Thread: To tape or not to tape, that is the question.

Glen pretty much said everything that needs to be said, but I'll throw in my 2 cents on the issue.

It isn't rocket science here guys- there is no one correct way to hone ANY razor. I tape every single razor I hone. Why? Because I want to. I don't like the appearance of hone wear. Simple as that. I do however know how to hone a razor successfully both with or without tape. Make a choice and stick to it- it doesn't matter what other people do. The only thing that complicates the issue is when you only tape some razors but not all- and that will only be complicated if you can't remember which is which. Again, it isn't rocket science.

Originally Posted by Philadelph

Glen pretty much said everything that needs to be said, but I'll throw in my 2 cents on the issue.

It isn't rocket science here guys- there is no one correct way to hone ANY razor. I tape every single razor I hone. Why? Because I want to. I don't like the appearance of hone wear. Simple as that. I do however know how to hone a razor successfully both with or without tape. Make a choice and stick to it- it doesn't matter what other people do. The only thing that complicates the issue is when you only tape some razors but not all- and that will only be complicated if you can't remember which is which. Again, it isn't rocket science.

What he said!

Originally Posted by AFDavis11

I always tape a razors edge when I begin to suspect spine wear complications because it quickly and easily both diagnoses and solves the problem instantly.

Say more, please?

I thought I would post here since it has to do with taping or not.

I finally was able to get a good shaving edge off my two razors. One is a Dovo Special 6/8 and a Filarmonica 12 Doble Temple 4/8. The Dovo was bought new about a year ago and the edge finally crapped out about three months ago. I bought a coticle and a 600 grit DMT and began to try to restore the edge using tape on the spine. The choice of the DMT is questionable in hindsight. I didn't have the best results until I watched Glen's "one stone honing " vid and started to change the tape more often and lightened way up on the pressure.

My problem is this; With my Dovo, on one side the spine and edge are in perfect relationship to each other, that is to say when marked the marking comes off evenly after one pass down the stone. The other side however, leaves the marking on the toe going back towards the heel about 5/16". I tried "pushing the edge" out at the toe but it never cured the problem. I finally started to rock the blade towards the toe as I swept the razor down the stone and eventually I got a good shaving edge.

Here's my question. Should I send my razor to a pro to get this problem squared away? I'm not too sure that with the tape on the spine I can resolve the relationship between the spine and the edge. With tape off I'm afraid that I'll trash my razor trying to "fix" it.

The Filly was troublesome in that it has a smiling edge but a heel to toe rocking/ sweeping motion got it sharp once I started to change the tape more often and lightened my stroke.

Thanx

Rob.

Rob, I would just use the rocking motion you described. Easiest way to solve the problem and won't require a lot of metal removal on the spine to even out the one side of the Dovo. Even if it could be done. That is where the 'rolling x' came to be as described in the SRP Wiki honing section.

Awww. If honing was easy it wouldn't be as much fun!