Thread: Micro Bevels or "How to get your edge bloody sharp off an 8k"

There was a similar thread on here some time ago but I wanted to revisit the subject in case anyone hasn't yet tried it.

I have a lovely rather lovely Dovo Black star but it dropped out of my rotation a few months ago after I got hold of a TI which practically hones itself. Yesterday, I thought "no more!" and decided to try giving it a micro-bevel which I'd seen suggested on here - where one would hone as normal then to finish, complete a small number of laps on a super fine stone with the spine taped.

Not owning a super fine stone, I just honed as normal on a norton 4/8k before taping the spine and completing 15 more laps on the 8k.

Now, I have to say, this razor went from shaving like a cheesegrater to feeling like i was rubbing a block of butter over my face. I see no reason why everyone shouldn't use this wonderful technique!

Nice one! Yep, those micro bevels are very effective, and really make an edge smooth. Glad it worked well for you..!

The only reason I have yet to use a microbevel is because I already tape the spine of my razors. This means I would have to go up to two layers of tape to get a microbevel and then continue to use two layers for touch ups and such. This seems like to much work,imo, but I am curious.

Nice job

Pasted strops give such good results because they flex and polish out a microbevel. You don't need to alter your honing angle at all to create a very fine microbevel if you give it a good going over with a pasted strop.

In my view using additional tape to create microbevel is one way to compensate for a subpar honing technique. Using progressively finer hones should create uniform and polished bevel, but if one cannot maintain good strokes or doesn't complete the work on a coarser hone before switching, the very edge will have various defects and will not shave well.
Using a few strokes on a fine grit hone at a slightly increased angle can remove these defects, but the razor can be exactly as good with simple straightforward honing too.

I can probably find a couple of photographs to illustrate this.

Originally Posted by gugi

In my view using additional tape to create microbevel is one way to compensate for a subpar honing technique. Using progressively finer hones should create uniform and polished bevel.

I agree. It can also be a choice to protect your razor's spine.

I do not have any experience with shaving str8's, but lots with knives and it is the same there, a microbevel is easy to put on but ultimately it also means you don't have to polish your bevel to the best of your ability.

Originally Posted by gugi

In my view using additional tape to create microbevel is one way to compensate for a subpar honing technique. Using progressively finer hones should create uniform and polished bevel, but if one cannot maintain good strokes or doesn't complete the work on a coarser hone before switching, the very edge will have various defects and will not shave well.
Using a few strokes on a fine grit hone at a slightly increased angle can remove these defects, but the razor can be exactly as good with simple straightforward honing too.

I can probably find a couple of photographs to illustrate this.

This becomes almost a Philosophical argument. Many western workers use micros to save time and stone. Get the bevel close then pay attention to what really counts and that is the edge. Ultra fine stones and films in the micro equation virtually eliminate heavy strop work other than to dry the edge after a shave. This was not always possible under previous tradition.
Eastern Philosophy believes the whole edge should be true.
Really, there is no right or wrong, it is what works for you. Getting the best shave by whatever means is the only correct answer.