Thread: Probably a noob question. When to use tape.

So I'm pretty new to honing, but I get all my razors very sharp and have been enjoying it a lot.

To preface this I am using a La Dressante Coticule

My normal process in a worst case of how dull my razor is: I do 30ish laps with slurry. 30 ish laps with just water. And lap with electrical tape on the spine until I determine it is sharp enough. Obviously if my razor does not need any bevel correction I may skip the slurry or do less etc.

My question: Should I be using electrical tape throughout the entire process? Am I wasting time not using tape and then using tap at the end?

Thank you very much!

Just so long as you use the same amount of tape/no tape, or you are moving up in layers as you move up in grit you are fine..

Don't remove layers and move up in grits that will not work out so well

If that makes sense great, if not I can go into more detail of why that happens

It's a very vald question to ask, in my opinion, and more people should.

You can use tape throughout the entire process, although at some point it might wear and you'll have to replace it.

But adding a layer of tape during the later stages of honing is a great way to get a sharp edge, as you slightly increase the honing angle and create a secondary bevel, at least honing on a coticule I can tell you that you most likely get a sharper edge than if you would only use one layer of tape; basically what you are doing is a version of what is called 'unicot', a method for coticule razor sharpening that relies heavily on adding an extra layer of tape (don't do too many strokes with the added layer of tape though, that would defeat the entire purpuse of a secondary bevel).

Both will give you great shaving edges, when done properly of course.

Oh, and I personally determine the number of layers of tape I add by aiming to get a honing angle between 16 and 20 degrees. It seems to work very well.

That is such a newb question . . . Ha! Just kidding. It kind of is a waste of time, but it's also kind of efficient too. I actually think you should just keep playing each razor as it comes and forget about questions that lead to recipes for honing. Those always eventually fail you. The variety of actions you are doing for bevel geometry should follow some sort of logic. If you read Glen's post carefully you should see the logic there. I like the idea of starting without tape and the adding tape. I think honing with both slurry and tape sounds "messy". I would also say that a solid bevel set shouldn't be accomplished using tape. That's all just a theory of efficiency. In practice taping from the beginning and with slurry works just fine too. Over time what really needs to be developed is understanding what slurry and tape are actually accomplishing and knowing when to apply each and why. To me it's like asking the question: is it better to paint a house with a roller or a small brush and which order is preferred? And I would say "yes", exactly. My only practical caution would be that with both tape and slurry you'd be imposing two "flexible" variables with honing. I prefer to keep the flexible component to stropping alone. Honing is all about imparting strict bevels at the proper geometry (and for beginners being able to repeat each stroke exactly the same in order to impart that geometry accurately).

If you hone with tape, on slurry, with a hone pivoting on a towel I think the razor might explode!

Gssixgun said on one of his vidos that he uses tape on all or most of his sharpening jobs.
I went to this method and now use it on all razors, It made all the difference in the world for me. Remember to replace tape when it gets worn. I do take it off when I go to any type of strop though.
Stingray

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...ave-ready.html

See your other thread it is not a Straight Razor and it will never shave Doesn't matter how much tape you use ...

Originally Posted by gssixgun

http://straightrazorpalace.com/honin...ave-ready.html

See your other thread it is not a Straight Razor and it will never shave Doesn't matter how much tape you use ...

Please p.m. me before you attempt to hone this razor I bought the same 1 from the same guy on the same site and it will never be shaved ready!