taping spines, honing with fingers, and coffin cases
Hi guys,
Straight razor heaven here yesterday: got my Norton from Joe, as well as 8 razors (one from Joe, seven from eBay) to use for honing practice.
The first one I've been cleaning up is a Fred Dolle from Chicago, made in Germany.
Questions: I hear people referring to taping the spine to reduce honing wear. This seems like a good idea, although I wonder if the tape will come off on the hone. What sort of tape are you guys using for this? Where do you tape it?
Secondly, it seemed a lot easier to keep the razor flat on the hone if I let three fingertips just barely rest on the shoulder of the blade while moving it. I wasn't pushing down with them so much as making sure that the blade didn't bounce around through lever action on the scales. Is this okay, or do I need to learn to do it with only the one hand touching the razor?
My eBay razors also came with twenty old coffin cases in varying degrees of disrepair. Any use for these? Some of them are, I think, still okay for storing razors. Is there any way to disinfect them, seeing as they're cardboard? Also, some are missing part of the case. Is there any value to these, or are they kindling?
My first honing attempts did not produce a shave-ready edge. I think I'm going to go back tonight and do the aggressive pyramid.
Thanks,
Hollis