Thread: Tape on the spine

Originally Posted by Southbound

Hello

Im far from honing a razor, because im practicing using a shavett now. I am curious though about honing. If a person tapes the spine that would make the razor have an obtuse angle. If a person dont tape the spine and as the spine wears and the blade width decreases. Does the bevel height get taller. Meaning the bevel of the cutting edge. As the spine wears it looks like the edge angle would get thinner, but taller if that makes since.

I read somewhere i dont know which forum about a good idea when to tape the spine. This guy tapes his razor everytime, but only to set the bevel at 1k. Before he moves to the 4k he removes the tape, then takes permanent marker and marks not only the bevel but above the bevel a bit.Naturaly with no tape on the razor now using the 4k the bevel that was set on the 1k will not come into contact with the stone, but creates a secondary bevel. The reason he marked the bevel is when the marker is gone he knows that the first and secondary bevel become one bevel. The reason for the tape on the 1k was because thats the most aggressive stone he used, and the tape would protect the spine against the aggressiveness of the 1k. On the 4k and beyond minimal spine wear, because your just refining and not removing a lot of metal.

This is self explanatory/please take the time to watch and Listen;

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMchDtXzUO4

They do not wear at the same rate.

You can argue theory all day long… buy you can’t argue with fact.

Never seen a razor that will not hold an edge from the use of tape. Have seen a bunch or razors, that will not hold an edge from ground spines.

Again, tape is the fix.

Originally Posted by Southbound

But when the spine gets thinner, so does the edge.
Yes. But the bevel gets broader. (The height of the bevel)

Ah no, again in theory the bevel should not get broader. You need a certain width spine for a certain size blade to get a 17 degree bevel. As the spine narrows and the blade size shrinks the bevel should remain the same width. That is the theory but in practice all bets are off especially if the spine wears faster, thins, than the blade size reduces.

A good example is a near wedge with heavy hone wear and it shows a wide bevel. You likely need to add multiple layers of tape to compensate for the heavy hone wear and your new bevel should be thinner than the original.

Bob

On a hollow ground razor with a lot of hone wear the bevel will get too wide without tape and become very chippy/crumbly and probably not give good shaves at all if you can even get it sharp. I just use one layer of tape (2 on a wedge) on everything now just for my own consistency. You can't put metal back on the spine if you get to aggressive when you first start honing.

I come back after a 2 year hiatus from the forum - glad to see things haven't changed a bit!

I would add that most if not all custom razor makers hone with tape - there is just no reason not to, other than preference - if you're "wearing" through tape you're using too much pressure.

-john

Originally Posted by BobH

Ah no, again in theory the bevel should not get broader. You need a certain width spine for a certain size blade to get a 17 degree bevel. As the spine narrows and the blade size shrinks the bevel should remain the same width. That is the theory but in practice all bets are off especially if the spine wears faster, thins, than the blade size reduces.

A good example is a near wedge with heavy hone wear and it shows a wide bevel. You likely need to add multiple layers of tape to compensate for the heavy hone wear and your new bevel should be thinner than the original.

Bob

Sorry, but that is not correct.

As "the blade size shrinks," the edge will migrate closer to the spine. The thickness of the blade increases as you get closer to the spine. This is true for a wedge, a half or quarter hollow, or a full hollow. As the edge migrates into the thicker part of the blade, the bevels will be wider.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Sorry, but that is not correct.

As "the blade size shrinks," the edge will migrate closer to the spine. The thickness of the blade increases as you get closer to the spine. This is true for a wedge, a half or quarter hollow, or a full hollow. As the edge migrates into the thicker part of the blade, the bevels will be wider.

OK, but not hugely wider then?

Bob

Originally Posted by BobH

OK, but not hugely wider then?

Bob

OK, I'll give you that.

It won't get hugely wider until it gets fartherer up the widerer part of the blade, at which point it will be hugely wider. It depends completely on the thickness of the blade.

Originally Posted by BobH

OK, but not hugely wider then?

Bob

Y U G E!! Y U G E L Y WIDE and it'll be GREATl!!!!

Originally Posted by Phrank

Y U G E!! Y U G E L Y WIDE and it'll be GREATl!!!!

Nope. No. No.