Thread: Don't these spine-saving tricks alter the geometry?

I will tape if the razor will not take an edge. I've rescued a whole lot of very old razors that would no longer hone up for guys. I prefer not to tape. If boils down to a usable razor or not, I'll tape it.

I am still a relative newbie but I have been acquiring a lot of razors and hones and using them. I decided to follow Randy's lead and tape all razors. This way I don't have to try and remember which I taped and which I didn't. The proof of the pudding is in the eating and I have been getting a variety of vintage and new razors shaving sharp.

by pretty vs great shave, i mean that some razors without tape, you are going to have significant hone wear. i have an old wedge that has wicked hone wear after trying to get an edge on it. i think that it is personality, but others may look and say that i have ruined it. i am not saying you cannot get shave ready without sacrificing the spine, but sometimes this is the case if you don't want to tape.

also, i am sure part of my hone wear was due to my inexperience at the time.

vgod

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Sorry, I have to totally disagree with that. I use tape for all honing and with patience and persistence I have been able to make an edge so sharp it was not a pleasant experience. I had to use a super light touch or else it cut me. I did this with 3 razors, a 6/8 W&B, a 9/16 Morely and a 4/8 Wedge brand several years ago. I do not make them that sharp anymore for anyone.

Originally Posted by randydance062449

Hello Mike,

The hardness of a blade is not affected by the angle. Not at all. The hardness is determined by the type of steel, the heat treatment and the tempering.

I am pointing this out for the benefit of the new guys, not as a jab at you.

Having my first cup of coffee for the day,

Sorry let me clarify what I was trying to say.
I was questioning whether the thicker steel at the spine would be harder or softer because of it's thickness, and heat transferrance durring the tempering.
If the spine isn't cooled fast enough in the hardening, or if it is kept at temperature longer than the edge in tempering there would be a small difference, and the potential for a greater difference is there especially when these are manufactured in large batches.

Some makers might even soften the spine to give the razor more strength.

I will tape if the razor will not take an edge. I've rescued a whole lot of very old razors that would no longer hone up for guys. I prefer not to tape. If boils down to a usable razor or not, I'll tape it.

Here's another reason to tape. I usually apply one layer of tape, and it makes very little difference in the geometry.
on occasion i will add additional layers of tape if a razor won't take an edge. This has saved several razors from going to my junk pile. The added angle allows the hone to hit the parts of the razor that are being tempermental, and as the tape wears down, it comes back to the steeper angle.
Also a poorly ground spine wll show wide spots if you don't tape. The tape can be beneficial in several ways when you are working with a poorly ground razor.