Thread: Black Paste & Chrome and a tape question

Ok, so I'm hopefully going to have my hands on a swatty in a couple of days. A couple of questions:

I'm not sure what grit a swatty is, would it make sense to do swatty->black paste->chromium oxide to finish or is the Dovo black too abrasive?

My understanding is that Dovo black is about 1-2 micron which should translate into about 13k grit.

Second question: I have a nice Dovo with fancy gold inlays and logo on the blade. I've heard people tape over these while honing, but doesn't that raise other parts of the blade off the hone? Do you guys usually use electrical tape or something else?

Thanks,

-Mike

Ok let's see if we can't make some sense here for you...

Swaty first...

These are the perfect thing for maintaining a razor at shaving sharp, that what they are designed for.... You will do about 5 swipes on the stone when needed many people use a bit of shaving lather when they do this that your choice...
As to taping if the edge was taped when it was honed then you have to use 1 layer of electrical tape on the spine ... If you bought the razor from any of the vendors it was not taped...

Dovo Black..

The Dovo Black paste can maintain a shaving sharp edge by itself I really see no true advantage to using both the swaty and the paste,,, But this is something you can play with and see what works best for you...
I would recommend 20 laps or less on the pasted strop...

You do know you still need a plain leather / linen strop for everyday use right, you do not want to use the pasted strop everyday...

hope that helps..

I cant comment on the Swaty and the black paste as I dont own them, but I do tape my spines when I hone. I do it to protect the spine from wear and to make sure that just the very tip of the bevel is touching the hone and get a really small bevel.

The "To tape or not to tape..." debate is as old as the hills, and there are loads of threads on the site about it. Some people like it and some dont.

I just use the standard black electrical tape. Just slap a layer over the spine before you start..!

There is a great debate about whether taping the spine is beneficial or evil incarnate. I started taping spines because my RAD had me honing so many ebay specials that I didn't want to try and keep track of which were taped and which were not. So I've taped them all with no issues thus far.

I prefer 3M Scotch Super 33 + because it is American made in Minnesota and aside from helping one of my countryman earn a living I am using a quality tape of consistent thickness. I don't think all electrical tapes are the same thickness ?

I don't have any experience with the black paste but the Swaty is a time tested barber hone and great used dry or with water for touching up an already shave ready razor that may have fallen off a bit. I've also used mine with water to finish a razor coming off of the 8k with good results. This was before I had gotten a more traditional sized high grit finisher.

Hmmmm I am maybe a bit confused...

But let me clarify since Jimmy even thinks that you are honing...

If you are honing your own razors then the choice of tape is up to you...
I would +1 with Jimmy I tape mine and I use 3m only. I tried the Ace brand (made in China) once even recommended it until that stuff hits the hones and clogs them all up the 3m is just better...

Now if you were asking whether you should add tape for just the Swaty, that would depend on whether the original honester added it when they honed the razor.....

Originally Posted by gssixgun

As to taping if the edge was taped when it was honed then you have to use 1 layer of electrical tape on the spine ... If you bought the razor from any of the vendors it was not taped...

So if it was taped originally, it has to be taped to keep the same bevel angle? It came from Vintage Blades, honed by Lynn. Not sure if he uses tape or not.

-Mike

He does not

The Black is normally a Boron Carbide and around 1.8 micron. Used before Chromium Oxide it works pretty well to refresh a razor or to get one that is close, right there for shaving. I do not find the Dovo pastes as consistent as others, but they will work.

Not a tape fan here.

The Swaty followed by Chromium Oxide should work pretty well.

I normally use arouond 10-15 strokes when using the pastes on either felt, webbing or leather.

Good Luck,

Lynn

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Now if you were asking whether you should add tape for just the Swaty, that would depend on whether the original honester added it when they honed the razor.....

Glen is right on the money as usual. One of the downsides of taping to hone them is having to tape just to touch up on a barber hone. I had to get with taping again if I wanted to play with touching up on a barber hone but it isn't really that big a hassle. IME it isn't necessary to re-tape to strop or to hit a flat bed with felt or leather and chrome ox. I do tape to hit it on balsa though.

The taping debate will never go away.......

I see no need to tape unless there is significant metal to remove from an edge as in an edge restoration or unless you are protecting a Damascus pattern. No tape will work. Taping will work. Put it on. Take it off. Put it on. Whatever and whatever floats your boat.

There are many personal preferences when it comes to honing. I do feel that if you tape, leave it on through the entire process.

Have fun,

Lynn