Thread: My first try at setting the bevel

Update on my honing:

I started to look at the pictures I am about to post and I already detecting mistakes myself.
I basically honed without thinking

Pictures before I started honing:



Look at that! A bubble in my tape! How could I missed that...

I am a bit ashamed about the next ones:



On this side, the bevel looks pretty decent. The heel is still a problem.
Look at the top right. I broke the tape! I took that picture without even noticing it!



Bubble still there
This side I had a big issue with the toe. It didn't get a bevel at all. Now looking at the pictures I would guess the problem was the broken tape!

Pictures after taking out the tape:


Wow is that spine wear?!

If using tape, I like 2 layers. When I see the top layer broken through, it's time to change tape. Usually I can peel off the top layer without disturbing the bottom, but if I have to change both it's no real loss. Change it early and often.

You can usually start to feel little bits of tape coming off into the hone before it wears through. It should actually be changed before that happens but if you go too far that's one way to tell. Good job on the scale repair. I can't even see where the crack was in the picture.

I used to pooh-pooh the notion that the more expensive 3M 700 tape was superior to the common made by the C. H. Ina Company electrical tape found most everywhere, once I tried the 3M I was Sold! It doesn't wear or shred like the cheapo brands. I gave the tape rolls that I had on hand to friend to use in their non razor projects.

While I Usually only use a single layer of tape (with the exceptions of heavy grinds) I did initially use two layers on your great grandfather's razor due to the heavy rust on the edge. However once I got to clean steel I set the bevel with a single layer of tape and then kept the single layer all the way to finishing.

With that said, you might try two layers and see how it goes. I would recommend that you use a Marks-a-Lot and color the edge so you can see where you and and are not getting the edge to the hone.

I also recommend that if things aren't coming along as you'd like to just clean and dry the razor, put it aside for a day or so and then have another go with it.

Have Fun!

Thanks for the comments.

I will try with two layers again today and see what happens.

Originally Posted by cmsessa

Thanks for the comments.

I will try with two layers again today and see what happens.

Don't forget to color the edge so you can see where you are at!

Originally Posted by BeJay

You can usually start to feel little bits of tape coming off into the hone before it wears through. It should actually be changed before that happens but if you go too far that's one way to tell. Good job on the scale repair. I can't even see where the crack was in the picture.

Good point. The only time I've really used tape I was also testing out a Naniwa 800 grit for bevel setting. So of course it ate through with a quickness and by the time I started to feel the tape bits it was already through the top layer. I'm sure most 1Ks are a little more forgiving...but after burning through a couple pieces I started to change more often.

Cuda - I never would've considered that tape brand would make that much a difference. Good to know, maybe I'll keep an eye out for the good 3M stuff and save my cheapo auto store tape for auto work. Chances are if I'm using electrical tape instead of the good heat shrink crimps it's not on a circuit that'll burn the car down anyway, so I can use the cheap stuff there.

I picked mine up on Amazon and actually as an 'add on' as it was way cheaper that way.

I don't know if it's still listed that way or not but you might want to check it out.

OH! You should keep it indoors as the extremes of hot and cold mess with electrical tape whether it's quality 3M or the Made by the C. H. Ina Company.

I hate cheep electrical tape! I quit using it years ago for electrical or antenna work. I only use scotch super 88. It a touch thicker. Much better tape than the cheep stuff.

I always use the 3m Super 33 for honing. It seems to be more wear resistant then all the others I've tried. Whatever you decide to go with, it's best to stick with the same one. That way you know it will work for light touch ups.