Thread: Tweaking the Edge with Tape

Over the last several years, there has been a lot of information and discussion on the best way to hone a razor. All of it is good. It keeps us looking for better ways to do things.

There has also been a great deal of misinformation. Mostly in regard to the concept of double "bevels", and "micro-bevels".Here, I will attempt to clarify what I am doing, when I hone a razor.Or, how it is possible to add additional tape, during the honing process, and not create a "micro-bevel".

As of 7/2014, this is how I hone my razors. But, I am still learning too. This may all be obsolete next month. There are a lot of good ways to hone a razor. This is just how I do it.


1. A 4000 Grit stone is great for the final setting of an edge. It straightens and smooths things up very well. The resulting bevel has relatively coarse striations on the side, and prominent serrations along the top.




2. Following the 4000 stone with 8000 polishes the side of the bevel.This refines any irregularities left by the 4000 grit stone on theside of the bevel. But, notice even though the serrations have gotten smaller, at the actual cutting edge, they are still there.

Further work with the 8000 stone would eventually remove these serrations. But it would take a long time. The photo here is after 20 strokes onthe 8000.




3. The same thing is evident at the 12,000 grit level. The side of the bevel is even more polished. But, there are still prominent serrations at the edge.




4. Here is where I add one, or two, additional layers of tape. The technique is to take 10 - 20 very light strokes, using only the weight of the razor for down pressure. If I do it well, all the serrations are knocked off the edge, without creating a secondary, or micro-bevel.




Excessive down pressure, or number of strokes, will create a micro bevel. I am trying to avoid that. Note that that no micro bevel is evident in thephoto. There is just a hint of slight rounding. An additional 20 strokes would give a micro-bevel.

I use an Escher, or 12,000 grit Chinese stone for this step. These finish hones have been lapped on 2000 grit Silicon Carbide sandpaper.


5. The final step is stropping. It is very difficult to get a good photo at this magnification and level of polish. In this photo, all thetape has been removed. Notice that the strop contacts the edge, even without any tape. There isn't a micro-bevel to be seen...




The stropping sequence was: Chromium oxide on balsa, Chromium Oxide on hanging leather, hanging clean horsehide.

As for the photos, I kept the illumination the same on the first three. I had to turn in down on the last one to see any detail. The polish is just too high. I did the exact same sharpening and contrast adjustments on all the photos. The blade was one of my Damascus blades at 62HRC. It is actually the blade in the "Hannah's Razor" post. I had to sharpen it anyway...

In summary, there are many ways to "skin this sharpening cat".There is no "best" way. This is just how I do it. Adding tape during the honing process is an interesting, and useful technique. If you are careful, the serrations on the cutting edge will be removed, without creating a micro-bevel.

If you want to purposely create a micro-bevel, go ahead. That is valid as well. I just prefer to have one bevel.


I hope all this helps to untangle the "Double Dutch" and Polish.

A very interesting read, Tim.
Thanks for posting about that way of doing things.
I've done similar tests in the past, with rather good results.
Another way, somewhat similar, s to use pasted strops in a progression to get to the toothy edge .
Took some practice and some experimentation, but again, a very decent result can be had going that route.
And as you say, there sure are many ways to sharpen a blade to shave ready status.

On a side note, I totally envy you the equipment for taking such detailed photos, that would be nifty to have!!

Will definitely be trying this method. Thanks Tim.

Thank you for the information. i enjoy the edge you put on my 2H2H very much. It is one of my bench marks.

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 jig that holds the razor in exactly the same place and plane. A small point, 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 sensitive 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, embarrassed nude cat in the 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.

Excellent post. I've mistakenly done something like this before with superb results. I'm gonna have to give it a try with your direction.

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.