Thread: Protect the Spine w/o Taping It

A patent application that may help sidestep the age old debate concerning taping the spine and its effect on the angle of the bevel RAZOR HONE AND HOLDER - Google Patent Search

Regards,
Alex

That is an interesting design. Looks like it would get in the way if I'm visualizing it correctly. Somewhere on the forum is a photo of a cover that Mastro Livi made to go over the spine of a specific razor but it looked quite bulky to my eye. None of these gizmos solve the problem of the edge wearing to the extent that it will eventually affect the geometry if the spine doesn't wear along with it. At least that is my take on the topic.

Now we have to look for these on Ebay too? I don't recall ever seeing this device in all my travels and ebay surfing. Hasd anyone actually seen it? Of course it may have never went into production beyond prototypes of the inventor in 1940.
Just a side note to add a little history that our vintage blades lived through. Many off the "Greatest Generation" were doing their part to let us have fun with razors. Semper Fi Dad! I just want to toast them and say "Cheers" to the men and women that gave so much for us.
Mike

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

That is an interesting design. Looks like it would get in the way if I'm visualizing it correctly. Somewhere on the forum is a photo of a cover that Mastro Livi made to go over the spine of a specific razor but it looked quite bulky to my eye. None of these gizmos solve the problem of the edge wearing to the extent that it will eventually affect the geometry if the spine doesn't wear along with it. At least that is my take on the topic.

That razor with the honing cover (appliance, guard, whatever) was made for one of the guys on the forum who will hopefully share his experience if he sees this. As I recall, it (the cover) was necessary because the configuration of the razor meant that there was insufficient material to make the spine full width and still provide enough to make the blade the specified size. The cover slides over the narrow spine to allow correct geometry when honing. Presumably it will wear at about the same rate as the spine would have without it so that the geometry of the razor would end up the same as if there was a full width spine. Or, you could tape it.....but I'm not going there.

I still think that there must have been a simple device like the one they used to sharpen microtome razors - a short steel or brass tube with a split cut in the length - the tube must have been springy enough to allow it to be slipped over the razor's spine, somthing like the backing on a tenon saw.

And Kingfisher - I echo that admirable sentiment!

Regards,
Neil

There was a thread we started some time ago on the thoughts of how the old wedges were actually honed Lee will hopefully pop in with some of the gizmo's that he found on basically lifting the spine.....This is the first one that I have seen that references hollow grinds though....

Sounds like we need a machinist in residence at SRP. Many hobby stores sell brass tubing and if any of our talented members can tell us how to cut that elusive slot in the tubing, we can start honing ASAP. Sounds like a job for a Bridgeport Milling Machine. I sold mine several years ago to my dismay.

Until then, I'll tape my spines and like it...... Jerry