Thread: Minor (stupid?) question RE: Pasted strops and bevel

Hello there -

Got a new razor some weeks ago, and I just gave it a few light licks on a balsa/Cr2O3 strop. I noticed under a loupe that it had a new, light scratch pattern above the bevel suggesting that this thing had been honed with tape. Does that make sense? Am I doing any good - or bad - by using this method? Any implications for touch up later on down the road?

Thanks.

When you say it has a new light scratch pattern, the "new" confuses me. I don't think you are thinking that you caused the pattern because you wonder whether it was caused by honing with tape.

Tell more of your thoughts why you said "new."

Also, how far above the bevel is the scratch pattern, and how far up does it extend?

Originally Posted by LarryAndro

When you say it has a new light scratch pattern, the "new" confuses me. I don't think you are thinking that you caused the pattern because you wonder whether it was caused by honing with tape.

Tell more of your thoughts why you said "new."

Also, how far above the bevel is the scratch pattern, and how far up does it extend?

Hey Larry -

OK - I assumed the light scratch patters were 'new' and caused by light abrasion from the Cr2O3. Fair point. I'm just wondering: if they were caused by the Cr2O3, it seems like the only way they could extend above the bevel (on the blade) is if the razor on balsa/Cr2O3 was now flatter than it was during honing. E.g., it suggests to me that it might have been originally honed with tape.

I may be wrong, but I don't remember the scratch pattern being there when I received the razor. The pattern extends ~1/3 of the width of the bevel up onto the blade. In short, if I were to reset the bevel today based on the existing blade geometry, I'm guessing that I would wind up with a bevel that is slightly more shallow than what is on there now. If that's the case, the question is: would stropping with Cr2O3 at a slightly shallower angle than the existing (original) bevel degrade the edge?

Make sense?

I am not sure what to say. Maybe others have something to suggest. Can pictures be taken that show what you are describing?

A few thoughts:

If you spend a long time on low grit hones, scratches will appear above the bevel from the swarf... That could be it.

When you used the pasted strop, was it a paddle, or a hanging strop? As the razor went over the strop, if it was supple/flexible enough, you could have polished the bevel, and a little above it too... That would make the scratch marks normal.

That's all I got for now... Could also have been a pre-existing condition that you didn't notice...

My two cents..

I am inclined to believe the scratches were already there, primarily because i find it hard to imagine you could see scratches caused by CrO with a loupe.

Scratches in the hollow; i have always assumed, were from some inadvertent honing past the end of the stone. Maybe in some circumstances finer, obscuring scratches are removed then revealing the coarse ones.

If possible you could ask the person you got the razor from if he knows how it was honed. Is it very wide or wedgy?

Originally Posted by kevint

I am inclined to believe the scratches were already there, primarily because i find it hard to imagine you could see scratches caused by CrO with a loupe.

Good points.
I will add couple words.
what you have done with chro2 is just clean the surface and scratches now visible better.
gl

Originally Posted by kevint

I am inclined to believe the scratches were already there, primarily because i find it hard to imagine you could see scratches caused by CrO with a loupe.

Scratches in the hollow; i have always assumed, were from some inadvertent honing past the end of the stone. Maybe in some circumstances finer, obscuring scratches are removed then revealing the coarse ones.

If possible you could ask the person you got the razor from if he knows how it was honed. Is it very wide or wedgy?

It's full hollow, 6/8, but I'm inclined to agree with you about the scratches being there. Sometimes it's easy (for me, anyway) to overthink this stuff.

Originally Posted by hi_bud_gl

Good points.
I will add couple words.
what you have done with chro2 is just clean the surface and scratches now visible better.
gl

You're probably right.

Thanks for the responses guys. I'm ready to move on...

I usually hone with tape, and strop on CrO with no tape, never have I seen scratches due the CrO. The grit is way too high to be able to see CrO scratch with no magnification. If I am not rong it actually smooth the surface rather than scratch.

Check this thread out
Honing Study #1 Bismarck Razor company..

need to be a member to see the pics though.

Here another one that might be interesting for youguys
http://www.wetshavingworld.com/forum...esn-t-lie.-%29

If you stroped X pattern then the 'lines' will be opposite to the honeing lines (scratches) as your going toward the spine. So if your lines are in the opposite direction then it is poss what your thinking, that it was honed with tape.
A hanging strop works with razors hone with tape so a hanging strop with CrO will do the job (ie touch up).

+B