Thread: First Honed Razor

Hi All,

Finally got my hones lapped and flat. Grids are gone and hones are flat.. i think.. I tried my first honing on a blade that I really didnt think I'd ever shave with. Just have the blade and it's really pretty rough but a full hollow.. It had several chips along the middle of the edge and a slight frown... But, I wanted to try setting the bevel on something I didn't care about ruining.. I followed the instructions from one of Lynn's Video's and low and behold I got a pretty good bevel!.. Using the naniwa 1000. As you can imagine.. those chips took me a while.. Thought about using my DMT 325 I have for lapping but I wasn't sure I should...After a few more gentle x's I went on to the 5000 Naniwa and following the same instrutions from one of the video's on the Wiki, I continued setting the bevel.. worked fine.. an area on the heel I had to go back and get.. but that was it. finished with some very gentle strokes per instructions and went to the 8000...the 12000... the balsa strop with green cro2 and finished with thirty passes on the leather strop...

I lathered up and even though I forgot and shaved one side of my face this morning.. I shaved the other side with my newly honed junk and i mean junk razor without a problem. Had to slap a scale on it real quick just to have something to hold onto. I wouldn't say I'm ready to be a professional honemeister, I may never be, but by golly.. it shaved the hair on my face without discomfort......

So now I want to try this on some of my other razors... Most of them I have worked on some and don't want to damage the spines to much.

My question is... How many of you guys use electrical tape on the spines? Under what circumstances and how long do you leave it on?

Thanks to eveybody for their help and support. Everyone has been great on the forum and via private message. I appreciate all of your help.

Thanks again

Maq
Can't wait to try that honing again on a nicer razor...

Quote:[My question is... How many of you guys use electrical tape on the spines? Under what circumstances and how long do you leave it on?]

I have used one layer of tape to protect gold wash and two layers when honing wedges with very good results. Otherwise I skip the tape. Whenn I use it I leave it on all the way through the 4k, 8k, 12k, pasted strop process. The key is to keep track of what you honed with tape on on the spine and follow the same set up for future touch ups.

Thanks Lazarus,

I'll mark my log somehow to remind myself of those I use tape on. Thanks for the answer.

Maq

I don't think it's an issue of who uses tape and who doesn't. Tape is a tool. On the occasions that I use tape it is to work around a geometry problem with the spine or to save the spine from unnecessary hone wear. It would be foolish to rely on someone elses experience entirely to determine when you would use tape or not. If you do that I would suggest running every future razor you hone by the same person and ask if they might suggest using tape now.

Chances are, if you decide to hone enough razors, you'll come across a few that you'll ruin if you don't use tape. It's rare, but that doesn't mean that someone who does not use tape has always been right or wrong. It probably means you both haven't been honing the same razors.

Absolutely right on about the risk of ruining some razors, by honing without tape. For me, it was a couple of really nice Sheffield wedges with uneven spine thickness. I don't use tape as a rule, but there are times when you simply have to.

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I don't think it's an issue of who uses tape and who doesn't. Tape is a tool. On the occasions that I use tape it is to work around a geometry problem with the spine or to save the spine from unnecessary hone wear. It would be foolish to rely on someone elses experience entirely to determine when you would use tape or not. If you do that I would suggest running every future razor you hone by the same person and ask if they might suggest using tape now.

Chances are, if you decide to hone enough razors, you'll come across a few that you'll ruin if you don't use tape. It's rare, but that doesn't mean that someone who does not use tape has always been right or wrong. It probably means you both haven't been honing the same razors.

Thanks Gentlemen for the responses.. I understand that I am completely in control of when to and not use any of the honing tools. But, experience is the great teacher and I have none. So, it only stands to reason that someone without, should ask someone with experience, how they choose to use the tool.

I guess I've been a little confused as to why people don't use tape all the time.. accept for razors whose spine has no merit whatsoever.. Why not protect the spine from honewear... seems it would maintain the value of the razor. . but you see that's it .. I just don't have enough experince to answer my own question... so I thought I'd ask you ... if it's not too much trouble. Is there a contra indication to tape?

Maq

I use tape all the time when I hone, basically to protect against spine wear, to keep the bevel small and so that I know all the swarf I see on the hone has come from the edge. I also prefer the feel of the razor on the hone when it has tape on the spine to when it doesnt.

I leave it on until I'm done on the hones and take it off when I strop.

As to whether to use tape or not, the debate has been going on for ages..! Heres a few older threads about it.

How Bevel is Affected by Taping - Straight Razor Place Forums

Taping the spine is ok or not? - Straight Razor Place Forums

Why tape the spine? - Straight Razor Place Forums

Fun with Verniers calipers and tape - Straight Razor Place Forums

Some Thoughts on Taping the Spine while honing - Straight Razor Place Forums

Absolutely, positively the last word on spine taping - Straight Razor Place Forums

So as you can see, its been talked about a fair bit..!

Good luck and keep us posted!

Stubear,

Thank you very much for the great reply and the great information. I just got through trying a razor without the tape and I agree, it does travel nicely with the tape on.

Thanks again, I'll keep you posted. I truly appreciate the information here.

Maq

I honed 2 more razors, 3 total.. all shave great. I'm very happy.. thanks to everyone's help and advice.. still a lot to learn and many more razors to hone!

To tape or not to tape that is the question.. For now until I get my technique down.at least.... I'm going to tape. I know I'll be adding too much pressure at times or even in the wrong area at times. So I'll tape for now and revisit the matter in 6 months say and see how I feel about taping then.

Tnx for the answers to my questions..

Maq

Good question, i have been wondering the same thing myself.