Thread: Getting my Bismarck to pass the Hanging Hair Test

Howard just so ya know the wife was looking of my shoulder and decided that you are OK cause ya gots a Mustang Avatar

Yeah, I used to have that Shelby GT 500. Just wasn't practical. Everything it was good for was illegal, immoral, or EXPENSIVE!! Here's a better shot of it. http://straightrazorpalace.com/conve...ml#post1161616

Scroll up a few on the link.

Awesome instructions. Thank you so much. I am watching the video right now.

I know this is a hotly debated topic, but I read somewhere that one shouldn't really use a tape because a straight razor is designed so that the spine is supposed to wear as you hone so that the bevel is consistent as the razor gets honed over and over.

Originally Posted by SirStropalot

How much pressure you apply, and how you apply it makes a difference. The type of pressure we're talking about here is not heavy. It's not bearing down on the blade with your fingers which might be the type used in restoration, i.e. chips or breadknifed edges.

Try honing with one hand by holding the tang with your thumb and index finger and cradling the scales with your other three fingers to keep the blade level on the stone. Pressure.......twist/rotate the edge gently into the stone by a slight twisting motion with your thumb and index finger, keeping the spine in contact with the stone. This is the pressure we're talking about.

Do 20 or 30 circles and then x strokes until you have the bevel set. As you go up in grit, the pressure is less and less and by the finisher, very light to very, very light. I also do about 5 very light strokes at the finish of each grit.

The below video will help with some visuals.

Hope this helps!!!

Regards,

Howard

Originally Posted by spacex

Awesome instructions. Thank you so much. I am watching the video right now.

I know this is a hotly debated topic, but I read somewhere that one shouldn't really use a tape because a straight razor is designed so that the spine is supposed to wear as you hone so that the bevel is consistent as the razor gets honed over and over.

spacex,

I tape everything, well, almost. Not my Kamisori's. When learning to hone, IMO, tape. It keeps the spine from getting excessive or irregular hone wear. The difference in the geometry is so insignificant that "it really doesn't make any difference" at this stage.

After you get proficient at honing you can decide then if you want to keep taping or not.

holler if you need help!

Regards,

Howard

I know this is a hotly debated topic, but I read somewhere that one shouldn't really use a tape because a straight razor is designed so that the spine is supposed to wear as you hone so that the bevel is consistent as the razor gets honed over and over.

Spine wear doesn't run in parallel with blade depth wear.

The smaller the blade depth of a razor the more pronounced a change in spine wear will affect the cutting edge angle.

You can do the math yourself to make an estimate of what your spine should be set to using basic trigonometry.



I have a Bismarck next to me so I'll do the math for you.

spine width without tape 5mm
Spine to edge (hypotenuse) 18mm

You have to half the spine width, then double the resultant angle.

Angle = 7.98 degrees = 15.96 degrees.


With 2 layers of tape.

Spine width = 5.6mm
Hypotenuse = 18mm

Angle = 8.95 degrees = 17.9 degrees total.

The angle of a razor is generally accepted to sit between 17 and 22 degrees for a good edge. So 2 layers of tape should be the ideal amount to get a good bevel set.

Originally Posted by spacex

I know this is a hotly debated topic, but I read somewhere that one shouldn't really use a tape because a straight razor is designed so that the spine is supposed to wear as you hone so that the bevel is consistent as the razor gets honed over and over.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/advan...-theories.html


Many "Hotly" Debated Topics are here because people would rather type then test

Also just a hint here, but I have read your last two threads about your honing problems and one issue stands out, you continue to judge your honing by how the razor performs on the HHT...

Things I have noted over the years on here and at the meets that hold people back when it comes to honing a straight razor..

Chasing the HHT
Chasing a Mirror Bevel
Failing to get a complete bevel set
Understanding what "sharp" means when honing a SR
Understanding pressure and how to use it correctly
Understanding that there is no "End" to this journey besides a Close Comfortable Shave...
Understanding that this takes time and practice and if it were easy that SR shaving wouldn't have died out oh so many years ago

Now that i see this thread too, its much easier to comprehend whats going on.. i think op just needs more experience before chasing down hht as it means to him.