Methods of applying a layer to a honeycomb body

A method of applying a layer to a honeycomb body comprising a longitudinal axis extending through opposing end faces and a cylindrical surface extending about the longitudinal axis and between the end faces, the method comprising the steps of:

• applying a cement mixture to the cylindrical surface;
• rotating the honeycomb body and a blade relative to one another about the longitudinal axis;
• contacting the cement mixture with the blade while the honeycomb body and the blade rotate relative to one another, wherein a working edge of the blade is disposed in proximity to the cylindrical surface and contacts the cement mixture at any point along a contact line transverse to a relative rotation direction, and the blade forms a first interior angle measured between a line parallel to a longitudinal length of the blade and a line extending upstream from the contact line and parallel to a tangent to the cylindrical surface, the tangent at the cylindrical surface most proximate to the contact line;
• holding the blade at the first interior angle during a relative rotation of the honeycomb body and the blade about the longitudinal axis;
• then
• moving the blade from the first interior angle to a second interior angle measured between a line parallel to the longitudinal length of the blade and the line parallel to the tangent to the cylindrical surface, the second interior angle being greater than the first interior angle;
• and
• further rotating of the honeycomb body and the blade relative to one another about the longitudinal axis after the blade begins to move from the first interior angle toward the second interior angle;
• wherein a distance between the cylindrical surface and the part of the working edge of the blade disposed most proximate to the cylindrical surface remains approximately constant during the movement of the blade from the first interior angle to the second interior angle.