Thread: Why do I get better edges with tape?

Pretty new to honing, about 8 months under my belt with mostly mixed results. I cannot understand why I only get really nice edges when I use tape. I am guessing the problem is the bevel but I don't know for sure.

Recently I set the bevels w/o tape on a bunch of fleabay specials (all of which I have had shave well with when hone using tape): a flat 1k chosera, circles, x strokes etc. until easily shaving arm hair and shaving the skin off a tomato with little effort all along the blade. Never understood the thumbpad test; all pass thumbnail test to the best of my understanding. Then I moved to flat 3k and 8k naniwa superstones. By the time I am at 8k only a few x strokes before very sticky feedback, so moved to running water for about 10 strokes.

I figured I was in good shape but by the time I got done with finishing (coticule, jnat, thurigian) only one would pass hht 3. Now I know hht is not a great measure but for me the correlation between a great shave and a nice hht is 100%. Then, frequently I can then add a layer of tape to one that wont shave and refinish on a coticule and I get a good edge, sometimes a great edge.

What is that tape doing that I am not? Has to be the bevel but what is the answer?? more time on the 1k is what I am guessing.

anyways, huge fan of the forum and welcome to any suggestions

cheers

If you only are adding tape at the end, then you are creating a microbevel. You also are increasing the likelihood that the hone is cutting the very apex of the bevels.

But even if I start from the beginning with tape I get better results. How can increase the likelihood that the hone is cutting the apex w/o tape?

What's the hang-up with using tape in the first place? My mentor taught me to hone using tape, and he also uses tape for his customer's blades. I just don't see anything to be gained from not using tape.

Originally Posted by Speedster

What's the hang-up with using tape in the first place? My mentor taught me to hone using tape, and he also uses tape for his customer's blades. I just don't see anything to be gained from not using tape.

no hangups but I do tire of switching it out when setting bevels. I just think my technique is "off" still.

Could you be torquing the razor differently when you are not using tape? I'm assuming these fleabay razors do not have significant hone wear.

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Originally Posted by Speedster

Could you be torquing the razor differently when you are not using tape? I'm assuming these fleabay razors do not have significant hone wear.

well that's my suspicion:torque on the blade. I work hard to get even bevel's so thats an issue with me. I feel like I don't use much torque towards the hone out of fear of uneven wear etc. It seems that a bit of torque is needed from my readings and searches. practice practice practice i guess...

thanks for the feedback to all

a bit more pressure or torque on the lower grit stones could help. making sure you are getting full contact at the apex of the edge while honing is key. maybe try the sharpie test on your next blade and see what kind of contact you are getting. if the sharpie is wearing off evenly and completely you're making good, consistent contact.

One thing to consider is bevel angle. Putting a Dovo on a very fine and fast jnat I can go too far and the edge becomes fragile. Add tape and increase the angle and the problem gets better.