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Just purchased a Chosera 1K bevel setter after watching Lynn's video. In the video he did not tape the razor. I experimented with a practice razor and inadvertently polished the spine a bit. After setting the bevel I will move to a coticule and would remove the tape. Will taping for the bevel setting interfere with the rest of the process? Did I do something wrong with the practice razor? I felt like I was applying very little pressure.
By switching from tape to less or no tape while going up in grit. You can cause a lot of frustration.
If there is no warp or grind issues I set the bevel with tape, then remove the tape and reset the bevel. Then move up the grits as normal.
If there are warp or grind issues I set the bevel without tape.
Jonathan
Keep tape on through out all grits.
Refresh tape after 1K and 5k
My concern is scratching the spine of the razor. My coticule doesn't have a problem with this but I am worried about the 1K stone doing some scratching. Is this unfounded worry or should I start using tape even with the coticule?
I am not sure about this tape debate but from what I understand those who do not use it believe it is better to keep the spine honed down as the width shrinks to keep the same angle all the way though the razors life. Good point if that is true. I however don't think that in my life time of honing my own razors that the change in angle is going to add up to much. Then I have this thought that as the tape wears the bevel is not going to be perfectly flat and this may make the honing process some what imperfect. It may also keep you from over honing and making an edge that rolls over easily. I tape because the site of scratches on the spine ruins my day. If you tape at one grit tape at them all. Otherwise somewhere in the progression you are going to have to hone the top of the bevel down to get to the edge. I hope I haven't started anything here in the debate area I am just thinking while typing. :<0)
I don't like tape and consider spine wear like mileage on a car. Everybody is different so I don't think the angle or the spine scratches amount to any issue other than personal preference. If there's gold wash or bluing or some other plating, then you have to. I wouldn't buy them for that reason but what do I know.
I always use tape. The one time I decided not to I caused a fair degree of hone wear. This was probably caused by me being too heavy handed, having a fair amount of word to do on the razor and soft steel. I can't see why one wouldn't tape. I can't see why one shouldn't try to decrease the amount of wear one does to a razor if one can. I don't advocate putting them in glass display cabinets; I like to use my stuff, but I would like to think they could be passed on in good shape when I'm gone.
I wouldn't use tape for the 1k and then remove it. I believe ADDING tape can add a secondary bevel when needed, but REMOVING tape after the 1k will cause you to end up polishing the edges of the bevel; not the actual edge where the sides meet.
Its totally normal for the spine to be abraded when in contact with the stone.
If you want to avoid that then use tape.
Michael
I'm a tape user. I don't want to take a chance on scratching the spine.
However, I can see the need to not use tape when repairing the edge on an old blade.
If anything, you would use tape later in the process, or add a layer at the finishing stage (like the Tim Z method), but under no circumstance would I remove tape when going up in grit.
Decreasing your honing angle will result in polishing the shoulders of the bevel and not the edge (apex).