Thread: 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

I would not hone that way. The shank should be your main point of contact when holding the blade. As for the coffin cases, I'd just throw them out.

I use masking tape only to re-establish the bevel. Cut a piece the length of the edge and center the tape on the spine. I really do not think it will hurt the hone. Just clean it after use.

I cherish each coffin case I receive with a razor. Most are not even the original case. Barbers would put razors back in any old case they could find. I have bid on razors on ebay that I have a case for. I posted once about members matching up cases to there razors. Let's try to perserve as much of the past as we can. Otherwise we can go back to the Mach3 toss away world we came from.

Glen

My problem is that they do not have a practical use. I don't know of a good way to sanitize them without ruining them. At least we can sanitize, hone and use the razors that we get, so there is a practical use in this case.

Piper,
I've begun taping my spine. It prevents a lot of hone wear, and the angle doesn't change the bevel too much. I use 2 layers of scotch tape. I've recently changed to one layer when I get past the very rough honing, establishing a bevel. I've heard electrical tape will work too, and probably lasts longer than the scotch. The double layer of tape will work for about 20 laps on the 4000 using 1-2 lbs. of pressure. The single layer lasts at least that long, as well, because I'm only using it on the finish honing, with almost no pressure.

A note about that: You'll read in the honing instructions on this site about using no pressure when honing...to let the weight of the blade and the abrasive of the stone do the work. That's a bit misleading, as you always have to use enough pressure on the blade to keep the edge in contact with the stone at all times. No more than that, and it's a fine line to walk, but it comes pretty easy with practice.

I would probably avoid putting my fingers on the blade while honing. It's easier, I know, but as in most things requiring a delicate touch, most of the issue is muscle memory. With the other fingers on the blade, you might put too much pressure on, and unevenly. It's best to learn to do it with just enough pressure to keep the edge in contact with the stone, IMO. I started off using the other hand, as well, but my honing results really improved (and I got more even bevels) when I stopped. You can use the other hand to put pressure in specific places when you're, say, trying to hone out a frown, or work out an uneven bevel, but for the most part, I avoid it.

As far as the coffin cases...hold on to them. Cardboard is far superior in most cases to the newer plastic coffins. The cardboard will absorb some water, and will "breathe" a bit. Maybe I'm wrong, but I believe the cardboard coffins help prevent rust, if kept from being dunked in water. , much the same way a leather shoe is superior (at least for comfort) to a vinyl or rubber shoe. Leather breathes, while the others do not. The rubber shoe is much better for preventing intrusion of water, but once it gets in there, can't evaporate and dry out, without removing it and getting air in there. The analogy being, "How often do you dry shave with a straight?" There's always water present, and you get rid of as much of it as you can after shaving, but it's better to have storage method that allows for evaporation, even if it's only a little.

All the preceding thoughts are my opinions, and what I've found works for me only. Someone else will probably have a slightly different (or vastly different ) opinion. Your results may vary, and you'll find your own way of doing it. Hope it helped.

Definitely keep the old cardboard coffins. As for sanitizing...forget it! Americans tend to be too germ conscious anyway. Embrace germs! Build your immune system! I love buying estate (second hand) smoking pipes. I clean them w/ alcohol to gut the gunk & well, who knows, maybe the previous owner died of TB. Then I surround myself w/ glorious second hand tobacco smoke. This enhances your immune system as well. Second hand smoke is one of the silliest concepts ever foisted on the gullible public. Who gets more second hand smoke than a pipe smoker? Yet many good studies show that pipe smokers live up to two years longer than........a non-smoker! That's right! To consider the genetic factor, a Swedish study observed the data on identical twins; and usually the pipe smoking twin lived longer than the non-smoking one. Cigarette smoking twins did die the soonest though. So, smoke a pipe and shave w/ diry old razors. You may actually live longer. And certainly don't worry about it. Worry has sent more people to an early grave than just about anything.

Originally Posted by dennisthemenace

Definitely keep the old cardboard coffins. As for sanitizing...forget it! Americans tend to be too germ conscious anyway. Embrace germs! Build your immune system! I love buying estate (second hand) smoking pipes. I clean them w/ alcohol to gut the gunk & well, who knows, maybe the previous owner died of TB. Then I surround myself w/ glorious second hand tobacco smoke. This enhances your immune system as well. Second hand smoke is one of the silliest concepts ever foisted on the gullible public. Who gets more second hand smoke than a pipe smoker? Yet many good studies show that pipe smokers live up to two years longer than........a non-smoker! That's right! To consider the genetic factor, a Swedish study observed the data on identical twins; and usually the pipe smoking twin lived longer than the non-smoking one. Cigarette smoking twins did die the soonest though. So, smoke a pipe and shave w/ diry old razors. You may actually live longer. And certainly don't worry about it. Worry has sent more people to an early grave than just about anything.

ROFL! Too true! (You like George Carlin, don't you.)

I like OLD George Carlin stuff, like the hippy dippy weatherman. Lately I think he's too crude. I guess I like old films, tv shows, etc. much better than new in most respects. My 15 yr old son and I like to watch old Red Skelton shows, Laurel & Hardy movies, etc. You get the idea.

Howdy Hollis,

Originally Posted by piper

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?

I've used packing tape, masking tape and gaff tape and they all work ok. The packing tape has the thinnest profile thus keeping the bevel virtually unaltered, but does seem to wear out quickly. The gaff is thick , but doesn't wear out. The masking tape is somewhere in between.

Originally Posted by piper

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?

You can do this if you need to, but I'd also recommend learning to fly with one hand. The irregular pressure issue can be irradicated by rolling the main pressure point from heel to tip of the blade as you progress along the honing stroke.

Originally Posted by piper

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?

I garbage my bad boxes, but good ones are still useful. I keep my Bresnick Dubl Duck in one. If you're worried about disinfectant, I should think a light Lysol spray should do the trick. I've never bothered though.

Originally Posted by piper

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.

Start with some pressure, say 2 lbs. or so and gradually ease up toward teh end of the pyramid. More important is steadiness and eveness of pressure throughout the entire pyramid.

Originally Posted by dennisthemenace

I like OLD George Carlin stuff, like the hippy dippy weatherman. Lately I think he's too crude.

I think Carlin is one of those great comics who has only gotten better. The "7 words you can't say on television" is mindless crass crap at first glance, but seen in context with the rest of his body of work, it can be understood. In recent years he has become a force to be reconned with with mind like a razor and a relentless wit. I didn't like him when I first heard him in the 70's, now I LOVE him.

X

Caveat: noob honer here.

I was doing the one-finger-on-the-blade honing thing, because I was having so much trouble when honing one-handed: spine and edge drifting and clashing all over the place. The extra finger helped some, but the pressure also gave me uneven sharpness along the blade.

I then practiced "honing" with a Bic pen on a hardback book, getting the "flip" motion with my fingers and learning what it felt like to keep my wrist steady and keep contact along the whole "blade." Once this became comfortable, I began honing one-handed for real, and have been managing it lately without ruining any edges.