Thread: tape and hones.

Does tape adversely affect hones? I imagine it will clog the hone up meaning that lapping is required more often, and more heavily, is this the case, or am I worrying about nothing, I ask because I have a frameback that already has some honewear on the frame and I don't want to exacerbate it but I don't really like the idea of taping.
I only refresh so I have a 10k naniwa, and a couple of slates.
Thanks.

I only use tape when setting the bevel on my Chosera 1K. I have not found any clogging by using tape. Use tape when you want, although you don't really need tape for high grit stones like yours.

I was going to give you my total scientific explanation for why I believe it will cause no harm. Then I remembered, I am not a scientist. So I will say that I always use tape on a white and yellow colored 4/8 Norton and it has never caused a problem. I do give my stones a quick lap or 4 with the lapping stone while I am honing. I would think the finer grits would be even less worrisome but like I said,,,, I ain't no scientist. :<0)
I do see tape coming off on my 1k but once again a quick lap or 2 and it's all clean again. I will be watching to see what the real knowledgeable ones argue about.

Well I certainly won't put myself in the 'real knowledgeable ones' category, but for what it's worth, I use tape through the whole progression and have noticed no issues at all on any of my hones. Like 10Pups, I too give my hones a quick once-over with a DMT prior to use so I suspect any residual crud is wheeched away before it can accumulate and become an issue.

And if you're just using it on one specific razor, I can't see it being an issue. Guys who hone a heck of a lot more razors than I use tape without it being an issue, so I wouldn't worry about it.

EDIT: forgot to add this. Buy good tape. The cheap stuff can more or less disintegrate. Since switching to good stuff (I like 3M 700 tape) that hasn't been an issue.

You will get a little transfer if you use the cheaper tapes, but if you stick with 3M super 88 then these are very good quality and extremely hard wearing and I don't get any transfer, but my advice would be if you are setting the bevel on a 1K stone after you finish setting the bevel remove and use a fresh piece of tape, this should then last right through the progression.

Originally Posted by Skippy

I only use tape when setting the bevel on my Chosera 1K. I have not found any clogging by using tape. Use tape when you want, although you don't really need tape for high grit stones like yours.

I'm sure this has been answered before, but wouldn't you not reach your edge on the higher grit stones if you remove the tape after 1k? Seems like the shallower angle would prevent you from reaching the apex? Just curious... I haven't tried it.

I tape every razor and have no problems with tape residue or anything else that people seem to be worried about. I get my tape in 10 roll packs from Harbor Freight. I have some very nice forged spines and gold plated spines and this is the reason I tape. Taping every blade gives me a consistent draw/drag and I like that feeling.

I have been doing this a long time and my edges are top notch one pass quality. Tape works well for me.

Try and get the original tape that the manufacture of your razor used, it has to be the best!

Originally Posted by RoyalCake

I'm sure this has been answered before, but wouldn't you not reach your edge on the higher grit stones if you remove the tape after 1k? Seems like the shallower angle would prevent you from reaching the apex? Just curious... I haven't tried it.

Yes

BUT

It doesn't matter, say you are using a 1-4-8-12 progression, if you set the bevel and do the hard lifting with tape at the 1k then dump the tape at the 4k it only takes about 20 laps and the MINUTE difference in angle is gone and you are honing without tape... You have to get your GOOD magnifier out and watch it happen sometime to understand just how small this angle change really is when you are talking in Microns at the edge... One layer of #700 tape doesn't even change the angle 1° and when you consider that this .67° change is occurring on an edge measured in less then 1/2 of 1 Micron you can understand how small we are talking

Thanks Glen. That makes sense and certainly makes it easier to be able to then do touch ups without having to tape!

Shane