Thread: Tape on the spine

I used 6 layers of tape a long time ago while I was trying to compensate for the wear in the tape. Yep, I just kept on adding tape. I'm glad I did that though because that is when I realized I needed to ever so slightly give the edge the predominance of pressure. I thought that the edge, being as thin as it was would automatically sharpen first. Then, when seeing the flat spot now on the spine, it would be virtually impossible to get the edge any sharper. That's the way it seemed to me anyway. Could be different for others. So, nowadays I have a very good feeling for what I'm experiencing during the honing process at the edge. Also, probably like a lot of people, I like a very fast cutting, fine particulate hardish stone.

When people first start to hone there is way too much pressure on the spine. Taping for beginners saves razors. As people progress in their honing skills they will put less pressure on the spine and more on the edge, leaving taping more of a choice. Tape is very thin and one layer is not going to make any dramatic effects on the edge.

Hey folks,

You know the whole thing confuses me on tape or not tape?? Everyone says the spine acts as a guide to maintaining the correct angle through the life of the razor, i read somewhere thats about 17°. Well im all truth if i dont ever tape the spine when honing, then the spine thins little by little each honing. As the spine thins then the bevel angle thins also. The width of the edge angle gets wider ( but not at a cross-sectional view) at a cross-sectional view the edge will be thinner. So if that spine is a guide to keep a razor at roughly 17° though out all honings. Why does the geometry of the edge change when the spine wears?

Originally Posted by Southbound

Hey folks,

You know the whole thing confuses me on tape or not tape?? Everyone says the spine acts as a guide to maintaining the correct angle through the life of the razor, i read somewhere thats about 17°. Well im all truth if i dont ever tape the spine when honing, then the spine thins little by little each honing. As the spine thins then the bevel angle thins also. The width of the edge angle gets wider ( but not at a cross-sectional view) at a cross-sectional view the edge will be thinner. So if that spine is a guide to keep a razor at roughly 17° though out all honings. Why does the geometry of the edge change when the spine wears?

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Originally Posted by Southbound

Hey folks,

You know the whole thing confuses me on tape or not tape?? Everyone says the spine acts as a guide to maintaining the correct angle through the life of the razor, i read somewhere thats about 17°. Well im all truth if i dont ever tape the spine when honing, then the spine thins little by little each honing. As the spine thins then the bevel angle thins also. The width of the edge angle gets wider ( but not at a cross-sectional view) at a cross-sectional view the edge will be thinner. So if that spine is a guide to keep a razor at roughly 17° though out all honings. Why does the geometry of the edge change when the spine wears?

Originally Posted by RezDog

When people first start to hone there is way too much pressure on the spine. Taping for beginners saves razors. As people progress in their honing skills they will put less pressure on the spine and more on the edge, leaving taping more of a choice. Tape is very thin and one layer is not going to make any dramatic effects on the edge.

^^^^ Your answer is just above your question...
I would add with the quality stones available and knowledge you can get here, you can maintain your razor and keep it shave ready with minimal wear over your lifetime, and many other lifetimes. This makes the change of angle through wear negligible. Hope this helps.

Originally Posted by Southbound

Hey folks,

You know the whole thing confuses me on tape or not tape?? Everyone says the spine acts as a guide to maintaining the correct angle through the life of the razor, i read somewhere thats about 17°. Well im all truth if i dont ever tape the spine when honing, then the spine thins little by little each honing. As the spine thins then the bevel angle thins also. The width of the edge angle gets wider ( but not at a cross-sectional view) at a cross-sectional view the edge will be thinner. So if that spine is a guide to keep a razor at roughly 17° though out all honings. Why does the geometry of the edge change when the spine wears?

If a shaver has one or two razors and rotates them, hones them when they need a touch up for say 20 years, the issue of edge and spine wearing together would probably come into play. Thing is, that the average guy on SRP has dozens of razors, if not hundreds, and rarely shaves with the same one on any kind of regular basis.

These razors, if they are properly honed and stropped to begin with, don't return to the hones often. So the wear will be negligible. Once the bevel is set on a 'good' razor the amount of metal removed is minuscule, IMHO, if it is properly honed from there on out.

Originally Posted by JimmyHAD

If a shaver has one or two razors and rotates them, hones them when they need a touch up for say 20 years, the issue of edge and spine wearing together would probably come into play. Thing is, that the average guy on SRP has dozens of razors, if not hundreds, and rarely shaves with the same one on any kind of regular basis.

These razors, if they are properly honed and stropped to begin with, don't return to the hones often. So the wear will be negligible. Once the bevel is set on a 'good' razor the amount of metal removed is minuscule, IMHO, if it is properly honed from there on out.

i used and rotated the same two razors for almost 35 yrs. Only ever touched up on a barber hone or coticule. Never had to hone out any nicks or anything and there is no distinguishable hone wear and they still shave like champs.

Since I found this site and all of you enablers, those razors are packed away and no longer in the rotation.

Originally Posted by Southbound

Hey folks,

You know the whole thing confuses me on tape or not tape?? Everyone says the spine acts as a guide to maintaining the correct angle through the life of the razor, i read somewhere thats about 17°. Well im all truth if i dont ever tape the spine when honing, then the spine thins little by little each honing. As the spine thins then the bevel angle thins also. The width of the edge angle gets wider ( but not at a cross-sectional view) at a cross-sectional view the edge will be thinner. So if that spine is a guide to keep a razor at roughly 17° though out all honings. Why does the geometry of the edge change when the spine wears?

In theory the spine and edge wear together, spine thins and blade narrows, maintaining the geometry of the blade. Like RezDog says if you put more pressure on the spine and little on the edge the spine wears faster, as is the case with beginners, and the geometry can get out of whack pretty quickly.

The 17 degree angle of bevel still allows for a few degrees + or - to be still within tolerance.

Bob

So, tape if you want, don’t if you don’t want to.

If you are new to honing, tape until you “Master” honing, where you are removing a minimal amount of metal. Then decide if you want to continue to tape.

There is no down side to using tape, but many a razor has had the spine grown down needlessly, to where it will not hold an edge. Taping the spine is the only way to “Repair” that razor, so it will hold an edge.

The whole blade width to spine thickness does not hold up over time, because they do not wear at the same rate.

A bevel need only be set once, in its lifetime, if properly maintained, even a touch up on a high grit stone, will remove very little metal from the bevel and spine. Many a well-used, vintage razor, 100 plus years old, can be found with very little if any spine wear.

If you are confused, use tape until you are not confused, and fully understand the honing process…

Originally Posted by BobH

In theory the spine and edge wear together, spine thins and blade narrows, maintaining the geometry of the blade. Like RezDog says if you put more pressure on the spine and little on the edge the spine wears faster, as is the case with beginners, and the geometry can get out of whack pretty quickly.

The 17 degree angle of bevel still allows for a few degrees + or - to be still within tolerance.

Bob

But when the spine gets thinner, so does the edge.
Yes. But the bevel gets broader. (The height of the bevel)