Thread: uneven spine

Hi
Im trying to set the edge on a razor with an uneven spine, i get an edge that can shave the armhair on 90% of the blade but the part closest to the shoulder dosnt get good contact with the hone. I saw something about putting 2 pieces of tape on the spine to set the edge ( http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...ovo-blade.html ). If i do this do i need to continue the honing with tape or is it just to get the edge and not on the finer grits? do you think this method will solve my problem? one more question, the size of the edge isnt the same all way but what I have understood this dosnt matter?
Thank you for your answers

If you are asking this question, you need to be honing with one layer of electrical tape on the spine period. No reason to kill a innocent razor. I don't mean to insult, but hone with tape at least until you feel proficient at honing.

Most uneven spine's like you are picturing is just a difference in the final grind of the razor...especially one that may have been finished by hand. THe slightest variance in the grind shows up when honing.

Hone with tape. When setting a bevel, sometimes it may take replacing the tape once or even twice. I then replace the tape with every pregression of stone. Hope this helps.

No need for two layers, one will be just fine.

But will the tape help me to get a bevel set or is it just to save the spine? the problem i got is that the part close to the shoulder isnt touching the hone like it should. Should i just tape and hone until i removed enough metal so the entire blade is touching the hone?

It will help, if you read that post completely

It will explain the reasoning of why it works and the fact that Yes you can grind the heck outta the razor to even it all up, that however will take quite a bit of work and you will end up with a quite large bevel ... You can also just use the two layers through out the process if you want.. The second layer of tape negates the bad spine, using only one layer may or may not


""Try two layers of tape do sets of 20 circles, just like Lynn's and my vids show until you have a even sharpness, note I didn't say even looking bevel that might never happen.. Once the sharpness is really even from toe to heel then remove 1 layer of tape and do a set or two of 20 medium pressure circles.. Replace the layer of old tape with new and hone as you normally do to finish off the razor... Change the tape once again for the final 20 laps of feather light finishing laps..

I sometimes refer to this as "taking the ruts out of the road" if you have ever driven down a back road through the snow this makes perfect sense.. The ruts get deeper and deeper and soon you just have to follow them, trying to get out of them, or to cut new straighter ones, normally gets you pulled back in, or thrown off the road
The second layer of tape acts like a plow does on the road, cutting and evening out the old ruts, (hone wear) then you have a fighting chance of getting a nice evenly sharp bevel set...

Now you could also try and even up the spine to the bevel, but basically that takes a ton of time, talent, and metal to accomplish so the choice is yours... ""

You need to find the stroke that will cover the entire razor, use the magic marker test on the bevel and try different stroke until you find one that will work, in this case problaby a heel forward swooping stroke will cover the entire razor.

What is a heel forward swooping stroke you might ask next


Why let me show you


gssixgun Honing a Smiling Wedge part 1.wmv - YouTube