Thread: I'm doing something wrong....

Pardon my interrupting with a newbie honing question.

If you use tape to set the bevel, can you then take it off when you move to the 4K, 8K, and up stones?

I've heard two positions. One is that if you start with tape, you have to always use tape. The other is that you can set the bevel with tape, then continue without it.

I'm interested in this because I think I might be almost succeeding in this honing hobby and the tape question has be a little confused.

I hope this isn't hi-jacking the thread!

Originally Posted by LawsonStone

Pardon my interrupting with a newbie honing question.

If you use tape to set the bevel, can you then take it off when you move to the 4K, 8K, and up stones?

I've heard two positions. One is that if you start with tape, you have to always use tape. The other is that you can set the bevel with tape, then continue without it.

I'm interested in this because I think I might be almost succeeding in this honing hobby and the tape question has be a little confused.

I hope this isn't hi-jacking the thread!

IMHO if you use tape when setting the bevel you have to use with higher grits as well. Think mathematically: The bevel vs spine is a triangle. If you use tape with the bevel and then remove the tape with higher grits, you wont be honing the actual cutting edge any more. Just the sides of it. The difference between tape or not is not much; only say 0,5 - 1 degrees but it is enough.
Some people add more tape with higher grits. This will work ok but doesn't polish whole bevel. Only the cutting edge.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Yes ???
Change the tape and move to the 4k hone...

Now is the easy part of honing, you can switch to the Norton Conservative Pyramid or you can stay Progressive from here the choice is yours.....

Once the bevel is set, the rest is sharpening and polishing, keep a light even touch and you'll be fine...

Not only yes but actually I change the tape at each level of honing, bevel, sharpen, polish...
If you are going to use tape "Then use tape right" make sure you change it as you hone, and make sure you put it on evenly, and leave no bubbles or wrinkles... JMHO

There are plenty of people that say to take a step up 1 layer at the polishing stage but honestly I have never seen a bit of difference... that is your choice as well as whether to use tape at all... The only two reasons I told him to use it here are
1. he is new
2. he has been working this razor already no sense in wearing more spine then need be...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

OK now I have the info to help you...


Once the bevel is set, the rest is sharpening and polishing, keep a light even touch and you'll be fine...

Yes, all stones lapped.

I followed your advice. The edge seems keen. It does pass the HHT on entire length, but the shaving test will have to be tomorrow as I'm freshly shaved.

Thank you for your kind and helpful suggestions.

Fingers crossed here for ya Brother !!!!

Still pulls and tugs and does not shave half as good as my shave ready Gold Dollar.

:-( Still need to practice some more....

If the razor feels like it's tugging then it's not sharp enough. Either you didn't actually get the bevel "sharp" (I hear this is the most common beginner error) or rolled the edge while stropping (doubful). So try setting the bevel again to a "sharper feeling edge". If you over hone and get a burr that breaks off, it will feel catchy and lumpy. If it does this, you'll have to hone off the burr (essentially starting over).

Another trick I learned the hard way was to coat the edge with a magic marker and then make sure the bevel was being set in all areas of the blade.

Good luck !

I don't think it is my stropping, cause I have been stropping the heck out of the one that is still sharp and it still shaves very well.

I will give Lynn's pyramid a try and see if that helps....

I think it is getting close.... but it drags across the beard, not like the sharp one that goes tink tink as the hairs go bye bye and no pulling.

I also sent out my Dovo "Best Quality" to Lynn today for honing. This honing is not the simple thing you would think it is.

I am a bit confused now, did you not use the 4k and 8k after the bevel set???

If you did, what exactly did you do with them???

Originally Posted by gssixgun

I am a bit confused now, did you not use the 4k and 8k after the bevel set???

If you did, what exactly did you do with them???

After the 1k, I used the 4k, and then the 8k, and then the 16k, and then the CrOx strop, and then the Filly Strop, and then shaved. I guess you would call it progressive...