Thread: Taping while honing

I hate tape almost as much as I hate tape or no tape threads! Lol.

Originally Posted by Bill31521

I hate tape almost as much as I hate tape or no tape threads! Lol.

....

Honewear is mostly caused at the bevel setting stage and will depend on the grind of the razor and the amount of metal that needs to be removed to create a new bevel.

On a full hollow that needs a new bevel, I will normally set the bevel with one layer of tape. I will then reset the bevel on a coticule without tape and proceed on the same stone from sharpening to finish. Reseting the bevel from taped to untaped is only a matter of a few laps, the angle difference is really very slight.

As far as future honewear caused by edge refreshes, It would take a substantial amount of edge refreshes (very light strokes with water only) on a coticule for honewear to be a concern on my rotation of razors.

I never use it, unless there's something severely wrong with the razor and edge bevel angle. Ergo I only use tape to FIX something and never to prevent hone-wear or for cosmetic reasons

I always use one layer of tape to set the bevel and 1st honing. After that, it's just a matter of touch up, no tape. I have always got exceptionally great results using this process, It works for me but may not with others. You just have find that sweet spot that works for you and stick with it!

Tried tape & didn't like it.If you set the bevel right & hone the proper way you won't have hone wear. Learn how to use your stones!

Slawman

I would put an excessive amount of hone wear on razors when I first started honing. With experience you learn to set the bevel more efficiently without grinding away unnessecary amounts of metal.

Focusing the stroke on the edge as opposed to the whole blade alleviates wear on the spine.

Originally Posted by Badgister

Honewear is mostly caused at the bevel setting stage and will depend on the grind of the razor and the amount of metal that needs to be removed to create a new bevel.

On a full hollow that needs a new bevel, I will normally set the bevel with one layer of tape. I will then reset the bevel on a coticule without tape and proceed on the same stone from sharpening to finish. Reseting the bevel from taped to untaped is only a matter of a few laps, the angle difference is really very slight.

This seems to be the ultimate compromise in tape vs no tape. The initial grinding done with tape to eliminate unwanted and unsightly hone wear and then removing the tape and quickly and lightly resetting the bevel and honing without tape as it has repeatedly been shown that the difference is only a few strokes away. I personally just use tape nowadays. 1-3 layers as it keeps it pretty but I used to do this.

Why is normal hone wear ugly? For hundreds of years straight razors were used every day & no one worried about hone wear. Razors are tools just like a tooth brush for personal body care. If properly used & cared for a tooth brush will last a long time.I don't have one razor I will not shave with. On the razors I own now I haven't used tape on any of them, they look good & shave good.
I guess if I have to worry about hone wear on a razor I would just put it in a display case. The whole idea behind the design of a straight razor blade is to keep the angle around the 16*-17* range. If you use tape it will how can the bevel be correct? I guess it really is not important what you do with your razors. I like to think I maintain & use my razors as they were meant to be. Sorry if I offended anyone.
Slawman

Originally Posted by Slawman

Why is normal hone wear ugly? For hundreds of years straight razors were used every day & no one worried about hone wear. Razors are tools just like a tooth brush for personal body care. If properly used & cared for a tooth brush will last a long time.I don't have one razor I will not shave with. On the razors I own now I haven't used tape on any of them, they look good & shave good.
I guess if I have to worry about hone wear on a razor I would just put it in a display case. The whole idea behind the design of a straight razor blade is to keep the angle around the 16*-17* range. If you use tape it will how can the bevel be correct? I guess it really is not important what you do with your razors. I like to think I maintain & use my razors as they were meant to be. Sorry if I offended anyone.
Slawman

No offense taken and as you say each to their own when it comes to taping the spine when honing.

My guess is that if you measured the spine one a few hundred razors possibly 10% would be bang on 17 degrees. The majority might possibly fall into the 15 - 19 degree range. From what I read that is about the manufacturing tolerance for hand honed razors +/- 2 degrees. Using tape alters the bevel angle slightly less than 1 degree.

Really using tape makes little if any difference and is just a personal choice neither right or wrong in most cases. I fail to see how it seems to by such a controversial subject. Much ado about nothing imo.


Bob