Thread: Honing wedges

I got several wedges, and before I hone them I wanted to ask how many layers of tape do you use to keep from having a large bevel?

You might find this useful http://www.coticule.be/wedges.html .

Bob

Personally, I don't use tape any more.
When I did, I used 2 layers just as a baseline.

Try without, if it doesn't come together for you add a layer and try again.

Rinse, repeat.

Keep us posted.

It depends on the razor. Some hollow ground razors I have get three layers. My Wade and Butcher FBU wedge gets one. You won't know until you get started.

Worst case you have an old wedge with lots of hone wear and you wind up having a 1/4 inch maybe wider bevel without layers of tape. It really depends on the razor and it's condition.

Bob

Originally Posted by Walterbowens

I got several wedges, and before I hone them I wanted to ask how many layers of tape do you use to keep from having a large bevel?

You don't necessarily create large bevels by honing without tape but you can get an idea if it's needed by putting the blade on a flat surface or stone & see if the edge contacts or not. Add tape as needed. A few passes on your finest stone can show you the contact points also.

I don't have any true wedges. Most of my "wedges" are quarter hollow ground. Most of these have been restored. For that reason, to protect the spines from harm, I always have taped. Most of my razors get three layers, and a few have needed five. Taping has certainly avoided unsightly spine wear, and I have seen no deleterious effects on edges.

I have a DD "wedge" now that has failed shave testing twice, with 2 layers. Next I'll try 3.

Besides that one, my 8/8 blade has the most wear. Hope that it'll shave--as the 8/8 certainly does!

oh yeah, i did use 3 on the fat one.

A modern wedge or older wedge with little hone wear has not been a problem for me with a layer of tape to protect the spine. These are really near wedges, not true wedges, and have some concavity to their grind. They don't hone up much different from a full hollow for me. All bets are off with a near wedge, newer or older, with heavy hone wear. That is when I do a quick calculation to see how many layers of tape I may need as a starting point. That is usually spot on. Anyway everyone has their own way of honing a near wedge.

Bob

I generally use one layer of 3M. I have used 3 layers on a 'special' case but it is a PITA ...... AFAIC ....... I began honing with tape, gave up using it for a few years or more, and came back to it last year. The marker test (sharpie) is always good to see wear your bevel is riding a hone. You can lay an old Sheffield wedge on a flat surface and chances are the point and heel won't be contacting the hone. So there is a slight, or maybe good sized, smile. Many times the spine will also have that profile.

IMO honing that razor with the intent to transform that smile into a straight profile is a mistake. The celebrated "rolling X" is the way to preserve the original profile and the razor will still look the way it was designed to be when you're finished with it. IMHO.