Thread: I don't like taping the spine.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Nope. The greatest tape residue remover is the tape itself. Dab the sticky side of the tape that you just pulled off (it's already in your hand so that helps make it the greatest) onto the residue and it will lift right off.

Yeah, but where's the fun in that? A little solvent use by informed adults isn't all bad. Just keep the kiddoes and their delicate, growing brains out where the air stays fresh.

I like to do a tapeless bevel reset on every razor that joins my herd, so I know the bevel and the spine are in synch and that I put them there. I don't use a DMT for this, so don't have the trouble from errant grits scratching near the spine... but have had that happen with coti slurry. Beside the point.

The other reason I like to do a tapeless intro to my razors is that I can also ensure that the spine takes the same polish as the edge. That means not moving up a grit until all the previous grit's scratch pattern is gone from the spine. This is a vanity thing, but I do like to see that high polish. If you're gonna have some hone wear, it might as well be the best hone wear you're capable of imparting.

OTOH, I did pretty much ruin a Greaves wedge because I didn't tape it when I shouldn't have. The lesson there is that extreme situations call for extreme measures. Yeah, definitely tape a wedge you're restoring. Or, as WadePatton said, tape until you've got the edge as clean as you want it then you can untape and proceed, if you wish. Did you say that, Wade?

Though I do tape spines, I prefer tapeless for one reason.. I like the sound of the spine as it clinks against the stone...

Having said that, I've noticed that the last few times I've gone naked, I don't hear the clink as much because my touch is getting lighter.

I don't trust my touch after ruining the Filly. I did get the 3k stone so next time i'll tape for the 1k and remove it for the 3k and try to go light.

Originally Posted by Utopian

Neither of these statements are correct.

[...]

Tape only slightly alters the angle. No calculation needs to be involved in the decision of whether or not to tape.

But it alters the angle and edge, on a microscopic level (which is the level razor honing operates on). It makes a difference. Just how much this matters practically for shaving is a different matter. In your opinion, or rather conclusion as you use the term "correct", obviously not much. Correct me if I'm wrong and you are exclusively referring to honing and long term hone wear, but this is how it reads to me.

I can only imagine the discussion after giving my hypothetical conclusion that:

Finishers only slightly alter the edge. No analysis of finishers or razors needs to be involved in the decision what finisher to use.
(NOTE: I do NOT state to subscribe to this or not)

Not a discussion starter here, but as the saying goes: Just sayin'.

There is a difference between the words "calculation" and "analysis."

Indeed there is. However, for some people calculation is an intrinsic part of the analysis whether tape should be applied or not. As I also couldn't come up with any possible calculations that could be applied for selecting a finisher, I amended 'calculation' to 'analysis' to make a comparable hypothetical conclusion.

My main point was that, when talking about things that happen on a microscopic level, 'slightly' is (in my opinion) very relative.

Never ceases to amaze me the amount of feed back taping or not taping a spine can generate.

Bob

OK. Anyone who wishes to use calculations as part of their analysis to determine whether or not to tape are welcome to do so. They are also welcome to reserve some time on a scanning electron microscope.

Ain't no good in cyphers or anal cysts so I'll reserve the time on my whiskers.

Originally Posted by WW243

Ain't no good in cyphers or anal cysts so I'll reserve the time on my whiskers.

In the final urinalysis I'm with you.

Bob