Thread: Why tape the spine?

Does this mirror the experience of others?

Has anyone tried taping the spine, establishing the bevel, then removing the tape and honing as usual? it seems it might reduce spine wear and get a more consistent edge. It seems like it might be easier as after removing the tape you are predominantly working on the shoulder.

For example, I purchased a NOS R. Muse K (it could also be read as R. Musek). Honed it up (taped) and shaved with it this AM. The shave was good, but perhaps "harsh". I had used my Nakayama (from O_S) and got it to the point it showed no striations under 100X. I think I could improve it with more time on the strop, but am tempted to take it back to the 8K DMT and redo the bevel w/o tape.

Yeah Chris that's exactly my thoughts on the situation.

I can clearly see and understand the situation but not when usng the hanging strop as it's not as easy to see what's really going on. All I can say is what happened.

I still understand why people do it but I'm leaving it to them.

Originally Posted by Pyment

Does this mirror the experience of others?

Has anyone tried taping the spine, establishing the bevel, then removing the tape and honing as usual? it seems it might reduce spine wear and get a more consistent edge. It seems like it might be easier as after removing the tape you are predominantly working on the shoulder.

For example, I purchased a NOS R. Muse K (it could also be read as R. Musek). Honed it up (taped) and shaved with it this AM. The shave was good, but perhaps "harsh". I had used my Nakayama (from O_S) and got it to the point it showed no striations under 100X. I think I could improve it with more time on the strop, but am tempted to take it back to the 8K DMT and redo the bevel w/o tape.

Yes I have. I was honing on stones and Shapton glass stones. I don't recall how many razors (not many) that I tried this method on. I removed tape after establishing a bevel and working through to the 4k. I figured at 8k level and above, the amount of hone wear on a razor was less consequential than at the lower grits. With the edge raised from the lowered spine there were not immediate improved results from the 8k. After a long time honing on the 8k, the edges were not near what they should have been and what should have been a short time on the 8k stone. It was frustrating and I didn't know why at the time. Now I believe I know why.

Chris L

My results with taping all of the razors I hone has been the opposite of Dave's. Mine are shaving quite nicely. I am glad that Dave posted that taping spines is stupid and there is no reason to do it. Perhaps now Tim Zowada may learn the error of his honing technique. As for me, I'm going to keep taping spines with the one layer of 3M. It's working so I needn't fix it.

Jimmy, I think Dave said that HE thinks it's stupid, but in the same post IIRC he said something to the effect, or what I took his tone to mean, that others such as yourself may very well have great results with taping, it just isn't for him. That's what I took from it anyway.

Aesthetically and ease of honing for me, I generally don't tape. However, that said I'm largely ambivalent on the subject since many people do tape and like it. Whatever works is best for the individual IMO.

Chris L

Originally Posted by ChrisL

Jimmy, I think Dave said that HE thinks it's stupid, but in the same post IIRC he said something to the effect, or what I took his tone to mean, that others such as yourself may very well have great results with taping, it just isn't for him. That's what I took from it anyway.Chris L

Hmmmm, I can hone a razor Chris but I ain't worth a damn at reading minds or deciphering peoples intended meaning through their tone via the keyboard. OTOH, we are all entitled to our opinions. His post is right there below.... I respect the man's opinion. My experience has just yielded different results.

Originally Posted by DaveMartell

Well since starting this thread I've had a chance to hone quite a few razors and just for the sake of learning I decided to tape the spine on most all of them, just to see if there was any effect one way or other, besides the appearance that is.

What I found, without question, is that each and every taped spine razor shaved like crap and what's worse is that they got worse as they were used, almost as if stropping (untaped) was doing nothing at all for them. The most affected was an old near wedge Frederick Reynolds which was absolutely pitiful.

I then decided to reverse the test and rehone without taped spines and once again the test proved 100% in it's results, except this time they all shaved great. The near wedge Frederick Reynolds was the worst to rehone since it had such a large double bevel on it and I was cursing the day I taped it.

Conclusion for me is that taping is stupid and I won't be doing it again anytime soon. I think that even if I had a damascus razor I'd forgo the tape and just use the tool as it was meant to be used.

Anyway, that's just my $0.02 on the matter.

Well, Jimmy, I don't get any awards for deciphering this text stuff either. Maybe Dave will clarify.

Chris L

Originally Posted by DaveMartell

Well since starting this thread I've had a chance to hone quite a few razors and just for the sake of learning I decided to tape the spine on most all of them, just to see if there was any effect one way or other, besides the appearance that is.

What I found, without question, is that each and every taped spine razor shaved like crap and what's worse is that they got worse as they were used, almost as if stropping (untaped) was doing nothing at all for them. The most affected was an old near wedge Frederick Reynolds which was absolutely pitiful.

I then decided to reverse the test and rehone without taped spines and once again the test proved 100% in it's results, except this time they all shaved great. The near wedge Frederick Reynolds was the worst to rehone since it had such a large double bevel on it and I was cursing the day I taped it.

Conclusion for me is that taping is stupid and I won't be doing it again anytime soon. I think that even if I had a damascus razor I'd forgo the tape and just use the tool as it was meant to be used.

Anyway, that's just my $0.02 on the matter.

I absolutely positively will bet ya a beer at the next major Razorcon meet up, that I can hone two twin razors one w/tape and one w/o and you will never ever feel the difference in the shave, just so long as I do the honing and the stropping...

There are just way to many variables involved to make a blanket statement one way or the other...

As two of the three razors in my rotation are fairly old and were showing some hone wear when I started using them, I made the decision about six month ago to start using tape whenever I hone. One layer of electrical tape on the hones, no tape on the hanging strop.

I can get every bit as good an edge now as before I taped before honing.

Originally Posted by gssixgun

There are just way to many variables involved to make a blanket statement one way or the other...

What he said.

I just re-honed the "R. Muse' K" without taping. Microscopically the bevel looks no different. This includes the width of the bevel. The bevel on this blade is narrow as the spine is quite thick (about 1/4 inch) and the blade is 6/8. It seems to be about an 8 on the Henckel scale.

I will shave with it in the AM and form.