Thread: Barber's Hone touch-up

Originally Posted by MikekiM

That's what I thought.. kind of defeats the purpose of having a B-Hone handy for super quick touch-ups, if tape is used for the rest of the process..

Ugh.. so many variables to consider.

Adding a piece of tape takes 20 seconds. NBD.

A strip of tape takes literally five seconds to put on.

Michael, I've seen you put tape on, you may take about ten seconds.. ;-)

For a touch-up on a strop, I would think there is enough flex in the strop material, even if it's a paddle strop, that tape or no tape doesn't matter.

I can't think of any reason NOT to tape (other than that I don't keep tape in the bathroom which to me, is the most obvious location for a Barber's hone). And since I have a few razors with crazy spines and/or satin finishes, I opt to tape. For the rest of the blades, I do it just to be consistent. One less variable in my technique as I am learning.

Originally Posted by souschefdude

Prominent member or not, it is physics. the angle with tape and without tape is different.

Right, but I wasn't disputing that. The fact is I understand all the info on both sides. Tape does change the angle. The question is whether it makes a practical difference. That's where speculation starts.

Until someone does a controlled experiment with taped and untaped razors touched up on a barber hone, I'll consider it speculation. That's my opinion and I'm sticking to it!

Touch ups are quick whether using tape or not. Even for me, and I'm a very slow taper, as mikeim points out.

Michael

The prominent member in question (Glen) pointed out that a single piece of tape changes the angle by something like 1% therefore honing without tape pretty soon overcomes the difference and you are back to a good bevel again. I've started using that advice in that I use tape when working on grits up to 4k and then remove it on the 8k onwards and I'm getting good results.

Michael, I would call it 'deliberate' rather than slow

Originally Posted by UKRob

The prominent member in question (Glen) pointed out that a single piece of tape changes the angle by something like 1% therefore honing without tape pretty soon overcomes the difference and you are back to a good bevel again. I've started using that advice in that I use tape when working on grits up to 4k and then remove it on the 8k onwards and I'm getting good results.

I seem to remember that statement being made about setting a bevel with tape then honing 4k and up without it. If you on a 4 k stone the difference is negligible because it will correct itself rather quickly.