Razor Bevel Setting - The 5 Essentials you MUST Know !

[@mynorthshore]

I've been shaving with straight razors since October 12th, 1965, or the end of the first "Mitch Markovitz 1/2 Week," my 15th birthday. Your videos have answered my age old questions and are of great help. Thank you. By the way, for you youngsters just tuning in, way back in that era if one announced they wanted to use a straight razor, and work for a railroad, friends and family would want you committed.

[@magnoliamike]

I’m on my 7th Straight Razor Shave and I attended and successfully completed the fools pass in my last shave!!! And out of all of My St., Razor a Shaves no nicks no cuts my face feels amazing!!! Shave on Doc!!! 👨🏼‍⚕️ 🔪

[@markyoungman7267]

Doc, I don’t know if you read comments on your old videos or not, but you just blew my mind. Thank you so much for your videos. I am new to straight razor shaving and have just started buying antique razors on eBay to restore for myself as a hobby. I can get a good edge on some razors, but not on others. I’ve been perplexed. I have two that I have spent hours trying to get a good edge on, an old Boker and an old Dubbl Duck. I could not figure out why I couldn’t get a good edge on them. They look great. The scales are clean and the blade is polished and yet, no joy on the edges. I watched your video, did the tap test, and you guessed it. The bezels are off. Not off by a lot, but enough to mess with the edge. Thanks again for all of your videos. I’ve got some bezels to set!

[@drmatt357]

Mark Youngman - Thanks Mark. I read all my comments on my videos and no guess work here!😉 Be careful on setting the bevel on those old ones with geometry issues. You don’t want to remove too much metal because you can’t put it back. You might want to start out on some cheapies like gold Dollars are to get a feel for it. Thanks for stopping by.

[@411caj]

That is the best 25 minutes on KZbin with regard to straight razors. Thank you!

[@HAMMERDOWNFRAMER]

You tap and wobble test is unbelievable. My cheap eBay razor cuts now. You are a master.

[@drmatt357]

Thanks Mate! Simple stuff😁

[@GdaySport]

I wish I'd found your channel when I first started straight razoring 28 years ago. This stuff has been a mystery to me until now!

[@sambentham7799]

As a general sharpener approaching straight razors you’ve been a great help. Solid teaching methods. Thanks!

[@drmatt357]

You’re welcome Sam and glad you could make use of the content!

[@Jack87112]

Thank you for sharing! This one tutorial has changed everything! I now know the secrets to the perfect edge. As others have stated I also was ready to Quit the whole straight razor thing. You and your willingness to share has changed my life! I thank you kind sir.

[@dragonspy91]

I bought my straight razor in 2014, sent it to 3 different "honing" places. Every time I received it back, it couldn't shave worth a shit. I bought a stone set, watched a bunch of youtube videos, and tried to hone it myself and just gave up. 5.5 years later and I decide to do more research. This guy posted not months after I gave up researching how to fix my straight razor. Man I wish I would have known this 5 years ago.

[@drmatt357]

dragonspy91 - Well now you do know so you can fix it! Let us know how you make out!😉

[@peterjackson7473]

Sounds familiar plus 10 years in my case because I listened to loads of assholes with a camera talk about "weight of the blade" and other bs they had no idea about. Most people making instructional vids are no different to communist news network and just make it up as they go or regurgitate crap. Dr Matt showed me how.

[@drmatt357]

Peter Jackson - Thats right Pete. Remember, weight of the blade is for girls! We’re making edges great again!🇺🇸

[@themfu]

THIS is how you do a video explanation of razors. 10 stars!!

[@drmatt357]

Behfar Bastani - Thanks Mate!

[@LexiAnn99]

Love the videos! I have found several of my older & larger razors did not pass the tap & wobble test. I took your advice & went one farther & used a micrometer to check the thickness of the spine. The tip of the spine was almost always the thickest followed by just past the stabilizer with the center of the blade having the thinnest part of the spine . I took a big old Wade & Butcher early hollow ground blade & I found the spine thickness was close to 1/16" narrower in the center of the blade. Using my Work Sharp blade grinder I was able to get the spine thickness the same the length of the blade.. It passed tap & wobble with flying colors. Went ahead & lightly reset the bevel then progressed up through my stones & finished on my vintage Coti. & it made such a difference! Also I find that green grapes work as well as tomatoes to check your edge. I had grapes & no tomatoes. Thanks Matt for getting me thinking!!

[@drmatt357]

Glad to hear you benefited! There are different ways to do it but getting the geometry straight makes a huge difference in edge performance. I never thought about grapes but yes, they should work! So are you really Lexi, the pretty girl in the avatar?

[@LexiAnn99]

+drmatt357 She is my granddaughter, don't know why she is showing up! LOL

[@pma7750]

Thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Not only was your description excellent but an great wealth of useful information.

[@clivegtiguyable]

Top Man, Top advice. I have a Puma razor I was given by someone who's father in law had died and he found the razor in his shed. After I cleaned it and honed it I just could not get it to shave smooth. Checked it on a sheet of glass and it was miles out. All fixed now through a series of stones and stropped. Now butter smooth ! More confident now to tackle Ebay finds. Thanks Matt, great, enlightening advice.

[@drmatt357]

You’re welcome mate and glad you could benefit from the content.

[@giacomorivero257]

When they said “ make it make sense “ they were talking about you Dr Matt!

[@paulireagan4531]

Man !! I can not wait to get my stones and begin to practice what I’ve learned here !! 🤘🏻

[@justina1474]

great vid explained the basic questions I had that i couldnt find the answers anywhere

[@TheLawnSensei]

I have never owned a straight razor before but has been always in my mind to have one at least in my collection ... This Christmas my wife has decided to give me one for a gift and in preparation, I am trying to learn as much as possible ... thank you so much for this video for sure I have some more clear ideas ...

[@seedood]

I just tried shaving with one of the freshly honed razors you have done for me. All I can say is WOW!. It was the best straight razor shave I have had. I had time for a 2 pass shave and I got a near BBS shave from two passes. I have several other razors that I will be sending you over the next few months for a proper sharpening. Thank you for opening my eyes to how good a straight razor can shave!

[@muikku2428]

Best video, BY FAR about this. I have been learning about straight razors for about month now.. And yet this taught me most.. BY FAR! Thank you!

[@drmatt357]

Thank you and I'm glad you liked it. That's why I call it the 5 Essentials!

[@guitarzarfun]

These are the best straight razor honing vids I have found thank you!! Just ordered an IRL after watching your 2 stone video. Also excellent reminder..it's just a dam tool, it's going to wear!

[@RickyRickSwe]

Finally a utube video that explains everything! Thanks bro!

[@neilstein7382]

I finally understand what it means to set the bevel. Thank you!

[@gregjablunovsky841]

Simple, profound concept! Thanks for making the big idea sink in

[@drmatt357]

Greg Jablunovsky you’re welcome Greg and thanks for tuning in. 😃

[@richardstoker810]

You sir have been given a gift on how to communicate I really enjoyed watching and learnt a lot many many thanks.

[@drmatt357]

I appreciate that!

[@RealityCheckThat]

You are the "Project Farm" of straight razor sharpening! That's a huge compliment and if you don't know who I'm referring then you might want to look him up. Great vids.

[@drmatt357]

I did look him up. He seemed like a no BS kinda guy. Yes, thank you!

[@NunoLeitaonunogrl]

Thank you so much for this video!! I have a few razors I'm desperate to make them shave comfortable, and always fail miserably ... With this test I manage to understand the reason behind the issue! Thank you so much!!

[@drmatt357]

Nuno Leitao Thanks Nuno. I'm working on a video on the process of correcting the wobble. Should be out soon. It's 2 parts with a couple of other associated videos.

[@shadyeskimo]

Finally someone with clear and precise instructions of what to look for, and what you must do to get shave ready. Also liked the "correcting the razor" vid. Instant sub!

[@drmatt357]

shadyeskimo - Thanks Mate and glad to have you aboard. But I know it was really the Joe Rogan t-shirt and “Buckle up Bitches” reference that got you hooked!😉

[@markdayoc3907]

Great info. Dr. Matt knows how to hone a razor!

[@JuanMejia-tm8ql]

Most helpful video on KZbin for honing setting the bevel and checking the sharpness.. thank you sir not all heroes wear capes !

[@drmatt357]

Juan Mejia 71892 - Thank you Juan... and I agree! 😏

[@johnnyboydianno]

Ty so much I have a Sheffield I was ready to toss in the garbage so frustrated now I watched this awesome work sir keep it up cheers

[@sohibussaifbarbershop4190]

Thanks for the infos...just check our razor...yeah it does git a bevel problem...now we know what should be done next

[@ezvkm77]

Nice one on checking for flatness!

[@danielmcnaughton3539]

Excellent video. Well thought through and explained, I certainly learned what I needed to know, thanks!

[@chuckb.5076]

Awesome analogy. Ref the tape on razor. Thanks so much.

[@drmatt357]

Chuck B. Thanks Chuck. That too was my favorite part that I thought drove the point home. I actually came up with that one day while driving into the office.

[@YoungYoggi]

I’ve got this same shirt! Subscribed.

[@seedood]

Great video, thanks. I'm saving it to my favorites.

[@DarrellLEE-uw3fz]

thanks doc! im looking into getting a straight razor. watching tons of videos. learned alot from your video.. thanks

[@whaleseatkrill]

Wonderful video and great tutorial. I am inspired, thanks,

[@FunnelOfSteam]

Just did it and it worked like a charm ;-)

[@armen1961]

Professionally Excellent. Thank you so much Dr.Matt.

[@drmatt357]

Armen1961 - Thank you!

[@dicksonlee8811]

Just started honing, this was very informative. thanks DrMatt! Now i'm gonna do the wobble test with all my razors.

[@sterlingcampbell2116]

Fantastic. I needed this video

[@bhupendraparekh6225]

That was genius, thanks Doc

[@PeterCharkalis]

Excellent video Dr Matt! I learned from you the two handed fools pass, which has helped tremendously. Thank you!

[@markdayoc3907]

Yes excellent. This is where I learned the Fools Pass too! Dr. Matt is a great guy.

[@billherl7785]

Great video

[@drmatt357]

Bill Herl Thanks Guys!

[@josephkent3238]

excellent video

[@philwilliams8328]

This is somewhat of a lifesaver. Recently purchased a new Dovo razor and the edge won't even shave off arm hairs at skin level. On the forum site that I'm on everyone said that I must reset the bevel first and foremost. I have a granite top surface in my washroom and did your tap & wobble test and it seems to be perfect, as in NO wobble whatsoever. So, could I then just hone it (without taping the spine) by starting with an 8K stone and then finish it up with a 12K, and or perhaps with a ILR stone? This is the first blade, aside from some knife sharpening, that I would be attempting to hone/sharpen and I hate the thought that I might have to resort to coarser stones and setting a new bevel.

[@michalisgkinnis9885]

bravo you really opened my eyes my razor is the problem not the hone

[@nunh]

Longtime lurker - thank you for your videos!

[@drmatt357]

Thanks and you're welcome.

[@knightmare1015]

very cool and it makes sense actually. i use a naniwa professional 600 grit stone to set the bevel and for some reason i get great results using my thumbnail test.

[@h.al.8801]

I can see why there are some videos out there that are based on Dr Matt information. At least some guys do give credit to Dr Matt and do admit those videos are based on Dr Matt research. This is truly a scientific approach, I am a beginner, but this truly helps my development!

[@drmatt357]

Well, you know what they say, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!

[@nottjohn9418]

I've got a razor I was thinking of setting the bevel on but didn't know about the tap and wobble test. Also, after watching many videos on how to set the bevel, you have explained why you should set the bevel and this I think is as valuable as being able to set a bevel and guess what? If my razor fails the t&w test, I won't be using tape!

[@drmatt357]

Thanks for tuning in John. If it doesn't pass, before you wearing it down, watch my videos on how to correct the wobble.

[@nottjohn9418]

Thank you!

[@rui2565]

Thanks for advising me about not to use tape on the spine!

[@smievil]

5:40 there are a lot of moments where sharpening kitchen knives took longer than they should have, think it has to do with how a lot of them might look quite flat but they may still be slightly curved or concave so you don't hit the right parts properly, could probably have saved a lot of time if i checked it more properly.

[@drmatt357]

I never thought about it for knives but I guess it could apply somewhat. The difference is that when sharpening knives, only the edge is in contact as you are creating the bevel angle. So I don’t think it would make as much of a difference on a knife as a razor but still important none the less.

[@tommessig2060]

wow! i love the tap and wobble test. i'm looking forward to checking it out when i get my new razors

[@pikegear3986]

thank you very much for the useful informations....greetings from Italy.

[@Enigma277]

+ A PLUS to you for the O & A W.O.W. memorabilia behind you! But - a question regarding the acidity of the tomato juice and the potential for metallurgical corrosion/damage....Ever come across that?

[@drmatt357]

Andrew Sicari I rinse it off Andrew and continue on with the honing so I doubt there's any left on the blade.

[@pfv3462]

thanks for this clear explanation! My thought when not masking the spine, that you also polish away these scratches on the spine when you polish the cutting edge. So I think it's stupid that the manufacturer decorates the spine with gold leaf and decorations if they are damaged during sharpening and stropping! What is your preference when purchasing a new straight razor, carbon steel or stainless steel? thanks in advance for your advice

[@tkd4zgqg]

Wow, Thank You for sharing this info. I gave several razors that I've never been able to get a good enough edge on! :-)

[@drmatt357]

tkd4zgqg - Let us know how it goes.

[@stevevoland5540]

Thank you for this video I have never ben satisfied with my razors performance and now I know why. Could you make a video on fixing an uneven spine? Thanks again for your vary in lighting videos .

[@drmatt357]

steve voland Done Steve. Check my channel if you haven't seen it already.

[@CononBarrett]

Great video. Brilliant knowledge!

[@drmatt357]

Thanks Mate!

[@brianb.2894]

Excellent video . Thank you. I`m off to the store to get some cherry tomatoes. lol

[@maxcinta9992]

After watching your video I went looking for a few wet-stones. Most of them are only 50mm wide. That's about 1mm shy if 2 inches. That seems rather small to me. The stones I use for my knives are much larger than that: however, they seem to be much too coarse for a straight razor. Thank You for posting your videos; I will do my best to be a good student.

[@drmatt357]

I really like a 1.5"-2.0" wide stones for razors... but that's just me. Thanks for tuning in Max.

[@jasonclapp5051]

Hi doc! Have you made a video on how to remove uneven grind wear and start from scratch? Or will they come out with starting to set bevel?

[@drmatt357]

If uneven from poor sharpening technique, a proper bevel set should straighten it out. But uneven wear is usually from a razor grind that was done poorly or a warped blade. If there are high and low spots from a warp or a bad grind, when you put it on a flat stone, there’s going to be more wear on the high spots and less on the low spots… if that makes sense and you don’t want to even those out.

[@ldigestani]

So mutch knowledge shared!

[@drmatt357]

Glad it was helpful! I think it's one of my most succinct videos I've done. Did it on a Sunday morning with lots of coffee. Every once in a while I watch it and think, "Damn, that was organized and well thought out". Funny thing is that it's probably my most criticized videos by the "experts" out there. They've called for banning of my geometry videos!😆

[@tjmati5204]

Great video Matt! Thank you.

[@drmatt357]

TJ Mati You're welcome TJ. 😃

[@gavokai1757]

thank you i watched a hundred videos before i got into this but yours is new info if it wasnt for you think i would have whetstoned my razor to nothing cheers pal

[@colofduty3836]

Nice o&a frame 😎😎😎

[@soooluscious5636]

Fantastic video, great info

[@Jamesnebula]

Wow, had a razor I could not figure out and bam, it rocked not in a good way 😀, thank you.💓

[@drmatt357]

So did you get it to work?

[@Jamesnebula]

@@drmatt357 making good progress thanks , have three razors that rock and am practicing on a cheap one, nearly there but have burned through my wet and dry paper, need to buy more, use it on granite.

[@jayhawkr86]

dr Matt has put on some muscle from all the honing

[@Michael-vs3ls]

Good to Know! Thank you sir

[@scalaacom]

Hey DrMatt. This video has been a revelation to me as I start to learn to hone. I have had great success with my first razor honing from 1k bevel set, then only a jnat with a couple of nagura's. The problem now is with my second razor. I "think" it passes the tap and wabble test - I've done the test 10 times and if it fails, it does so only on one side, and only very slightly - hence why I am not sure if it fails or not. It does have a slight lift in the edge at toe for the last 3/8". Here is the thing; One side hones perfectly, micrscope shows an excellent image. The other side however has me vexed. The last 3/8" does not touch the hone on that side (but it does on the other). The microscope shows this to be true, and I can see there is no slurry undercut. I can't understand how it can be like this on one side, and not on the other. Now to my question. Would you recommend staying on the 1k until it touches full length on both sides, or try and hone it with a rolling x-stroke. What worries me with the rolling x, is 1, I don't think I have the skill level for that yet, and 2, won't that make the situation worse? Thanks for you help and keep bringing the awesome vids!

[@drmatt357]

You can try the rolling X if the razor has a smile. I'd try a piece of tape to see if that takes care of it. If it does, that means the bevel is off somewhere. Can be a few different things. Get some Gold Dollars to practice on so you won't grind down your good razors. Don't ask why I recommend that! ;-p

[@scalaacom]

+drmatt357 Thanks for your help.

[@larryhjertquist1607]

Matt, thanks for all your videos, would like to know how to purchase your flannel rags for stretching your skin. Thank you Larry

[@drmatt357]

Thanks Larry. You can PP her at [e-mail] . They're $22.50 with shipping. Just include your address.

[@paulkresky1465]

Great video! Thanks much!

[@Chris.Biard42]

Really great video doc... Could you please show us practicaly on a video how you set a curved razor and how you make it straight using a Diamond plate ???.. Greetings from France 😉

[@drmatt357]

Chris Picking I did a geometry series Chris. Here is the first video where I show the correction. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jaCwiIWMdr5gf5Y

[@Chris.Biard42]

drmatt357 oh thank you so much my friend appreciate it very much.

[@bfrazer4126]

drmatt357 just based on this one video I wish I could subscribe multiple times, you are so right/clear about the basic principles, and you made me laugh in the process! You should become a politician haha

[@drmatt357]

B Frazer - Thanks sir but politicians are FOS!😝. But do understand that what I say here about the wobble is controversial. If you quote it, some will say you and I are crazy, that the wobble doesn’t matter. That’s tantamount to saying a bent or out of round wheel won’t matter on an F1 car. Structure dictates function in both cases! Thanks for tuning in. 😏

[@Heath_Conley_I_Am]

how to you know when your setting the bevel after the tap and wobble failed that both sides are perfectly ground even i dont want one side ground more than the other thanks your awesome at this shit

[@drmatt357]

heath conley outdoors They may not be even especially if the warp is more to one side than the other.

[@johnnyrbattaglio6943]

You nailed it 👍 Thank you 🙏

[@kennyandersson]

Stuff learned. Thank you! :)

[@theMuritz]

Hi Dr. Matt, nice comprehensive explanation. One question though, once the bevel is set without tape, do you still recommend using tape to hone the razor, as it would change the angle on the cutting edge itself. Or is this absorbed by the flexibility of the same cutting edge, which naturally would be more flexible at the tip resulting in slight angle changes all over the length of the razor. In essence, I would think, that using no tape at all even when honing and sacrificing lifetime of a razor would eventually give you a sharper shave .. what is the minimum bevel angle that is still acceptable ... Thank you or anyone else here for their thoughts

[@drmatt357]

If you set the bevel without tape, in most cases you continue with the rest to f the progression without tape as well. I don’t think I recommend using tape…

[@theMuritz]

Okay thanks for your reply … I guess you don’t want to set the bevel to often then, because I used a course stone which wasn’t flattened and the I flattened and set the bevel again, which resulted in a steeper angle … I’m just gonna continue now without tape and without setting the bevel again until it breaks …

[@maxcinta9992]

Thank You! I am looking at the old Sheffield razors you mentioned. The new ones are priced way too high. Do you have a video on how to pick out a great old used razor? You know,.. what to look for, and what to look out for when buying one on ebay.

[@drmatt357]

There are no new Sheffield razors but many of them are overpriced IMO. I don't know that I'm the greatest at picking out ebay gems but feel free to email me a link to the item and I can give you my opinion.

[@Fank234]

Hi Matt. If you have a bent razor that means there’ll be a wobble, but surely only on one side? So I understand how to take that wobble out. Once done there will be no wobble. However surely now the other side needs to be ground back so that there isn’t an arc? You won’t be able to do the wobble test to determine when that side is straight as the toe and heel are level, yet the spine (and edge) are curved in the middle. Am I right in thinking this arc needs to be honed out too so that you end up with a perfectly straight spine? I think the mistake I’ve made up until now is by only correcting one side of the razor! Hope I’m making sense?

[@drmatt357]

What you’re explaining here is a bow to the razor. High spot in the middle on one side and the low spot in the middle on the opposite side. Yes, you need to do both sides until you can visually see the entire edge… on both sides making contact with the stone. The side with the low spot in the middle will not wobble, you’re correct but that’s why I say there’s a 3 part test. 1. Structural or the wobble test. 2. The visual test (is the entire edge of the spine and edge contractions the stone) and finally 3. a functional test or tomato grape skin test. The bow is the easier to fix. The harder ones have a twist so they don’t wobble heel to toe but a twisted wobbles upper corner toe to lower corner heel.

[@Fank234]

@@drmatt357 perfect. Thanks Matt as always 👍👍👍

[@1947662]

Higher primate. The powerful JRE. Love that shirt

[@drmatt357]

Thanks! It was about time someone caught it. As was my "Buckle Up" reference at 1:30

[@Gevorgyan1983]

But how exactly to sharpen the spine of a razor so that both sides are equal, so that both sides of the cutting edge are absolutely even?

[@seanfrancisfrancis2757]

Does stropping the razor between each increase of stones give it more benefit than stropping at the ends of your last stone.Thanks Dr Matt

[@drmatt357]

I discussed that in my coticule series. I've changed my mind on that and don't recommend stropping between stones these days.

[@stuartmaxwell6013]

Great video Doc. A lot of pennies have dropped for me watching this.

[@nickfanzo]

Essential video here.

[@drmatt357]

Exactly Nick! Hence the title. LOL . Please email me. I have a favor to ask. [e-mail]

[@Fank234]

Hi - apologies if this is obvious but I’m missing it - are you just looking fir the wobble on the blade area or does it also include the stabiliser too? Many razors have thick stabilisers and so you’re surely not going to get zero wobble there unless you grind them down?

[@drmatt357]

No, the stabilizer is not part of the test. If the stabilizer is an issue, you’ll want to fix that first before evaluating for a wobble. I have a video on how to do that. 6:56

[@JonathanLewis-gf1lu]

Amazing

[@popeshaves5310]

does that tap and wobble include the stabilizers?

[@drmatt357]

No Ray, you let that hang off the end of the stone. If it wobbles when the stabilizer is on the stone but doesn't when it's off, obviously you know then that the stabilizer is the issue. I have a video on how to fix that too.

[@popeshaves5310]

@@drmatt357 thank you

[@TheGearhead222]

Dr. Matt-What do you recommend as a preservative oil, when one has stored their razors? I've tried Camilla, but it doesn't last long and hardens into a brown sludge. Break free CLP lasts much longer, but it's toxic which is why I don't use it to prevent blade rust. What do you use? Appreciate the feedback-John in Texas

[@drmatt357]

I don't have a problem with rust where I live but I've been told that Ballistol is the best but I think that's pretty similar to CLP. If it is, I don't know what to tell you.

[@urmas501]

Thank you!

[@WeekEndsForFuture]

Hi DrMat, thanks a lot for sharing this knowledge, really appreciate it! One question: how do you check on smiling edge razors if the bevel needs to be set? Thanks

[@drmatt357]

rein-e-art - You do the tap & wobble the same way but you have to interpret the results correctly (I have a video called Tap & Wobble that explains it). A smiling razor can rock from heel to toe and that’s OK but it must be the same on both sides and not rock to opposite corners.

[@lesliesadler8524]

Thanks for tap and wobble

[@glytch5]

should it cut the tomato at the end of all your fine stones? The cutting food test is great for the "bite" the edge has off the 1k, but I would think after completely polishing it down, it wouldn't have much bite left to it. This video is awesome! If your razor does not pass the tap and wobble test, and you want to square it up, do you hold the razor mid wabble on the stone, and try to hone out just the high spot? Or do you just lay that thing down and hone till it stops? I feel like if I did this, I would hone with the razor standing on one end, then start honing it accidentally on the other end of the wobble, and never get it repaired... hard to explain.

[@drmatt357]

I understand exactly what you're asking Max. You need to study the wobble and try to figure which is the best way to get after it. I usually hold the heel down on the stone as that seems to be where more metal is most of the time, around the stabilizer. I now start with taping the edge, work the metal off the spine because that's where most all of the problem is, then pull the tape on the edge and blend that edge into the spine... if that makes sense. I would suggest buying Gold Dollar razors to practice on. Don't ask why I suggest that. ;-) And yes, it still cuts tomatoes at the end of the progression. When I'm finished, I prefer the HHT as a functional test but the tomato certainly still works.

[@glytch5]

+drmatt357 you know I am yet to get a razor that can cut my hanging hair, even though they give a smooth shave... perhaps my hair is just a bit thin in my head! idk. Which golden dollar? The "practice" one or the regular ones? I know some sites have one called "no hone" razors... I saw that you were able to get a decent shave off one after taking it up super high. I got a hold of Ken, got some nano cloths. I also picked up a new spray- .050 poly diamond! the 1. and then .05 is pretty crazy. Thanks for getting me hooked up with him.

[@drmatt357]

+Max Savino The Gold Dollar 66 is usually $5 on eBay but even better now that I think is the ZY430. They don't have the stabilizer that needs fixing. They're about $7.

[@nathanshaffer5105]

Is that an O&A poster behind you.

[@drmatt357]

@@nathanshaffer5105 - Yes. Went to NYC about 15 years ago when they had bleachers at the XM studio. Stayed after and all the guys took pics with me then I sent them the prints, they signed them and sent ‘em back. Was really a great time!🙌🏻👊🏻

[@nathanshaffer5105]

@drmatt357 that's awesome I got into o&a right at the end 2009.

[@gtsimmo7121]

Really interesting thanks..

[@mdoooo7]

what grit stone do you use to set the bevel

[@waynerjson]

Dr Matt, does it have to specifically be a cherry tomato? I'd prefer to use a roma simply because it is bigger and therefor easier to handle.

[@drmatt357]

LOL! Any tomato will work. I was using the regular sized ones but my wife was getting upset with the slices in them when I'd slip 'em back in the bin.

[@michaeldietzen8613]

I'm confused with the tape or no tape. You watch all these different you tubers and its a mixed bag. So when do you use it?

[@drmatt357]

Michael Dietzen - That can be involved but I’ll simplify. If you’re new to razor sharpening like less than a year, use tape. The geometry corrections I discuss here are for more advanced work.

[@MrMZaccone]

Plastic drinking straws work as well as a tomato and will also not damage the edge.

[@drmatt357]

Good to know. Thanks!

[@MrMZaccone]

drmatt357 'Course, you can't eat them after so... I guess there's a downside to everything, lol.