Thread: Use tape with barber hone?

Should I be taping the spine when touching up my razors on a barber hone, or would this wear be negligible? I only do a handful of passes to restore the edge.

More important than the wear is how the current bevel was set.
If tape was used for that, I would tape it when refreshing it on the barber hone as well.
If it wasn't, then I wouldn't bother with it, as it would create a micro-bevel.
Nothing wrong with a micro-bevel, but I would use the same regimen on any razor when it comes to taping or not.
On the stones that is, stropping doesn't need that regardless of previous honing.

If the razor was honed with tape you should use tape when touching up regardless of type of hone, if it was honed without tape you touch it up without as well.

The reason is that the angle of the bevel will be different with and without tape, if you have a razor that was honed without tape and you touch it up with tape you will create a microbevel, if it was honed with and you touch it up without the very tip of the bevel won't get in contact with the hone.

Edit: Mr.B beat me, I must be a slow typer

Thank you for the information gentlemen. It makes perfect sense. I guess the key here is asking those who honed my blades whether tape was used or not. Thank you!

Originally Posted by RodneyOK

I guess the key here is asking those who honed my blades whether tape was used or not.

Is it usually possible to tell from looking at the spine if the razors been honed without tape?

Originally Posted by TomBrooklyn

Is it usually possible to tell from looking at the spine if the razors been honed without tape?

No...

But honestly unless the razor was honed using multiple layers of tape (A restore) it is pretty much a moot point, there is just way to much thought put in on Tape - vs- No tape rather then experimentation with honing on actual hones...

If in doubt using a layer of tape is the safe approach

Originally Posted by RodneyOK

... or would this wear be negligible? ...

It would, just a few wipes on a very fine hone will barely affect the spine.

If you got a USB microscope or a very powerful loupe you can just do a couple dozen laps on the barber hone and look at it under the scope. If the barber hone makes a bevel way up from the edge and doesn't come down to it, then the bevel was probly set with tape. And obviously you will have to use tape to quickly hone the razor on your BH. OTOH you could also reset the bevel without tape and then not have to ever mess with tape when doing douchups. Your razor. But the touchup does no good unless it hits the edge.

Originally Posted by TulaneBoy

If you got a USB microscope or a very powerful loupe you can just do a couple dozen laps on the barber hone and look at it under the scope. If the barber hone makes a bevel way up from the edge and doesn't come down to it, then the bevel was probly set with tape. And obviously you will have to use tape to quickly hone the razor on your BH. OTOH you could also reset the bevel without tape and then not have to ever mess with tape when doing douchups. Your razor. But the touchup does no good unless it hits the edge.

Are you sure ????

Originally Posted by gssixgun

Are you sure ????

Well, yeah, I believe so. But what part exactly do you mean? I am sure you got a lot to teach me and I value your opinions and advice.