Thread: Yet another discussion on the tape (YADOTT)

Hi all, about 2 months ago I decided to modify the edge of my precious 7/8 TI, it has a 5.5mm spine, a bit thinner in my opinion, and wanted to try this modification for a more better performance. So I used 3 stripes of tape along the spine and I used a belgian coticule and a chinese stone to make the modification. In this way I created a thiny double bevel (never used the tape on this blade before), but why to use 3 stripes instead of 1? Because my attempt was to create a 6mm spine, then the other 2 stripes to create the double bevel and not expose anymore my precious steel on the stones in the future. Also I was believing that slightly "opening" the angle of the edge could give me a better feeling with my hard whiskers and sensitive skin below.
This my experiment required about 10 minutes and other 10min of stropping, then the first shave with the "new" blade: at first I was believing that the blade was slipping away without cutting anything, but touching my cheek I perceived that all the the hard whiskers were undoubtedly disappeared! So I finished my shaving perfectly and comfortably, also the shaving was much more easier and without any difficulty using WTG XTG and ATG. Also in this way the first WTG is deeper than before, and the ATG is just more a touching up.
Also I modified in this way, but using 2 stripes, a vintage Thoso and 2 my other beloved Pumas, I'm enthusiast with the results: never had a better shaving before using my same blades.

There are indeed many ways to skin a cat

I've played around with various numbers of layers myself, and to me it is just another arrow in the quiver.

One small annoyance though.
To me adding more than one or two layers takes all the feel on the stones away.
It's like it gets to soft and flexible somehow..

But again, it is yet another tool to use in the very interesting art of honing

Glad you had success with it, that is all that counts!

Did you reset the bevel or did you create a micro-bevel? I have heard of a few people who really like the micro-bevel application but I have not tried it myself.

That's one beautiful razor. I've often thought about the micro bevel process, but as Birnando said, one layer of tape takes away so three makes for a numb experience. But if it works...

Originally Posted by MattCB

Did you reset the bevel or did you create a micro-bevel? I have heard of a few people who really like the micro-bevel application but I have not tried it myself.

See below....

Originally Posted by Rampa

.... In this way I created a thiny double bevel (never used the tape on this blade before), but why to use 3 stripes instead of 1? B

Sorry, must need to clean my glasses

Originally Posted by MikekiM

That's one beautiful razor. I've often thought about the micro bevel process, but as Birnando said, one layer of tape takes away so three makes for a numb experience. But if it works...

Thank you for your appreciament. Regarding the tape I know what you mean, but it could be a "comfortably numb" (copyright: Pink Floyd)
From my point of view the "numb" feeling helps to perceive better how the stone is working on your edge, without worrying about the spine wearing. Usually the "numbie"or taped spine doesn't produce any noise, so you can distinguish better with your hand and with your ears how the edge is going on the stone. Also the tape could help to dampen the vibrations and the swingings caused by our hand? At the same time the tape on the spine could make a less precise edge, but this never happened in my experience. But above all, I think that we have to understand what our skin needs: a steeper or a flatter angle? I found that the full hollow ground blades, especially the modern ones, sometimes are not so delicate on our skin, they tend to "dig" my skin and a flatter or open angle is the right solution in my case, making the blade softer and sweeter without a long and repeated stropping (no pasted strop here). So how decide which edge's angle is better for us? I started experimenting with my old Thoso applying to the blade 2 stripes, now it works better than before. That's all.