Tape or no tape?

[GrEgZteR]

Ok, I have finally gotten my razor to shave ready, therefore I think I learned how to hone properly. I'm not gonna lie it took some time to learn. I've been using to layers of tape when honing. I'm doing that to preserve the spine. Now what would you suggest should I keep doing the same thing or change my technique (with out the tape) and why?

Gregory

[holli4pirating]

Unless you ae taping to preserve a design, finish or something like that, it is entirely personal preference.

[Disburden]

I use one layer to prevent spine wear but if the razor is old and has a lot of wear I may need more tape. This help sets an apropriate bevel again when there's excessive wear.

[GrEgZteR]

Thank you guys. Next step is to try single tape ans see how that will place my bevel.

[nun2sharp]

I usually use one layer of tape on any razor that has been hollow ground, if it is a wedge start out with four and quite possibly add more if needed.

[GrEgZteR]

Thanks for a great advise, I'm actually in process of restoring a wedge razor and thought I will do the same technique as with my hollows. There is a lot more for me to learn about honing

Gregory

[niftyshaving]

Ok, I have finally gotten my razor to shave ready, therefore I think I learned how to hone properly. I'm not gonna lie it took some time to learn. I've been using to layers of tape when honing. I'm doing that to preserve the spine. Now what would you suggest should I keep doing the same thing or change my technique (with out the tape) and why?

Gregory

You said: "I have finally gotten my razor to shave ready,"

So what ever you are doing works... stick with it for a while.

Refresh the edge with the same amount of tape and same
hone you last used.

It is entirely up to you as guided by your personal shave test.

For me any hone coarser than 1K gets tape on the spine.
When switching to or honing on a 1K hone I remove the tape
for the last ten or 20 hone strokes on the 1K to set the final
bevel and do not use tape on my 4K/8k/12K hones.

This guideline (not a rule) seems to strike a good balance and
uses a fast enough hone to set the bevel for the finer hones that
are gentler on the spine.

Once correctly honed I find that all I need is my 12K and
a rare visit to my Norton 4k/8k combo to refresh the edge.
i.e. no tape.

[mbrando]

Hi,

I'm just starting to to hone my own razors at I acquire them. I prefer no tape. but have used tape on an wedge with lots of wear. For me I'm looking to get a working edge with the least trouble.

I read somewhere, I think in the wiki here, that you can make some passes on an 8000 hone to see how much work you have to do by looking for the shiny line you just made with the 8000.

- Mike