Thread: taped spine or not

Originally Posted by Steve56

Sharpie the bevel then make one light pass across a stone. If it has been honed with tape you'll see that the hone isn't hitting the apex of the bevel(s).

Just by looking at it, I don't think so.

Cheers, Steve

+1 - you can mark the bevel with a black Edding to see it better. Just one slight stroke on a finisher is enough to see if the razor was honed with or without tape.
The angel of a bevel is esential! - not necessarily for the sharpness or smoothness though, but like on every knife it determines the lifetime of the edge together with steel quality and tempering. This is of less importance for us nowadays since we have time and (most of us) can hone their razors. But it was a very important property in the older days for the barbers. Beside this, thickness and strongness of your beard hear has an influence of the perfect bevel-angel for you personally.

I just put the razor on the hone and look at the edge area, if there is no gap then the razor was honed with no tape and if there is then I repeat with one layer of tape , etc.

If you're going to reset the bevel, it shouldn't matter how it was previously honed. You're just going to establish a bevel angle based on whether or not you use tape. This should happen regardless of what was previously done to the blade.

Originally Posted by Vasilis

I also think that, a lot of new users have a problem with rehoning (or stropping a razor on a paddle strop, that's kind of serious) a razor, honed by the previous owner using tape

I just started using a paddle strop... So I'll have to take my blades now every time before I shave?

No, not really.

The difference is so slight, if the bevel is flat, a new bevel can be cut in just a few laps, depending on the bevel and the stone.

I hone everything with tape, unless specifically asked not to. Which has only been asked a hand full of times in years.

If you hone the same way, all the time with or without tape, it’s not an issue. I reset the bevels on all razors I get in.

Here's a nice video on the subject:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oMchDtXzUO4

Originally Posted by strangedata

I just started using a paddle strop... So I'll have to take my blades now every time before I shave?

No.

A leather or linen strop will flex enough to strop the whole bevel.

As an example, a razor honed on a glass plate with a piece of film, over a wet piece of copy paper, (a common finishing technique) will flex enough to hone the leading 1/3 edge of a bevel, (from the edge back).

So, a piece of leather or linen will flex much more. You can strop with or without tape, does not matter.

I often strop a taped razor, for just a few laps when honing, because I am too lazy to remove it, but there is no need to tape a razor to strop it.

Originally Posted by strangedata

I just started using a paddle strop... So I'll have to take my blades now every time before I shave?

If your razor was honed with tape, then you'll have to tape it. In fact that's a reason paddle strops are not as popular as the... classic ones. The leather/linen/wood or whatever is below the edge is not springy enough to touch the edge unless you are using enough pressure where the bevel without tape would be "buried" into the leather/linen and the taped edge comes in contact with it and it's not a good idea. There is also the chance that you'll be able to see a line of dead skin cells on the edge, while right behind it the edge will be clean, so, that's a sign.
The easiest way to find out is to shave a few times, stropping your edge without tape on the paddle strop and see how it feels. On the other hand, if you do use tape, you can be absolutely sure that the edge will be touching the leather. So, give it a try. For me and anyone I've talked about it, it does indeed need that (these if more than one) layer of tape. For you, try it and let us know after a few shaves. And, yes, I do love paddle strops.

And now, between Euclid440 and Vasilis I've got conflicting info [emoji57] [emoji38] [emoji15]

Originally Posted by strangedata

And now, between Euclid440 and Vasilis I've got conflicting info [emoji57] [emoji38] [emoji15]

I agree with Euclid440. I've never heard of anyone taping a spine to strop. I don't see how it could be an issue with one or two layers of tape.