I'm kind of new at this myself but I have jumped in with both feet. I am acquiring a fair amount of razors. Some high end and some cheap vintage ebay specials and I am doing a lot of honing. Having posted a poll asking if you tape the spine and looking at the posts that opined on the topic I have decided that I will only tape a spine if I am working a large chip out of a blade. Once it is out I will set a new bevel and hone without tape. That is the conclusion I have come to based on all that I have read on the topic.