Originally Posted by
carlmaloschneider
Oz knows a lot more about this than I, but I think the amount of tape being worn is possibly very small and inconsequential IF you're just refreshing an edge. If you're setting a bevel, and doing lots of circles, etc, then yes, the tape does wear quite quickly and yes, you do need to change it often. I find for the few laps I generally do on the Shapton 16k to refresh an edge it hardly matters.
I just don't even want scratches on my spines. I honed a Bengall wedge a while ago and decided not to tape the spine. Big mistake. I WAY over did the honing, forgetting how soft the steel was in comparison to some of my razors and created a LOT of hone wear. I was mortified!
I think MOST factory razors aren't truly shave ready, some are sold with a free honing included. Best to buy from such an outlet. I've never bought a new razor; though I guess the one from the Revisor site (a NOS razor) was new. That came shave ready for sure. the rest have been vintage razors; most from here. The last lot I needed to hone but they were easy.
I'm not being picky but you mean 'stropped' don't you? I wonder how your stropping technique is?
I myself don't ever do the HHT, I think it's silly, unless I'm honing a razor so I can cut hanging hairs. I shave leg hair as a test and use the Thumb Pad Test (TPT). I want to be able to 'pop' leg hairs before the final laps on the Shapton (moving from the 8k Norton if I've gone 'back' that far. I also look at the edge with an old magnifying glass. Those are the only tests I do before I test shave my face. Shaving my face tells me if it's OK or not. Sometimes I need a bit more on the Shapton.
In regards to proceeding with the Dovo, it depends I guess what you have available. I guess I could have a look back through all the pages here; but it's easier for me to just ask if you have hones at all and what they are. If it were mine, with the (only two) hones I have, I'd tape the spine and give it ten on my Shapton 16k.
Many people advice guys to send their razors out when they're new to this, but I have never had anyone hone any of my razors; I guess I'm a bit stubborn and want to be self sufficient. I am a real klutz when it comes to using tools and stuff, really I am, but I found honing quite easy really. That's not to say I haven't had battles with some difficult razors, but I've kept all my razors in shave ready condition for over two years.
BTW, use a honing journal. Write down what you did and when. This will allow you too see what works, but, also, it allows you to give good advice later on, as you know EXACTLY what you did; how often you hone, etc without guessing.