New reason for taping the spine

Last night I was honing a Crown & Sword which had a LOT of spine wear, so much in fact that I couldn't get the thing to get sharp at all, it seemed like the pine was to thin to produce a nice angle for the edge. Anyway after setting the bevel with a shapton 1k and finally getting it razor sharp (funny) a revelation came to me, the bevel was even but the spine was by not any means even.
What this means according to my imagination is that sometimes the spines on newer razors or vintage ones might not come evenly ground, thus producing small irregularities on the edge which in turn translate to uneven hone wear and weird bevels. So I taped the spine on an Imperial razor which had some uneven bevels and uneven spine wear and Voila, the bevel is now straight as can be and produces a very nice shave I might add. So for those thinking that Taping the spine is to preserve only the spine think again, it might actually be a way of producing an even bevel on some razors.

What I have learned from Lynn.... if I understand it correctly is that you can take a spine in real good condition but with anomalies in the grind and by doing circles correct the anomalies in relation to the edge.

On a razor with a lot of hone wear I think tape is a good thing. Even though the razor may have more wear towards the point end of the spine I still tape the whole spine. I know that some advocate taping the worn portion and not the whole length but I confess I haven't tried that approach.

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Originally Posted by Memorael

So I taped the spine on an Imperial razor which had some uneven bevels and uneven spine wear and Voila, the bevel is now straight as can be and produces a very nice shave I might add.

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Memorael
how in the world you by putting 1 layer of the tape and fix the bevel. this is really not simple to do.
if i am understanding you right.
you mean you just put 1 layer of tape and fix the back problem which was in the blade before?
Second bevel has not much to do with shaving. it could be wider in some part of the blade but narrower other will not affect the quality of the edge?
You should worry about the edge. As long as your edge doesn't have thrown you should be ok.(straight)
i am not trying to be PITA just cannot understand you.

I have had to use tape to "fix" the bevel on some screwed up, twisted old wedges that would have taken FOR EVER to get in shaving shape without resorting to tape.

Sometimes it's the only option besides breadknifing, unless you have access to a belt sander and the ability to use it properly for razors.

well the thing is, if the spine has some spots which are higher the edge will not have the same amount of contact on the edge producing either a smile, or uneven hone wear on the edge. Then if you think about it taping the spine with something like electrical tape will produce a nice even spine as long as the tape isn't stretched. this in turn will promote even hone contact at the edge giving you as a result an even edge.
Also at least for me the second bevel does produce an edge that I feel is more comfortable, I also find that the angles I have to work the blade at change quite a bit or else I get some stubble. It is also important to note that depending on the size of the blade you might actually have to do some very nasty hone wear in order to get an angle low enough to produce a shaving edge, on bigger edges say 5/8 and above I believe the tape will fix uneven edges, meaning all it will do is promote an even grind.
I am currently working on another razor which is smaller close to 4/8 to figure out how this taping will work on smaller edges I will report my findings later. Thanks.

Won't taping the spine change the angle of the bevel? Also, how hard is it to see anamolies in the spine?

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Originally Posted by bigbassman83

Won't taping the spine change the angle of the bevel? Also, how hard is it to see anamolies in the spine?

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When you are first on the hone use the black marker on the edge to see if it is making contact with the blade flat on the hone. If the marker is not removed evenly then it may be a smiling blade or a slightly... or worse.... warped or unevenly ground spine. There are honing methods to get around those situations without correcting the spine. It just depends on what the situation is and what you want to do with it.

I hear what you saying, razors with spine wear may benefit from taping. Sure, I'll buy that. Two layers would probably be better for lots of spine wear. Another thing, when you buy an older non NOS razor, one that's been used and abused. You don't know sometimes if the owner taped or not to begin with....

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?

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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?

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No you are not missing anything. this is the reason i was asking question. just putting tape all way the spine will not help. you could add in some portion so on.

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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?

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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

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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.

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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.

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Originally Posted by Memorael

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

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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.

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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.

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