Thread: Question About Honing - Covering The Spine Sides

Hey Guys - I was excited to get my SR back from honing, only to find out the spine was not covered during the process and the polished edge of the spine sides have been honed. I think it's rather unsightly and ruins the razor IMO! I just don't like it at all. It this typical during the process of honing? I searched on the web and saw that some do tape the spline when honing to prevent this from happening. I wish I would have known about this beforehand, you spend $250 on a SR only to have the polished spine sides honed! Can someone please shed some light on this because I am not too happy about it.

Thanks.

Some Guys Use Tape And Others Don't. Just Have To Know Who Is Who.

Sorry About Your Bad Luck...

I think if you ask for tape to be used or not to be used when honing most people won't mind either way. For razors I use myself I don't like to use tape.

Some tape, some don't. It's just one of the things you should ask about before having your razor honed. If you didn't know about the aspects of honing, it's good to ask the honer how they hone razors, on what and extra costs, etc.. Sorry for your dilemma, but it's one of the reasons we really encourage lots of reading and studying before action.

On that, there's lots of good info in the links below that might save you frustration, and money, in the future.

Best Regards,

Howard

Bad Luck???

When someone doesn't ask for the spines to be tape, those of us who don't tape, don't tape. You would have to microscopically measure the difference in wear from a factory honing and a follow up honing unless you are a new guy honing who really flattens a spine out to see any difference.

This is normally not an issue beyond an individual's OCD.

Have fun.

Originally Posted by Chevhead

Some Guys Use Tape And Others Don't. Just Have To Know Who Is Who.

Sorry About Your Bad Luck...

I don't think you have a legit complaint here.

Tape isn't a requirement for honing. Everyone has a preference and there has been endless posts on the topic.

You are making an assumption that the honer screwed up by not taping, and ruined your razor. I would disagree with that on both counts.

My advice would be to lather up and enjoy your blade. No doubt it's ready to go and you will enjoy it for years to come.

Michael

I understand that you feel disappointed. However, traditionally straight razors are designed to have this kind of spine wear. Based on my research, taping the spine is only a relatively recent phenomenon when honing and in fact not the traditional approach at all.

So in fact your straight razor was designed for this to happen to it, and any practical application of a straight razor (ie using it as opposed to collecting and displaying it) will result in, over time, wear, stains, spots of rust, looseness of pivots, scale damage, and a plethora of other things.

It is important to remember that they are tools and serve a very practical purpose. It doesn't mean we should abuse them, but they are going to get used and they are going to get worn. If that doesn't sound attractive then perhaps collecting is more your thing.

James.

Heres to all of us tape users of the world.




May your rolls never empty!!!

Viva la cinta

Well...When I started using tape I thought it would prevent wear to the spine and it does but a biproduct is the feel of the razor against the stone..everything you feel is edge...no feedback from the spine.
And... some of the more used razors have pretty beat up spines.

Stingray