Second Gold Dollar Honing Practice

[Slash McCoy]

Yeah, the first time that I thinned a spine it was a real eye opener as to how much bevel angle effects the character of the shave. I like em' in the 15º-16º range and this is how I build my razors.

Me, too, though my sweet spot is probably 16.0º to 16.5º. With a slightly more obtuse bevel angle I can shave more "carelessly". With a Method edge I can still get a pretty decent single pass shave up to 18º or so. Under 16º and I have to be a lot more careful and methodical. When you get down to or below 15º it starts to become a real test of steel quality and heat treating skill. I had a full hollow Henckels once that I measured at 14.5º IIRC and it shaved with vicious and dangerous efficiency, and it kept an edge quite well, but I do not have the skill to duplicate that.