Thread: Beginner honing question

I debated either going to the beginners forum or here. I feel as I would get more responses in the beginners forum, but I settled on where I would get fewer, but more informed. Let me know if you should stick to the beginners forum.

I got a little over a months worth of shaving in and about ten shaves with my current razor. Its shaving alright, but I feel it could be sharper. I'm new at this so I don't know. Now the bevel is deeper on one side of the blade then the other and just on one side even though its overall thicker on that side, it is thicker in some parts and thinner in others along the edge. Thats true for both sides. I would think the bevel should be even depth across the whole blade and the same depth on both sides of the blade.

So I just bought a Norton 4/8K. I figure I'll use the 4k to even out the bevels and finish it off with the 8K.

My question is, I've seen videos where they put a piece of electrical tape on the spine and I've seen it where they don't. The theory in not putting the tape is that the angle from placing the spine and edge on a flat surface dictates the angle your bevel will be and if you don't allow your spine to wear away at the same rate as your edge, your bevel will get shorter and shorter over time. On the other hand I've heard a short bevel is what you want, but it seems to me the deeper your bevel is the sharper your blade is. How deep should your bevel, visibly be? Finally the thing that has me doubting my reasoning most is how many people I've seen put the tape on the spine.

Also, I've heard you need to get a lapping stone and I've also heard of a slurry stone. A slurry stone I guess is to build a slurry to aid in honing, but I wonder if a slurry stone can function as a lapping stone, whos intent is to even out the hones surface? I'd rather get a slurry stone since its smaller and cheaper. Also if I end up getting a 120/1K stone, could I use the 120 to lap my 4k so each could level the other, same with 1k and 8k?