ugh...a tape thread...

[SirStropalot]

I use tape on all my razors, usually 1 layer because most are new or NOS and I just don't like hone wear on the spine. Some don't, others like me do and since it's a preference thing I don't think anyone is wrong. But occasionally and I'll take my Civil War era Sheffield as an example, passed down through the family by the way, as one that I use 3 or maybe 4 layers on. The spine is so worn that to try and hone it without tape is to hone a 3/16"+/- bevel. It takes for ever and really creates a wider, very thin edge. By adding 3 and I think I actually used 4 layers last time (and I know that it gets spongie there) I am re-establishing a temporary spine to lift it up enough to narrow the bevel and make honing much faster and in my mind a more durable edge by having the the thinnest part of the edge narrower in bevel width. It does change the geometry enough to work. It works for me anyway!

Regards,

Howard

[Hirlau]

I use tape to keep wear off my spine.
200 years from now, archaeologists will find my stash of Max Sprecher Razors and deduct, "Yep, them boys used tape back then, no spine wear."

[pixelfixed]

I use tape to keep wear off my spine.
200 years from now, archaeologists will find my stash of Max Sprecher Razors and deduct, "Yep, them boys used tape back then, no spine wear."

When you get my age Hirlau,You can tape your spine all you want,nothing except Vicodan works to protect it.

[ace]

I always use tape. I generally use three layers because I've been practicing my counting. Sometimes I use five layers because I want to
stretch my memory a bit. Then sometimes I forget how many I used on the razor the last time. I try to make notes that tell me how many layers I used on each razor, but sometimes I forget. Then sometimes I forget where I put my notes. I think I'm just going to stop honing. This is all just too complicated for me.

[zib]

When you get my age Hirlau,You can tape your spine all you want,nothing except Vicodan works to protect it.

+1 to the Vicodin....or Oxy, I have enough steel in my body to make a couple of razors....

I'm a taper. I use one layer all the time, that way I don't have to remember if I used tape or not. I have one very old, special Wade and Butcher restored by Alex Jacques. I use two layers on that one. That's the only exception. It does help to keep spine wear at bay.

[pixelfixed]

+1 to the Vicodin....or Oxy, I have enough steel in my body to make a couple of razors....

I'm a taper. I use one layer all the time, that way I don't have to remember if I used tape or not. I have one very old, special Wade and Butcher restored by Alex Jacques. I use two layers on that one. That's the only exception. It does help to keep spine wear at bay.

Am down to 3 OTC advils a day,work great with a pepcid before bed,downside side is as an NSID they raise hell with your platelets,upside is, you really need to perfect your shaving techniques and hone to perfection,or blood will be shed

[pixelfixed]

Back to tape, if all your blades were/are done with tape to perfection,time comes they need a minor re-fresh,say a little barber stone action,do they have to be taped again to do the deed.

[Hirlau]

I say yes, but my experience is limited on barber's hones. I always tape, but one night grabbed a barber's hone and spread lather on it to refresh during the shave, laid it flat no change in the next couple of strokes, raised it a bit, 6 strokes & rolled the edge over so bad , had to got to the next razor in the rotation to finish.

About a month later, refreshed with tape on another razor & shave, 6 strokes, strop, nice clean cut, smooth.