Thread: Existing Bevel

Recently I have acquired some straight razors. I would like to hone them up to see how they shave.

One razor in particular has a really nice bevel already established. To me (the expert honer that I am *guffah*), it looks as if I can hit up a nice finish hone and take it to shave.

There is only one problem with this ...

I dont know how the original owner (who cut the existing bevel) honed this razor... with tape, on the shoulder, etc...

Is there some sort of simple way to determine this ... or should I give up and re-cut the bevel.

Thanks in advance !

Mark the edge with a Black Magic Marker, and then run the edge lightly on a finishing hone a few strokes, the resulting shine will let you know whether the edge is touching the hone or if tape was used, it will also show very quickly how even the bevel is....

So, if I only knock off some of the marker, start taping it up ???


Thats along the lines of what I was thinking.

Thanks !! I'll give her a go tonight and see what I come up with.


Cheers

It's also possible that the bevel is a bit convexed, something that would give similar results on the marker test.

If the marker is gone in 2 or 3 laps, you can be sure that the bevel is in reasonable shape. If it isn't gone, you can't be sure of anything.

I my opinion, honing with, or without tape is a personal choice that you should make yourself, regardless of what the previous owner of a certain razor did.

Best regards,
Bart.

Originally Posted by Bart

It's also possible that the bevel is a bit convexed, something that would give similar results on the marker test.

If the marker is gone in 2 or 3 laps, you can be sure that the bevel is in reasonable shape. If it isn't gone, you can't be sure of anything.

I my opinion, honing with, or without tape is a personal choice that you should make yourself, regardless of what the previous owner of a certain razor did.

Best regards,
Bart.

+1 HERE I always want to start with my own bevel but that's just me......

Originally Posted by Whiskers

So, if I only knock off some of the marker, start taping it up ???


Thats along the lines of what I was thinking.

Thanks !! I'll give her a go tonight and see what I come up with.


Cheers

Either that, or be prepared to put a bit more work in to the bevel without tape.

James.

I'm assuming once taped and beveled, then you need to tape for stropping? I have been doing that and has turned what i though may be worth a try into a bummer- taping for daily strop

Originally Posted by kevint

I'm assuming once taped and beveled, then you need to tape for stropping? I have been doing that and has turned what i though may be worth a try into a bummer- taping for daily strop

NO you do not need to tape for stropping, you have to understand that one layer of electrical tape will change the bevel angle less than one degree....

I do understand that... but why doesn't 1 degree matter to the strop. fwiw I have only used a paddle

I am no expert by any stretch of the imagination ...


But I would think since the leather strop is a bit more flexible than a stone, the small amount of deviation you would hone in with tape on the spine would be negligible whilst stropping.

Dare I say ... even on a paddle strop this small deviation is negligible.