gssixgun, You mention multiple layers of tape to achieve sixteen degrees. First what do you use to evaluate the angle from spine to blade? Then how do you determine the number of layers of tape (and what kind of tape).
I have a few blades wherein the spine is ground flat from muscle man hands or honed on a grinder. I have used electrician tape and it smears onto the blade and gets on my Arkansas stones. The oil dis-engages the adhesive and makes a mess--maybe that is simply unavoidable. I have hesitated to use it on my water stones for fear of the adhesive fouling them. How about a tip or two. This is also open to anyone else who may have a unique method of determining all these factors.