Thread: Will some razors just not sharpen without the use of tape?

To be honest I don't think that people back in the day actually cared about the razors in the same way we do today.

In any event, I have not had any direct experience with what you are asking. The only thing taping a spine really does at the edge is increase the angle (assuming any effects of the tape on the spine and hone nexus are negligible). So I suppose your question boils down to: are there razors that will not get sharp without increasing the bevel angle?

I think the answer would be "yes" to that. After all, razors have a geometry for a reason - the spine width to razor width ratio directly effects the bevel angle and I imagine that there is an optimal range for these angles - I believe there has been some work done in measuring these angles by numerous people. Two that immediately spring to mind are Randydance (I think) and mparker72 (also, I think). It may even be in the wiki somewhere.

But given tape has such a trivial effect on the razor angle, if you have a razor that seems to be effected by it that razor must really be operating at the margins, and I would suspect at the lower margin (flatter than the ideal range).

I guess that's kind of the theory from my perspective. However, there could be other things going on - multiple bevels being the first thing that pops into my mind: previous owner used tape, you've been trying to hone away at a flatter angle to what they did. Add 3 layers of tape - suddenly all is well? You said you have looked into it in detail, so that is probably not the case.

James.

2.

There's a very detailed (and I might add, very smart) page over at Belgium Coticule dedicated to honing wedge razors

http://www.coticule.be/wedges.html

in which the creation of secondary bevels using tape is strongly endorsed. It even offers up an .xml file where you can calculate bevel angle upon inputting blade and spine width. I had the same problem as you honing a Greaves full wedge with a massive bevel. 3 layers of electrical tape and 50 passes on a Naniwa 1K later, I was popping arm hair like corn.

I have never needed to use tape on honing a razor but I have had several that I needed to free hand. In some of those cases tape may have helped but in those with a warped or uneven edge, which was most of them, the tape wouldn't have made the difference as they still would have to be free handed or completely reground.

I ran across this thread and have a quick question about using multiple layers of tape. I always use one layer, but had a razor that I was having a devil of a time getting a good bevel on. I just tried using three layers and the bevel looks really nice off the 1K. I'm ready to move on to 4K/8K progression. Do I continue to use three layers? Remove one? Two?

Can anyone explain to me how it is possible that the steel of the spine is softer than the steel on the cutting end of the the blade unless you have a frameback.

As soon as you start using tape you will always have to use tape and the same number of layers. I never use tape so when I hone a wedge I take my time. You will get there eventually.

Originally Posted by blitzt

I ran across this thread and have a quick question about using multiple layers of tape. I always use one layer, but had a razor that I was having a devil of a time getting a good bevel on. I just tried using three layers and the bevel looks really nice off the 1K. I'm ready to move on to 4K/8K progression. Do I continue to use three layers? Remove one? Two?

I always use three layers. If you start with three, stay with at least three layers.