Nothing to be ashamed of.

Charles