Thread: new to honing my own

Hey guys, I've had my Nortons for about a week now and I've been practicing on some old razors that I picked up from an antique dealer. I have watched several videos and read extensively on the subject, but I can't seem to get them as sharp as I want. I'm checking my progress often and making sure I have an even bevel across the blade. I'm using the tape on the 1k when I set my bevel, but am I supposed to use tape on the 4k and 8k too? I've seen some videos where they didn't, then I saw one of Glen's videos where he kept using the tape the whole way. That seems to be the only way I can get a decent cutting edge. However, I would like to get so sharp that my whiskers just disintegrate on sight! I recently converted a buddy I work with to wet shaving and he now has two razors. He asked me if I would hone them for him and I told him yes, if I can't get them shave ready then we're going to send them off to one of you guys though.

If you start with tape, you need to continue using tape all the way, change it a couple times through the progression.

If you don't continue with tape, then you are honing the upper sides of the bevel and not the edge.

Agreed, If you use tape at the start keep the tape all the way through renewing it at each step.

I sometimes put 1 piece of extra tape on for the last stage for a very light hone if I'm having trouble getting the edge just right. OR sometimes hone without tape and for the last step i use one piece of tape for a very light hone.

I'm still new to this too and am finding out new things every day about honing. I find most my razors like an X stroke and changing the angle slightly will make a difference too, depending on the razor.

Have fun, you will get it! Just watch heaps of videos!

If you don't have it already below is a copy of the barbers manual for honing and stropping.

Help_Files_Permanent_Archive_Barbering_Textbooks_1961_Barbering_Text_-_Honing.pdf

The Tape debate rages on.. and now i have my own opinion on it..

my two cents. It's fine to take tape off and hone from say 4k onwards without it AS LONG AS you have been setting a Bevel with pressure on a 220 or 1k and you are using ONLY THE WEIGHT OF THE BLADE from 4k on

Mind you, if you've been watching glens videos, do it like he says. He knows way more than i do lol

if you remove the tape after 1k you need to make sure the bevel is reset on the 4k before you move on.
I have not noticed any difference between honing with tape or no tape, so it is personal preference how you want to do it.

Originally Posted by tekbow

The Tape debate rages on.. and now i have my own opinion on it..

my two cents. It's fine to take tape off and hone from say 4k onwards without it AS LONG AS you have been setting a Bevel with pressure on a 220 or 1k and you are using ONLY THE WEIGHT OF THE BLADE from 4k on

Mind you, if you've been watching glens videos, do it like he says. He knows way more than i do lol

That can probably work, but why bother? IMO there's no downside at all by using tape all the way, and you get the same feel on your stones...

Originally Posted by Blix

That can probably work, but why bother? IMO there's no downside at all by using tape all the way, and you get the same feel on your stones...

The upside, as i see it anyway, is a quick bevel set, followed by polishing on the 1k, without the unecessary wear of the 220 or 1k on the spine, no change in blade geometry, and no multiple beveling (if putting tape on at the polishing stage). That and it was in the wiki lol.

Originally Posted by mainaman

if you remove the tape after 1k you need to make sure the bevel is reset on the 4k before you move on.
I have not noticed any difference between honing with tape or no tape, so it is personal preference how you want to do it.

You don't need to reset the bevel on the 4k. That's with the proviso you've used pressure on the 220 and 1k to start with. it you use blade weight on 220/1k then yes i agree.

there was a discussion on this thread the last few days.

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...-happened.html

As far as i'm concerned, everyone's opinion is valid. i just favour the 220/1k taped, with pressure method because it gives a fast clean bevel set with no nasty 220 or 1k wear on the spine. the only reason i'm defending it is because people say "with tape, stay with tape, no tape don't use any" and I just don't believe it's the case. IMO of course, if you get an edge though, what does it matter what way?

Originally Posted by tekbow

The Tape debate rages on.. and now i have my own opinion on it..

my two cents. It's fine to take tape off and hone from say 4k onwards without it AS LONG AS you have been setting a Bevel with pressure on a 220 or 1k and you are using ONLY THE WEIGHT OF THE BLADE from 4k on

Mind you, if you've been watching glens videos, do it like he says. He knows way more than i do lol

Originally Posted by mainaman

if you remove the tape after 1k you need to make sure the bevel is reset on the 4k before you move on.
I have not noticed any difference between honing with tape or no tape, so it is personal preference how you want to do it.

I too have removed the tape on a few after the about the 1.2k but only on razors that needed a lot of honing to get the bevel set. It has worked for for me and it didn't take much to re set the bevel again once the tape was gone.

Different circumstances for different razors. I think this is going off topic though. I think JeffC79 is just after basic honing advice, to get a shave ready bevel..?