Thread: Tweaking the Edge with Tape

Originally Posted by Neil Miller

Excellent post, Tim.

only thing I would like to see is a reference mark on the blade so I can feel comfortable that I am comparing the same section of bevel each time, or a purpose made jid that holds the razor in exactly the same place and plane. A small polint, though.

I'm still not convinced that the degree of magnification or all the irregularities it reveals are worth much other than for illustrative purposes. The smoothest skin, human hair, sweat glands, etc, look like a blasted and torn lunar landscape at those sort of magnifications - no one complains of a sweet womans touch on his face though, no matter how ragged the surface of her fingertips appears under magnification.

Our senses have limits, as a simple two pin test easily reveals. Sensitive parts can feel the pinpricks as separate entities, parts like the finger tips and tongue, while less se sitive parts feel the double pricking as one, eg the skin on the back.

we readily talk about and accept extremes, even if those extremes are in reality incomprehensible to us in real, practical terms. We can talk glibly about infinity, the concept of time, the workings of the human psyche, but those things and many others can only be viewed in a theoretical way.

As you say, there are more ways than one to skin a cat, even though the end result is the same, pelt in one hand, embarassed nude cat in tbe other. I guess what we are both saying is 'how you get there does not matter' though to be pedantic one has to factor everything in as a singular example, so what applies to one persons skin with a certain razor steel and a particular way of honing will not apply, at least in equal measure, to another person.

Which kind of brings me back to where I started...

Regards - and thanks again,
Neil.

.......I knew it sounded too easy...putting 3 layers of tape on, just to be safe.

I still don't get all of this. I understand why everyone goes to such great lengths but I just see it as being a little extreme. The way I learned to sharpen from my Grandfather never involved high magnification OR any kind of magnification OR tape for that matter and we still managed to get excellent edges with smooth shaves. But, if all of this works for your then great it just seems like "make work" to me.

I agree!

I am just a compulsive tinkerer. This is one of the ways it comes out. You should see what I've done to my banjo...

Originally Posted by guitstik

I still don't get all of this. I understand why everyone goes to such great lengths but I just see it as being a little extreme. The way I learned to sharpen from my Grandfather never involved high magnification OR any kind of magnification OR tape for that matter and we still managed to get excellent edges with smooth shaves. But, if all of this works for your then great it just seems like "make work" to me.

Originally Posted by guitstik

I still don't get all of this. I understand why everyone goes to such great lengths but I just see it as being a little extreme. The way I learned to sharpen from my Grandfather never involved high magnification OR any kind of magnification OR tape for that matter and we still managed to get excellent edges with smooth shaves. But, if all of this works for your then great it just seems like "make work" to me.

Now on the basis that both Tim and Neil have 'liked' this post - surely the definitive answer would be for you to try one of Tim's edges against one of Neils and decide whether you can feel any difference.

A very nice polish; thanks for again explaining your honing method. I like to think of it as a "micro micro-bevel." (Nano bevel? ) Not unlike finishing on a slack or pliable strop. Or stropping with the razor's spine slightly raised...

It would seem to me, esp as not seeing a pic of after the layer was added and lightly honed on the finisher a bit, and before the progression of CroOx on paddle and strop are done, that Tim is simply providing a good path for the final pasted strop progression to do it's duty without overdoing anything. I have done this in the past, particularly on problem steels. It works quite well.
Thanks for posting this, Tim, and clarifying what is actually happening!
Tom

Originally Posted by UKRob

Now on the basis that both Tim and Neil have 'liked' this post - surely the definitive answer would be for you to try one of Tim's edges against one of Neils and decide whether you can feel any difference.

I do need to send a few razors off to be honed by the "experts" just to compare my honing skills against. Right now I just can't justify the expense it would take considering the fact I have to put out $1000.00 to have my wife's winshield replaced. Big stone + fragile glass = lightened bank account. When it rains it pours.

Originally Posted by guitstik

I do need to send a few razors off to be honed by the "experts" just to compare my honing skills against. Right now I just can't justify the expense it would take considering the fact I have to put out $1000.00 to have my wife's winshield replaced. Big stone + fragile glass = lightened bank account. When it rains it pours.

By your own admission you are already there, with all the variables, I don't see what could be gained by sending a razor out to an "expert."

Originally Posted by WW243

By your own admission you are already there, with all the variables, I don't see what could be gained by sending a razor out to an "expert."

There is always room for improvement. Just because I don't "see" the need for all the extra steps others take in regards to honing a razor doesn't mean that it isn't valide. By having one of my razors done by someone who has a different approach and comparing one I have done gives me a bench mark on whether or not I can improve. If so then it would be foolish of me not to experiment and change my methods.

Originally Posted by guitstik

There is always room for improvement. Just because I don't "see" the need for all the extra steps others take in regards to honing a razor doesn't mean that it isn't valide. By having one of my razors done by someone who has a different approach and comparing one I have done gives me a bench mark on whether or not I can improve. If so then it would be foolish of me not to experiment and change my methods.

Doing exactly that helped me a great deal when I was starting out. Particularly in seeing that the guys who recommended honing all of the scratches from the previous grit out ..... before moving on to the next ....... were all wet. Razors from some of the top honers showed me that the sharpness was what to look for. Even with the edge highly refined to a sharp and smooth edge the scratches remained. There is also comparing the feel from theirs to mine. A very informative tool if you can afford it, IME.