Thread: Bevel Angle

I haven't found any threads that discuss this. I haven't gotten my stones yet but I would like some feedback before I begin to learn the honing process. I've watched and read as much as I can on the subject and I have a question about the bevel.

I understand that honing with electric tape and then without tape can set a second bevel and that is not desired. I have observed that some use tape and some don't and I am trying to decide what is best before I start honing.

Question: What is the best angle for a cutting edge? Is the optimal angle attained by using tape or not? Or is there not enough of a difference between the two to notice a difference?

Thanks for your input.

the bevel angle is predetermined by the spine width.
Adding tape changes the angle by ~1 deg, which is not going to affect the shaving quality. Tape is used to shield the spine if it has gold wash, file work, bevel preset. You can do with or without tape its a personal choice.

this link should keep you busy for a while while I try to find another.

long story short, the angles for razors vary greatly, and taping can be used in many ways for many reasons

Some people will hone a razor without tape and then apply one layer to set a secondary bevel. Some people will hone a razor with one layer to protect the spine and honing flats from wear. Some feel that tape is unnecessary or even undesirable unless it is a special case such as a Damascus pattern or decorated spine. Some who hone for others use tape because it isn't their razor.

I started out honing all razors with one layer because I was learning and didn't want to cause wear due to inexperience. After a couple of years of honing a good number of razors I no longer use tape unless it is for a special reason. I think the general consensus is that one layer won't hurt anything and I'm glad I started out using it until I gained enough experience to be confident without the tape.

mainaman "the bevel angle is predetermined by the spine width.
Adding tape changes the angle by ~1 deg"

Thanks for the quick responses. That gets the the heart of my question. I get the protection part. I don't really have to worry about that with my razor (nothin fancy on it). In your opinion does that 1 deg difference change the "quality" of the edge, for lack of a better word?

Originally Posted by STEVENMITCHELL

mainaman "the bevel angle is predetermined by the spine width.
Adding tape changes the angle by ~1 deg"

Thanks for the quick responses. That gets the the heart of my question. I get the protection part. I don't really have to worry about that with my razor (nothin fancy on it). In your opinion does that 1 deg difference change the "quality" of the edge, for lack of a better word?

I use tape on all razors that I hone and they shave just fine. I have not tested the same razor with and with no tape, but there have been discussions and so far I have not seen any prevailing argument for or against tape, it's just a matter of preference.

good question!

most razors that I have worked on and and most info I have read leads me to believe the optimal angle to be around 14 to 15 degrees (may vary based on technique, beard, etc). In general, smaller angles cut better but wear faster, and larger angles cut poorer but last longer.

For a (measured sample of mine) 5/8" razor blade width with spine thickness of 0.155" blade angle works out to around 14 degrees (basic trigonometry). Adding one thickness of .005" electrical tape increases the blade angle to around 15 degrees. Does that make a noticeable difference? l am not sure.

Using the tape during early honing to protect the spine and then removing it at the end to hone a final narrower angle seems counterproductive but I have done it and it works. Or, some people hone with no tape and then add one layer at the end to give you a second microbevel allowing them to hone/polish/finish just the very tip of the edge rather than the whole bevel. Works to get a sharp razor, but some argue that its better to do it entirely without tape.

Personally, after trying several approaches I have settled on no tape. It is simpler and avoids the issue of trying to remember how the razor was honed when its time to touch it up.

that is the focal question of the link I posted... you'll see as you read that it probably isn't a critical difference to the edge

Originally Posted by STEVENMITCHELL

mainaman "the bevel angle is predetermined by the spine width.
Adding tape changes the angle by ~1 deg"

Thanks for the quick responses. That gets the the heart of my question. I get the protection part. I don't really have to worry about that with my razor (nothin fancy on it). In your opinion does that 1 deg difference change the "quality" of the edge, for lack of a better word?

Yeah there might be one or two threads about using tape on here, maybe

There is also one on actual angle, so we don't have to use "what we think" we tried to get real data from real razors the more the merrier we have Gugi who will even process the bevel angle for you in that thread he just needs your measurements...

What we found thus far is the Average angle is about 16 BUT it really varies so for somebody to say what the BEST angle is is rather presumtous...

Thanks guys! I know it's more of a "theoretical" question more than a very "practical" one but the analytical side of me must be appeased. Del1r1um, I'll be digging into that thread when I get some more time today.