Thread: New reason for taping the spine

Originally Posted by Basset

If the spine wear is noticeably uneven, don't you have to add more tape on the more worn portion to make it even with the less worn portion? I mean, if the heel portion of the spine has 0" wear, but the toe has 0.2" wear, then I think you would want to add tape only to the portion of the spine that has the wear, so as to "fill up" that 0.2" gap. Whereas, adding a uniform amount of tape across the entire spine does not eliminate the 0.2" gap.

Or am I missing something?

IME when you put one layer of tape on the spine and reset the bevel it will end up being 'correct' relative to being set with one layer of tape. So if you always hone that razor with one layer it should give you the same results. For the average person I don't think it would be honed enough in years of using it to make a great deal of difference. I think that some of these razors seen with a lot of wear were either honed by someone who didn't know what they were doing or by a pro barber who shaved many customers day in and day out and honed the razor much more than an individual who only shaves his own face would. Especially seeing that most of us have rotations of many razors. Just IMHO.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

IME when you put one layer of tape on the spine and reset the bevel it will end up being 'correct' relative to being set with one layer of tape.

I was really speaking only to cases where the hone wear is markedly uneven. I have a great shaver with heavy wear on the portion of the spine closer to the toe, but relatively little wear on the portion of the spine closer to the heel.

When it's time to hit the stones, my plan is to add some tape on the heavily worn portion, but leave no tape on the lightly worn section. The tape should, in a layer or two, create a more or less level spine from heel to toe, which should make honing a bit easier.

Originally Posted by Basset

I was really speaking only to cases where the hone wear is markedly uneven. I have a great shaver with heavy wear on the portion of the spine closer to the toe, but relatively little wear on the portion of the spine closer to the heel.

When it's time to hit the stones, my plan is to add some tape on the heavily worn portion, but leave no tape on the lightly worn section. The tape should, in a layer or two, create a more or less level spine from heel to toe, which should make honing a bit easier.

check this video last one. i put up may be 6 months ago it may help.
http://straightrazorpalace.com/video...n-video-2.html

Originally Posted by Basset

I was really speaking only to cases where the hone wear is markedly uneven. I have a great shaver with heavy wear on the portion of the spine closer to the toe, but relatively little wear on the portion of the spine closer to the heel.

When it's time to hit the stones, my plan is to add some tape on the heavily worn portion, but leave no tape on the lightly worn section. The tape should, in a layer or two, create a more or less level spine from heel to toe, which should make honing a bit easier.

If I'm not mistaken that is a method that Sham (hi_bud_gl) uses with success. I've never tried it and it will probably work well. Unless it is a brand I really want bad I won't bother with blades that have heavy and uneven hone wear. Life is too short .... especially when you're already 61.... and there are too many razors. Good luck with it.

Ill try to explain what happens with the tape on the spine with an experiment, try getting a piece of glass or anything that is flat, then put a small grain of something like a large piece of salt or something then apply tape on top of it you will see that the tape if not stretched will seem very smooth, then apply another layer at about 3 layers it should be pretty even. The same thing happens with a spine but at such a small scale it will even out leaving a very straight spine. This in turn will leave an even bevel, unless the edge isn't making contact. There is one thing that I guess isn't clear, when I say leave an even bevel I don't mean fixing problems such as smiling blades and warped ones, I just mean leaving a straight looking bevel.
Theoretically speaking if you apply enough tape to the spine you should be able to fix smiling blades if you think about it its similar to bread knifing but in a more controlled way, similar to placing a bow and raising it until only the edges touch the floor. Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by Memorael

Theoretically speaking if you apply enough tape to the spine you should be able to fix smiling blades

Sorry for being pedantic but you surely mean frowning blades. ???
Smiling blades are made that way. I shudder to think someone would straighten the edge on a Fenney or similar.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

If I'm not mistaken that is a method that Sham (hi_bud_gl) uses with success. I've never tried it and it will probably work well. Unless it is a brand I really want bad I won't bother with blades that have heavy and uneven hone wear. Life is too short .... especially when you're already 61.... and there are too many razors. Good luck with it.

I agree. The one I was referring to was an inexpensive dubl duck with a nice edge. Worth the effort, IMHO.