Thread: Diagnose: Sharp but not smooth

[QUOTE=gssixgun;630814][QUOTE=gary haywood;630791] bart always hones his ti's on one layer of o.15 electrical tape using unicot he then adds another layer of tape to perform unicot edge . he says aftyer a thew shaves the edge is delicate , btittle and the edge chips very easily. unicot adds strenght to the edge . why don't you try unicot as mentioned i have and it realy worked and does'nt take long set bevel on one layer of tape then add another layer and do 20 laps on misty slurry and 60 laps on water nice light laps . bart says this alters the angle and makes for strong bevel and you get no chips etc. other than that do dilucot and then ti paste if you prefer traditional bevel.

What is the difference????

I have read this over and over from Bart and others BTW, and honestly this has always bugged me... What is the difference, if I add a piece of tape at the end or add them at the beginning????
You and others are essentially saying that the .50-.75 of a degree change from one piece of tape is going to change the edge enough to make it stronger???? you are talking here about micron differences on the bevel...

When actual angle measurments on real razors range from 12 degrees to 25 degrees... This doesn't really make sense then does it???? In fact some razors the bevel angle actually changes from heel to toe...

Now if this were true and proved why do so many people swear by NO TAPE at all on razors. if the edge is made stronger by adding 1 layer on top of one other, what is the difference between one layer and none????

So what difference would it make to the edge of the razor if I started with two layers, or started with one, then only added the second for the last few laps the angle at the edge is the same....
Or used just 1 or 3 or 4 see what I am asking???

I think you all are deluding yourselves by thinking it is the tape and angle when it is actually the fact that you are taking your time and finishing the razor correctly....


My 2 pence


Gary, no offense intended to you at all, if it works then more power to ya, but I think it is working for another reason then what you are thinking....

I believe "The Glen" nailed it!

Also just as a side note to the above...Yes I understand the whole theory and practice of "Double Bevels" from TZ and "Microbevels" too, even the theory of using a pasted strop to "supposedly" create a rounded bevel (that doesn't really bear out it testing)

I have read all this stuff over and over and even tried most of it... but honestly I think it all comes down to proper finishing regardless of the system used... You either get all the rough off or you don't, you have to remove the microchips, period ...

bart recomended it for the chipping problem with ti's as i'm sure he experianced a similar thing ,i'm sure he would explain better than me . I just thought the chap could give it go . I my self don't use tape at all unless its for serious bevel work . then i will remove tape once bevel is set, set bevel with out tape and finish from there on. i have used ti paste and it did work well for me its worth ago . so no ofense glenn and your most likly right in what you say. i have tryed my self and it does give a good edge i have also got a great edge with no tape on both my ti's it just took a thew rehones to get there .

Makes perfect sense what your saying then Gary,,,
Basically another arrow in the quiver of getting to a smooth comfortable shave...

We all like more options (arrows)

For what i thought about the picture is that maybe you should try to change the direction you are honing. Now all the scratches seem to run parallel (sorry if my English term is incorrect). Try honing on different directions; lessening the pressure towards your final strokes. That might help.
I might be wrong as well. Wouldn't be the first time (or last).

From time to time I read posts where people describe their razors as just like wiping the whiskers off or like using a velvet squeegee. Or some other such thing, meaning they can't feel the blade pull at all as it cuts. I'd like to know how they do it. Can someone explain how he gets such a smooth shave?

Originally Posted by fdennis

From time to time I read posts where people describe their razors as just like wiping the whiskers off or like using a velvet squeegee. Or some other such thing, meaning they can't feel the blade pull at all as it cuts. I'd like to know how they do it. Can someone explain how he gets such a smooth shave?

The correct combination of Skill, Luck, Fate, Kismet, and perhaps the alignment of the stars...


First the right razor for your face slides across the correct combination of hones with your skill to bring that edge to it's ultimate point and no more the the proper beard prep combines with a perfect whipped cream lather and the skill that you have practiced at all this time allows for that perfect Velvet Squeegee Pass Good luck with finding it often...

Originally Posted by fdennis

From time to time I read posts where people describe their razors as just like wiping the whiskers off or like using a velvet squeegee. Or some other such thing, meaning they can't feel the blade pull at all as it cuts. I'd like to know how they do it. Can someone explain how he gets such a smooth shave?

Glen said: "The correct combination of Skill, Luck, Fate, Kismet, and perhaps the alignment of the stars..."

I would add shave prep. i.e whisker and skin prep.

I keep an Artist Feather open blade razor handy for
the days when I put-zed up my honing and stropping
of a razor.

Some days the Feather-str8 does wipe whiskers other days
it is simply a darn sharp blade that: tugs, pulls, growls,
snaps, bites and nicks.
I mention this because in a container of Feather blades
they are going to all be birds of a feather one just as sharp
and harsh or what ever they are as the next. So the difference
is my technique and my shave prep. Not full hollow,
not wedge, not natural .vs. man made, not cowhide
.vs. shell etc.
But me myself and I: my technique and my shave prep
and yes a sharp blade is part of it.

Which reminds me... My D.R. Harris is lathering as fine as
my MWF. Took a couple of tries to dial it in.... it is
turning into a very fine face lathering soap. Very fine...